Locals meet to attempt to save Gorgie farm
Gorgie locals have meet to discuss attempting to find a way of saving their beloved urban farm, which is set to close on Monday.
Last updated 10th Jan 2023
An Edinburgh community has held a public meeting in a last ditch attempt to save the beloved Gorgie farm.
The urban attraction, full of barnyard animals, is set to close on Monday.
Last month it was announced by operators, the charity 'Love Learning', that they could no longer afford to run the petting zoo.
READ MORE: Gorgie farm set to close
Love CEO, Lynn Bell, said:
“We have tried everything to avoid this situation, however with Covid and now cost of living crisis we do not believe we are able to support the Farm alone moving forward."
Discussion have been held with the City of Edinburgh Council before and after the announcement, with operators keen to see how the local authority can help.
But no solutions appear to have been found.
On Monday (January 9) locals met to see if they could put their minds together to find a way of saving the farm which has been in the heart of the community for more than 40 years.
A large group gathered at the Tynecastle Arms pub, across the street, with people speaking with "passion".
Dan Heap is a Councillor in the Sighthill and Gorgie area, he's been campaigning to find a way to save the farm.
The Green Political told Forth News:
"It was very, very, very clear, not only from the number of people who were there in the room - it was full. But the passion that people spoke with it, was absolute clear from that, just how important the farm is.
"It provides a really great place, a free place for people to bring their children, bring their families to enjoy a day out at no cost. But it was really also, I think, very apparent, from the passion that people were speaking with that people are very concerned."
With less than a week before the facilities close for good, the clock is ticking to find a solution.
Cllr Heap outlines what he hopes can happen next: "I think what we need to do is two things really, in the short term, I think there's some temporary emergency funding that needs to go in there to keep the farm ticking over to keep the staff in their jobs, to keep the animals there on the site and not dispersed and looked after there.
"Once that's done, that gives everyone time.
"I think it gives the council, who need to play a leadership role on this, gives the community, gives charities that might be involved in providing funding and gives all the stakeholders time to sit down and work out a sustainable model for the farm.
"Then to see if there's any providers that come forward, preferably some kind of public community option, and see who might be able to deliver that kind of vision for the farm"