Press Release for EOTDT AGM

Press release.......................Press Release....................

Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust Annual General Meeting 2011

Date: Wednesday 23rd March at 7pm

Venue: Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket

Edinburgh

Speaker: Ian Cooke, Director of

Development Trusts Association Scotland

Contact: Sean Bradley, Chair on 07598 323440 & Catriona Grant, Secretary on 07717 204426

The Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust is throwing its doors open to the residents of the Old Town and Dumbiedykes on Wednesday evening for the Annual General Meeting of the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust.

There will be an election of the Directors and there will be reports on;

• the Trust's Feasabilty Study to look at bringing the Canongate Venture on New Street, left empty due to failed Caltongate Project
• setting up a Food Co-op to provide affordable fresh food in the Old Town
• Granny's Green Garden Project supported by the Patrick Geddes Gardening Club

Ian Cooke of the Development Trusts Association Scotland will speak to the meeting about the process of transferring a local authority asset (or building) to a community organisation at less than the market value and what can be done to make sure that these transfers are sustainable. He will also look at the potential benefits of such transfers to community and councils alike.

Catriona Grant, Secretary of the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust said :

“ We are looking at different possibiblities in how the Old Town community can bring a local well loved asset like the Canongate Venture or another building into community use run democractically by the community”.

“We are interested at looking at the Big Lottery Assets Programme and welcome Ian Cooke's contribution on how the residents of the Old Town and Dumbiedykes can take advantage of grants and initiatives so we can be our own developments that include residents, promote heritage, are environmental, suistainable and contribute to the economy of the Old Town”.

Ends