Community space secures Edinburgh tourist tax cash after 19-year campaign

The Causey, on West Crosscauseway, is to be permanently upgraded following the 19-year campaign to make the space more accessible to pedestrians and local residents.

The new £1.86m investment from City of Edinburgh Council has come from the money generated by the city’s new Visitor Levy, which was introduced in late July.

This amount will be combined with £300,000 already given to the project from the council’s core budget.

Plans for The Causey include widening pavements, traffic-calming measures, segregating cycling facilities and creating a new accessible public space.

Phase one of the project will cover key infrastructure improvements at the Causey Triangle, while phase two will extend work in the direction of Nicolson Street.

The community-led campaign was first sparked 19 years ago, when the late Edinburgh architect Alison Blamrie transformed the traffic island into a temporary “tropical island” for only three days.

Sarah Drummond, chair of Causey Development Trust, said: “This is a transformational moment for The Causey and the culmination of 19 years of extraordinary determination by local people.

“What began with local architect Alison Blamire’s inspired transformation of a traffic island into a tropical island can now become the permanent, welcoming and people-focused space that the community has always known was possible.”

The project in 2007 inspired local residents to make full use of The Causey, with regular community workshops, exhibitions and “Sit Oots”, which brings neighbours together for casual catch-ups.

This has created strong support within the local community to proceed with plans to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists at The Causey, but the campaign has been hit with setbacks such as funding delays.

Ms Drummond is now celebrating the news that improvement works will be getting underway after securing the Visitor Levy funding, adding: “This is a powerful example of what community-led action can achieve.

“Local people have shaped the vision, sustained it through years of setbacks and continued to demonstrate how this neglected space could bring people together.

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“The Causey also shows exactly how Visitor Levy investment can work for Edinburgh. It will improve everyday life for residents while creating a greener, safer and more welcoming experience for visitors moving through the city’s Southside and festival footprint.

“We are enormously grateful to everyone who has kept faith with this project, including our volunteers, local residents and businesses, councillors from across the political spectrum, council officers and the many partner organisations who have helped us reach this point. This investment means that, after nearly two decades, the community’s full vision can finally be delivered.”

The City of Edinburgh also confirmed that six other culture, heritage and infrastructure projects have also benefited from funding from the Visitor Levy.

These projects include Leith Customs House, the Tron Kirk, Portobello Kilns, access to the Lost Shore and Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, and City Centre Public Realm.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “The projects reflect our ambition that the levy is a city-wide fund and spending decisions must be taken with the whole city in mind. We’re making sure Edinburgh continues to thrive and that the Visitor Levy delivers visible improvements for everyone who lives and works here all year round.”