Edinburgh South Labour MP Ian Murray has welcomed the success of the Bruntsfield traders and residents meeting to discuss the acquisition of the Peckham’s site by Sainsburys. Ian was joined by over 100 local residents and traders to discuss these proposals, which have the potential to have a detrimental effect on the Bruntsfield shopping area.

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Sainsburys have leased the former Peckham’s site and have proposed to create a shop on the ground floor level, with the lower level becoming a bakery for the premises. Sainsburys submitted an application to the licensing board to transfer the premises licence on the 10th February, and this is still pending approval.

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Commenting, Ian said:

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“Bruntsfield is one of the most thriving and vibrant communities in Edinburgh, with a wide array of outstanding independent shops, for this reason, it is vitally important that we all work together to minimise any effect this could have on the area, but also maximise the positives that this could bring. To aid in this, I repeat the offer that I made at the meeting on Thursday night, to have my office help local traders create a “Bruntsfield Traders Association”. This will help encourage local residents to shop locally, and as a local resident myself, I hope that this will keep our outstanding local community thriving as it has done for so many years.

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I would like to pay special thanks to local resident Cate Nelson-Shaw and local trader Karen Mackay from Nippers for organising the meeting, and to local residents for taking the time to come along and discuss this important issue.”

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