RESIDENTS, school students and business people in the Scottish capital are being asked to help shape the city’s future with the launch of the Edinburgh Vision 2050 blueprint.
The call comes after guests at the event were told Edinburgh is: “On profit, top of the class, on environmental performance, should try harder and, for people, must do better.”
While the city was 13th in the world on overall sustainability, in the “people” section based on quality of life it came 38th, said report author design consultancy Arcadis.
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The city was sixth in the world in the profit section of the Sustainable Cities Index but its 22nd position in the world for "planet", or environment, made it worst in UK.
Now people are being asked their views on what needs to change for the better before a map is put together outlining the way ahead and top projects.
Once established the long-term plan will help shape policy and tackle inequality in a city where the 100-plus attendees including business and government representatives heard claims it has "as many children growing up in poverty as in private education".
A city-wide campaign will run until December then a draft document will be produced based on the responses received before being refined, agreed and published next summer.
Andrew Kerr, Edinburgh City Council chief executive, said: “As Scotland's capital city, we have much to be proud of and positive about but we need to start thinking seriously about what we want Edinburgh to look like in 10, 20, even 30 years’ time .
“A City Vision for Edinburgh - based on the true aspirations of people of all ages who live, work and study in the capital - will provide all of us with a clear, long-term plan to guide strategy and investment for years to come.
“We’re starting with a blank canvas.
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"This will not be a council vision, rather our role will be to facilitate and support citywide collaboration and debate."
Mr Kerr said he would work closely with other Scottish cities during the process, including Glasgow which he said showed the success of forward planning.
Graham Hill of Arcadis, who launched their new Sustainable Cities Index, said Edinburgh was second behind London in the UK for overall sustainability but that the city "must do better" in the section based on quality of life including health - life expectancy and obesity - education, income inequality, work-life balance, crime and housing and living costs,
John Donnelly, chief executive of Marketing Edinburgh, added: “Over the last thirty years Edinburgh has been a city of innovation and change, the vision for the next thirty years is now in all of our hands.
“This is an incredible opportunity to shape our city – from the community, economy and environment."
Specific workshops, projects and activities will take place to reach schools, community, minority and interest groups across the city.
Edinburgh Green councillor Gavin Corbett said the Scottish capital has a way to go to be a “sustainable” city.
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He said the city should "prioritise affordable housing, reduce wealth gaps, treasure green space, and give children from disadvantaged backgrounds a real step up".
"If Edinburgh is truly to be a sustainable city by 2050 it has a long way to go to catch up with the best of its competitors."
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