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cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Ben Parker
@cllrbenparker.bsky.social
450 followers 220 following 52 posts
Green Councillor for Morningside 🌱
Read / subscribe to my blog: https://cllrbenparker.substack.com/ 📝
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cllrbenparker.bsky.social
My latest blog post is now live covering action and updates on: rogue landlords 🏚️, purpose built student accommodation 🧑‍🎓, artificial intelligence 🤖, BDS 🕊 (and more!)

Subscribe and read my blog here: open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp... 🗒️
People gathering in a busy room for a workshop. There are posters around the room with post it notes added to them. A text overlay reads: What did I get up to in September 2025? 5 updates from September 2025.
October 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Lots of folk at the Eric Liddell Centre contributing their ideas for the Astley Ainslie as part of the local place plan development 🗺️📍

What’s on my list? More space for nature, co-operative / co-housing development, accessibility at the forefront and (of course!) protecting the trees 🌳
A busy room of people talking / wandering around. There is a map on the floor and posters on the wall with post it notes where people are sharing their ideas.
September 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
A little bit later than usual, but August's blog post is now up 📝

Read on to hear about what I've been doing for tree protection in the Fringe 🌳, local traffic improvements in Marchmont 🚧 🚶‍♀️, tourist tax spending on accessibility ♿ and lots more (!)

open.substack.com/pub/cllrbenp...
Ben smiling next to a black noticeboard for the Braid Hills. The words "Welcome to the Braid Hills" are visible at the top of the noticeboard in white text. A text overlay on the image reads: What did I get up to in August 2025? 6 updates from August 2025.
September 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Absolutely delighted that, at the 3rd time of asking, we have successfully banned arms companies from commercial activity (including testing) in Council parks and greenspace 🌳🚫

Thank you to everyone who wrote into the consultation earlier this year to make your views known .. we did it! 💬📝
Image of park with text overlay which reads: Green win! Arms dealers out our parks! Greens successfully ban arms companies from testing in council parks and greenspace.
August 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
As your Councillor, I hold a monthly drop-in surgery at Morningside Library from 4-5pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month 💬📅📚

There is no need to book — just call in! The library is wheelchair accessible and I'm happy to accommodate any access needs you might have, just let me know how 👨‍🦯🧏
Surgery poster. In the top half of the image, Ben is smiling against a background of tenement buildings set against the blue sky. Text overlay in "bubble" style writing reads: Surgery with Councillor Ben Parker. A banner is in the middle of the image with contact details: cllr.ben.parker@edinburgh.gov.uk; @CllrBenParker; 0131 529 4055 x 34055. The bottom half of the image reads: "at Morningside Library, every 2nd Thursday of the month from 4-5pm. At my surgery I am happy to: Help with any issues you are experiencing; Discuss any ideas you have about the city or local area; Sign documents and take declarations. Please note that surgeries will only be held during school term time."
August 4, 2025 at 8:53 AM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Fantastic to see the St Oswald’s team back out and consulting about the future of the space — call in today until 7pm or from 10am tomorrow to give your thoughts! 💭 🙋‍♂️ 🏗️🏫
Outside the St Oswald’s centre a promotional poster sits on a chair. The poster says: “St Oswald’s Centre - have your say!” A poster board setting out the “St Oswald’s timeline” from 2018 until now (and beyond) A poster board with dot voting on the theme of “What should St Oswald’s become?”
March 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
February was a busy month and I'm only just catching my breath! Read my latest monthly update here: cllrbenparker.substack.com/p/what-did-i... 📝
Poster of 1-5 actions covered in the blog. The numbers 1-5 are contained in green circles on the left of the page. The title is in Green with a white outline at the top of the page. A picture of Ben, smiling, is in the bottom right hand corner. There is a greyed out background impact of trees on the Meadows. The text reads: "February update from Councillor Ben Parker This month, I've been working on... 1) Housing committee updates 2) Communal bin reviews 3) Talk at the Open Door 4) Morningside Road pavements 5) The Council budget"
March 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who joined us today — excellent conversations and ideas for us to take forward 🌬️ ✅
A group of c.50 people gathered in the Council Chamber. Children are sat on the floor. There is a PowerPoint slide at the front which reads “Parents for Future Scotland” A crowd gathers to listen to children who are speaking at the event. The children are holding banners with campaign asks for the elected members.
March 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Lovely to join Porty Community Energy, @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social and ECCAN to speak at the launch of the Travel Agents of Change exhibition at the canal — lots of inspiring chat about flight free holidaying 📍🗺️ ☀️ 🌊

Read more here: portycommunityenergy.wordpress.com/travel-agent... ✈️ 🚫
A crowd of 10-15 people gathers around the exhibition at the canal. There is a cargo bike at the front of the group. The front cover of the “Travel Agents for Change” zine. It is a riso-printed booklet in yellow with pink text. The text reads: “Travel Agents of Change - from Edinburgh to a sustainable destination. Stories of flight free, low carbon holidays”
March 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
I’m still writing a monthly blog to update folk on (some of) what I’m working on each month 📝

January’s update is a little late but now uploaded here: www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/bens-monthly...

If you’re curious to know more about the role of a Cllr, or what’s keeping me busy, give it a read ✅
Picture of Ben, smiling, with text overlay. Text reads: January update from Councillor Ben Parker. This month, I’ve been working on: 1) Transient Visitor Levy, 2) Community Grants Fund, 3) Local Housing Strategy, 4) Internal Audits, 5) Casework.
February 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
I was very disappointed in the response to my motion at last week's Full Council relating to Shelter Scotland's intervention against the Council on homelessness rights 🏚️ ❌

Read more about the issue here ⤵️ www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...
Text reads: "We have to take seriously this intervention by one of our key sector partners. When we declared a housing emergency, we said that we would prioritise a rights based approach. The decision in December undermines that declaration, and it makes a mockery of our responsibilities to homeless people. Homelessness rights and Shelter Scotland correspondence. Motion by Councillor Parker."
February 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Local to Morningside? Morningside Community Council (MCC) is working on a Local Place Plan, setting out ambitions for the area for years to come 🌳🏡

Complete the short survey to have your say: forms.gle/h6FTtPc8MCEb... 📝 💭
Leaflet to promote the Local Plan survey. Text reads: We would love to find out your ideas on our local area to help us produce a Local Place Plan (LPP). A LPP is an opportunity to influence future development in our area. Producing a plan gives us a chance to shape the future of Morningside within the city by recording: What's important in our community What do we want to protect What do we want to change What do we aspire our area to be like in the future
February 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
This issue continues to rumble on and I've submitted the below Emergency Motion to Full Council on the matter.

I am deeply concerned about the approach of other Parties on this and will continue to press for a human-rights based approach to be prioritised when tackling the Housing Emergency 🏠⚖️
Screenshot of Emergency Motion. Text reads: Homelessness rights and Shelter Scotland correspondence with City of Edinburgh Council 1. Notes that, in the last week, Shelter Scotland have stated publicly that they “[have] lost confidence in the leadership of the City of Edinburgh Council” on issues relating to homelessness rights, and demanded that Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Housing Regulator intervene against the Council. 2. Notes that this follows a decision of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative Councillors at Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee to endorse lobbying calls from the Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee to the Scottish Government requesting the relaxation of legislation relating to homelessness rights until 2028. 3. Recognises the unprecedented and alarming nature of such an intervention by a leading housing charity against the Council. Equally, recognises that Council officers dispute some of the claims made by the charity. 4. Notes that an update report on provision of temporary accommodation for homeless households is expected at the next Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee meeting in February. 5. Requests that this report includes information about how the Council will uphold and prioritise a rights-based approach to tackling the Housing Emergency, including safeguarding legal protections / rights of homeless households in response to the concerns raised by Shelter Scotland and others.
December 18, 2024 at 12:35 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
Lots of folk have been in touch with me about concerns re next steps on the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route 🌳🚶‍♂️🚲

I've tried to pull together common queries on this blog post here ⤵️ 📝

edinburghgreens.org.uk/blog/novembe...
Modal filter outside of James Gillespie's Primary School with person cycling through the centre of the image. The sun is shining through the trees on the left of the image and there is blue sky. Text overlay reads: Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route. Update: November 2024.
November 27, 2024 at 4:57 PM
cllrbenparker.bsky.social
As your Councillor, I hold 2 drop in surgeries a month 💬📅

☕ Kafe Kweer, 4-5pm, 1st Monday of the month
📚Morningside Library, 4-5pm, 2nd Thursday of the month

No need to book — just call in! I'm happy to accommodate any access needs you might have, just let me know how 👨‍🦯🧏
Surgery poster. In the top half of the image, Ben is smiling against a background of trees in the Autumn. Text overlay in "bubble" style writing reads: Surgery with Councillor Ben Parker. A banner is in the middle of the image with contact details: cllr.ben.parker@edinburgh.gov.uk; @CllrBenParker; 0131 529 4055 x 34055. The bottom half of the image reads: "at Morningside Library, every 2nd Thursday of the month from 4-5pm. and Kafe Kweer, Gilmore Place every 1st Monday of the month from 4-5pm. The library is wheelchair accessible. The cafe has a step for access. Please contact me to discuss other access arrangements and I will be happy to accommodate what works best for you. Please note that surgeries will only be held during school term time."
November 27, 2024 at 3:56 PM