SEVEN community councils in Edinburgh have been forced to close after receiving insufficient nominations for members.
Following the community council election date last month, eight areas did not receive enough nominations to go ahead.
A second call was made and closed last week, resulting in only one of the eight at-risk councils being saved.
Areas like Portobello, West Pilton, and Craigmillar will now have no community council, unless 20 or more electors make an appeal in six months’ time.
Community council elections commenced in February, and locals were given the chance to stand as a councillor for one of 46 areas.
Last month, the new committees were announced, though eight councils did not have enough nominations to solidify their place, including Old Town, Davidson’s Mains and Silverknowes, Firrhill, West Pilton/West Granton and Portobello.
Following a second call for nominations which opened on 27 March and closed last week, only the Old Town Community Council received enough nominations to be saved.
The seven other community councils had insufficient nominations to be established, including Hutchinson/Chesser and Muirhouse/Salvesen.
The Scheme for Community Councils states that a further request for a community council to be established can be made if 20 or more electors are behind it and should be submitted after a standstill period of six months.
The community council induction events, which were due to take place in the coming days, have been postponed due to the unexpected passing of Councillor Val Walker.
Val was due to play a significant part in the induction events, welcoming new members and sharing anecdotes of the successes of community councils in her experience.
The council have made the “difficult decision” to postpone these events in light of her passing, and they will be rescheduled in due course.
The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) said: “She has been a warm, understanding and sincere support to the city’s community councils and to EACC.
“We have been the better for the lead she gave us.”
