LOCALS OPPOSE UNWELCOME DEVELOPMENT
The following account of a public meeting appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News on 4 December 1888.
PROPOSED POLICE AND FIRE-ENGINE STATIONS IN BROUGHTON STREET.
Last night a public meeting was held in the hall of Free St Mary’s Church, Edinburgh, for the purpose of protesting against the Broughton Street Heriot School [32 Broughton Street] being erected into a police and fire-engine station.
—Mr Thomas Carmichael, S.S.C. [resident at 25 Albany Street], who presided, said that before establishing such a place in Broughton Street the authorities should take into account whether the district was one where crime existed in any quantity, and also the feelings and opinions of the people in the district. The police office [Parliament Square] was a very convenient place as far as the requirements of the police were concerned. Having inspected it, however, he could not say that the authorities were doing wrong in looking for a place with a little more accommodation, but they should have looked out for a place nearer Little King Street.
—Mr John Kellet [ironmonger, smith, tinsmith, gasfitter at 61–63 Broughton Street, resident at 59 Broughton Street] did not think the establishment of a police station would induce people to live in that quarter, and he moved that the meeting petition the Town Council to reconsider the proposal to purchase the Heriot School in Broughton Street for a police station and fire-engine office.
—Mr Reith, who seconded the motion, argued that Broughton Street, on account of its steep gradient, was unsuitable for a fire station.
—Rev. Mr Davidson [of Free St Mary’s, resident at 7 Bellevue Crescent] said that the planting of a police station in Broughton would seriously hamper the work of the ministers of the churches in the locality. On a show of hands Mr Kellet’s motion was adopted, only one person dissenting. It was agreed that a deputation be sent to the Town Council for the purpose of bringing the objections under their notice.
—Mr Councillor Colston [Convener of the Finance Committee, resident at 23 Regent Terrace] said the station must be put down somewhere, but at Bunker’s Hill [Leith Street] there was ample accommodation for it, at a cheaper rate, and possibly the situation would be more convenient.
—Mr Councillor Tait [resident at 15 Dublin Street], speaking as a member of the Plans and Works Committee, said he was never in favour of the proposal.—Mr Councillor Gulland [corn merchant at 20 Greenside Street, resident at 8 Claremont Crescent] thought some cells might be got nearer Princes Street.—Mr Councillor Paterson [bookbinder, 15 Broughton Street] favoured the Bunker Hill proposal.
It may simply be a coincidence, but in 1889, the former school at 32 Broughton Street was sold to a private buyer … Free St Mary’s Church, for use as halls.