Your support is both appreciated and needed
IF you care about Edinburgh, you will hopefully have developed a deep affection for BuildEdinburgh, as a way of keeping in touch with what’s going on in the city and a source of several possible good ideas.
But, after some 200 posts into the evolution of the site, it’s time for a new chapter.
It’s one thing aggregating what’s already in the public domain, and publishing donated columns and features; it is another carrying out serious journalism.
Serious journalism needs resourcing, and you can help make it happen.
A monthly subscription of £3.50, or an annual one of £30, could begin to make a huge difference to the site (massive thanks to those of you who have already pledged since it was made it possible, only last week).
First up, please be reassured that our weekly updates will remain free to read and produced for free.
But funding from you will help make a significant difference to the type of editorial that the site can run.
Paying subscribers will not only enjoy exclusive access to the content that has had to be paid for, they will also be able to suggest and decide what editorial to pursue in the future.
They will furthermore be able to enjoy exclusive access to a programme of online discussions that is currently being compiled, with several key people and organisations in the city.
Plus, they will have full access to the site’s archive.
Please be reassured: 100 per cent of your pledge will go to improving the site.
Not a single penny of it will end up in my pocket (annual accounts - shared with paying subscribers only - will confirm this).
Instead, your pledge will go towards interrogating land title documents, turning the site into a dot-com (making it much easier to promote - not least to elected members and senior city officials) and, crucially, commissioning freelance journalists and architecture practices to carry out work.
Ahead of next year’s local council elections, BuildEdinburgh aims to be at the heart of the debate.
One possible campaign that appears to be gathering momentum is a call for major projects to be first subject to an open design competition.
To end, don’t worry: BuildEdinburgh won’t be issuing this appeal again for several weeks.
It’s not going to clog up your emails with funding requests.
This is a relatively one-time offer and, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you, in anticipation, for your backing.
Thank you for reading this and please do share with your family, friends and networks - Mike Wilson, BuildEdinburgh
Image details: copyright Mike Wilson