The 'unsafe' Edinburgh shopping centre loyal locals refuse to abandon

Once a thriving community hotspot in Leith, the Newkirkgate shopping centre is now described by many as 'shabby and unsafe', yet it retains a band of loyal locals who aren't ready to let go. The 'Kirkgate', which opened its doors back in the 1960s, was once a place where residents could find everything they needed under one roof.

Today, however, it stands as a mere shadow of its past, predominantly housing charity shops, pawnbrokers, and a smattering of chain stores.

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Despite its current run-down appearance, there are still those who remain hopeful for the centre's future, insisting on immediate revitalisation. Edinburgh Live caught up with some of the steadfast shoppers at the centre to hear why they continue to patronise it and what they believe is necessary for the area to flourish once again.

Graeme Ross, aged 69, reminisces about the days when the centre boasted a community hub complete with football pitches where he and his friends would train. He laments the loss of community focus and the diminished footfall in the area, stating: "It's only the bank that brings me here. There's nothing that makes this place stand out anymore."

Per Ulvik, 73, a regular visitor from Sweden over the last five decades, has witnessed the transformation of Leith and the centre. He shared his thoughts with us: "I think that Leith and the centre feel safer now than they did a few decades ago, but there is something missing. It could do with a bit of a spruce up, I think people might come back here if it looked a bit nicer.", reports Edinburgh Live.

Edinburgh resident Margaret, 49, spoke to Edinburgh Live about the diminishing commercial landscape in her home town of Leith. She told us: "There is a Tesco nearby but for older people it's too much of a walk to come here for what isn't a great selection of shops. There were more shops around when I was young, and I just feel the whole place has changed so much."

Lou, 43, another local from Leith, shared a similar sentiment about the state of commerce in the area. Sharing with Edinburgh Live, she lamented: "It looks rubbish, and it isn't safe. You can't be in here at night. There used to be a butchers and a bakers here, and you knew everybody. Now I go to Asda or Morrisons, just because I feel safer shopping there. If the place was cleaner and safer, I would come here more often and so would other people."

However, a wave of optimism comes from locals like Colin Diamond, 57, who believe the renaissance of Leith's Newkirkgate Shopping Centre is not far off. In his words: "It's a bit dull and it needs brightened up, but what we really need is some more community places. Make it more inviting, get rid of the drab 1970s architecture. You see all the Victorian architecture around, it just needs some soul in here."

While there was a general agreement that the centre has seen better days, there was also a sense of nostalgia for what it once was - and a hope that it can once again become a source of pride for Leith.