Liberal Democrats praise 'Keep Stockbridge Local' Campaign after Sainsburys lose battle for Raeburn Place site

10.03.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th May 2009

Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable was a high profile supporter of the Stockbridge campaign

Local Liberal Democrats in Stockbridge have congratulated all of those involved in the successful independent community campaign to protect small local shops and against the opening of a new Sainsburys on Raeburn Place.

The campaign was kicked off by the Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council and Stockbridge Traders' Association and attracted over 6,000 signatures. Many were concerned at the devastating impact such a store would have had on the area's small independent retailers. The local

Liberal Democrats were proud to actively support this campaign with popular Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable and Scottish Leader Tavish Scott backing the campaign.

Local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, Kevin Lang said, "The Community Council have done a huge service to Stockbridge for running this campaign. I have been proud to have been an active supporter. After all, my own family's small business ran for over 100 years in North Edinburgh so I well known the importance of protecting small shops.

"I am delighted that Scotmid have secured the site and will now move across the road from their existing shop. This is a far more appropriate replacement for Woolworths that bringing another supermarket chain to the local community.

"This campaign really does show that local people really can make a difference."