Drum Brae / Gyle - Edinburgh Liberal Democrats

Drum Brae/Gyle ward covers the communities of Barntongate, Bughtlin, Clermiston, Clerwood, Drum Brae, East Craigs, Forrester Park, North Gyle, Parkgrove, South Gyle and parts of West Craigs.

Working as a team with Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Christine Jardine MP, local councillors Robert Aldridge and Ed Thornley are strong voices for the area and fight hard to get things done locally.

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Councillor Ed Thornley

Ed has been a councillor since 2022, and lives locally in East Craigs. He is currently the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Council.

Together with Councillor Robert Aldridge, he is campaigning for:

Action to tackle the terrible state of local roads, paths and pavements
Fighting for flood mitigations in North Gyle
Better access to convenient and reliable public transport
Investment in our parks and green spaces, and working with Friends of Parks groups
Better lighting in green spaces so people can feel safe when walking
Improvements to road safety across our communities, especially near schools

He sits on the Culture & Communities and Policy & Sustainability Committees.

Contact details on edinburgh.gov.uk

Councillor Robert Aldridge

Robert has been a councillor for Drum Brae/Gyle for over 30 years and he lives locally in Barntongate.

Robert was unanimously elected as Edinburgh's Lord Provost, meaning he chairs meetings of the Council and is also the civic head of the city and the ex-officio Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh.

Robert has a long record of service and action for and with the local community and he has a strong reputation for getting things done.

He campaigned successfully with local residents for the Drum Brae Leisure Centre and for the Drum Brae Library Hub, which have both been hugely successful.
He chaired the Neighbourhood Partnership’s Environment Committee leading to improvements in parks across the Drum Brae/Gyle area and targeted anti-litter campaigns.
He has championed more local decision making – especially in promoting the Youth Decides initiative locally, where young people recommend local projects for funding.
He championed the new gym hall at East Craigs Primary school and the development of the new Buttercup Farm Park.

For all his time as a councillor, Robert has fought to protect local green spaces from development. Most recently he opposed the recently rejected development proposals for yet more housing on greenbelt at Cammo.

Contact details on edinburgh.gov.uk

Latest news

The latest updates from your local Scottish Liberal Democrat team and Cllr Robert Aldridge and Cllr Ed Thornley

Cllrs Thornley and Aldridge on the Torwood Path

Drum Brae / Gyle

One Step Closer on Torwood Path Upgrade

The path - part of the West Edinburgh Link project - will be part of the first stage of works.

5 Aug 2025

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Drum Brae / Gyle

Parkgrove Drive resurfaced at last!

After years of campaigning Parkgrove Drive has finally been resurfaced, with road safety measures to tackle rat-running still to come.

5 Aug 2025

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Cllrs Aldridge and Thornley at the Craigs/Maybury junction

Drum Brae / Gyle

Craigs/Maybury Junction Works - Update Aug '25

With work well underway at the junction, residents have raised concerns about the volume of traffic on Turnhouse Road - especially once schools go back in August.

4 Aug 2025

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