New Lord Provost unveils eco-friendly ambitions

The 52-year-old computing teacher and stepdad of two is set to become Edinburgh’s civic leader next week and is determined to be an ambassador for the environment.

Councillor Wilson was nominated by Labour last night and will formally be appointed to the five-year post next week.He replaces George Grubb, who is retiring after 13 years as a councillor, and will preside over the Labour-SNP coalition.

Cllr Wilson, lives with his long-term partner in Stenhouse and has a stepdaughter and stepson. He’ll be taking a break from teaching at Newbattle Community High School in Dalkeith so he can don the chains of office.

He told the Evening News he will lead by example when taking office later this month and hopes to see the official large 7 Series saloon replaced with a more eco-friendly vehicle.

“I’m a very committed environmentalist,” he said. “I drive a Prius hybrid car and I’m very interested in environmental issues – I believe in leading by example. When you talk about solar panels people say ‘would you have those on your house’, and I say ‘well I already do’.

“And I would like nothing better than to have the first hybrid lord provost’s car.”

A key policy promoted by Cllr Wilson is the setting up of community energy partnerships.

This allows residents of an apartment block to install solar panels and sell the excess green energy to the National Grid for a profit.

In the Labour manifesto the party pledged to set up a central development unit which would help community groups and residents apply for grants and to get such projects off the ground. Originally from Selkirk, Cllr Wilson studied at Stirling University and has lived in Edinburgh since his early 20s.

As Lord Provost, Cllr Wilson will preside over debates in the City Chambers before policies and initiatives are voted upon. The former Edinburgh International Science Festival chair said he was committed to opening up the political debate to all parties.

“I very much believe in cross-party support and the solutions to many problems lies in consensus politics,” he said.

Along with his civic duties Cllr Wilson said he wanted to be an approachable lord provost and to open up politics to as many people as possible.“I would also like to lighten the spirits of the city and bring some humour to this role. I’ve always said there’s nowhere else I’d rather live and I feel very privileged to be nominated for this role.”

The first meeting of the new council is on Thursday, May 17, at which it will appoint Mr Wilson, the only nominee, as Lord Provost.