Cheerio Andrew "Wrecker" Holmes

Andrew Holmes, Director of City Development retires after a long career in the City of Edinburgh Council and it's now time to say "cheerio". Mr Holmes was the council official behind Caltongate and many other disastrous schemes in Edinburgh. This is what he said about Caltongate....part of his legacy to Edinburgh

Of course there's controversy. Anything that involves change has an element of controversy about it. Look at Caltongate, that's accounted for a huge part of our work for a considerable time. There were a lot of issues raised by local objectors, but most of these were – and would always have been – addressed by the planning system. In retrospect, Caltongate took longer than we would have liked but the reasons for that are apparent, including the fact that it was dealt with by a fairly new planning committee. There's always a tension in the planning system. On the one hand the system is in favour of development but on the other there's the recognition of the need to consult and the right to allow people to voice objections. In Edinburgh there's always debate. Sometimes that's healthy but sometimes it's organisations burying their heads in the sand."

Burying our heads in the sand? Perhaps he was building empires on sand!

It's a pity he wasn't Holmes by name homes by nature, its a pity Mr Holmes thinks knocking down of homes merits development and missed the opportunity to build decent family sized social and affordable homes on the development owned by them instead of luxury apartments, townhouse, offices, hotel and conference centre. Sadly the Independent Republic of the Canongate won't miss Andrew Holmes at all.

Article in Evening News here By GINA DAVIDSON

During his tenure he oversaw many bold schemes, but now the city's development director is moving on.

IN sober suit, shirt and tie, his face in repose somewhat reminiscent of a lugubrious bloodhound, Andrew Holmes appears as though 40 years of public service have left him thoroughly depressed.

But then he breaks into the kind of grin which can light up a room . . . as he talks of moving out of Edinburgh for good when he quits the council next month.

There will no doubt be others around town ready to pop some corks when Holmes finally relinquishes control of the council's city development operation, a few raised eyebrows at the fact that the man who has helped engineer so many controversial changes in Scotland's capital won't be living amid their outcome.

Trams, road bumps, controlled parking zones, retractable bollards, wheelie bins in the New Town, Caltongate, the Scottish Parliament, the Waterfront development, even the re-cobbling of the Royal Mile... there can hardly have been a controversial move made in the city in the last ten years which has not passed over Holmes' desk.

If he was an elected politician his name would be as mud-splattered as that of David "congestion charging" Begg or Andrew "city centre traffic cock-up" Burns.

Instead, as a council official, he has been able to remain out of the public eye, although there are those who suggest that the real power within Edinburgh's council lies with those such as Holmes.

He laughs off such a suggestion. His job, he says, has always been apolitical. He – and his department – are there to make sure developers and householders stick squarely to the letter of planning law, no matter if an application is for hundreds of new homes or a single conservatory. And he says he gives nothing but the hard facts when asked for information from politicians be it on planning, transportation or council property issues. If they don't like the facts, that's not his fault.

Yet it is said that Holmes is a man who likes to get his way, and as someone who has worked his way up the ladder to director after much lowlier beginnings – he started out as an engineer with the old Edinburgh Corporation, before joining the Highways department in Lothian Regional Council – there can be no doubt he possesses as much drive and determination as any politician.

Perhaps as a result, there have, allegedly, been some furious fights between official and political masters over certain policies in the past. The city centre traffic management scheme is one which apparently got blood boiling.

This saw retractable bollards placed in George Street, and ten roads in the New Town closed to all vehicles. The intense public anger which resulted meant the politicians wanted a change while, some say, Holmes didn't.

Even now he seems reluctant to give much ground. "That (CCTM) didn't just happen overnight you know," he says. "It was several years in the preparation and there were considerable consultative exercises done. It wasn't sprung on anyone... it's a cumbersome process, changing traffic regulations.

"In retrospect we've got to say some of it was a step too far – not that there's anyone demanding cars back on Princes Street. Eighty five per cent of it is still in place." The underlying message seems to be he was right after all.

It's the same with trams. Holmes was around when the idea of a different kind of transport system for Edinburgh – the Metro – was first floated in the late 80s. That was knocked on the head, but the issue wouldn't go away. And for someone who has always cycled to work from his Trinity home, ensuring gridlock doesn't happen on the city streets has always been a top priority.

"Look at the huge number of people travelling to the airport, to the Waterfront to the city centre. How else are you going to move them around without making a change in public transport provision? Princes Street is coming to the end of its capacity for buses. We're now at the stage where we're digging up the streets and every city that's gone through this stage has had complaints. Dublin is a classic, but ask them now if they'd rather not have trams and you'd get a completely different answer to when the work was being done.

"Edinburgh is Scotland's growth point and as a city we've been rather slow to recognise the city's importance to the national economy. But now that's changed we need to support its economic growth and the tram is part of that."

He adds: "It has been controversial because it's a big change, but you always need people with big ideas running a city. There's not necessarily a conflict between that and being a pragmatist, but while there's always the aspiration in Edinburgh to aim for the best, sometimes you have to do what's deliverable."

Controversy seems to dog Holmes. But he says, that's because of the remit of his department rather than anything he does personally. "We're not the biggest council department but we deal with economic development, transport and planning and the council's property portfolio. If city development didn't exist, the Evening News would definitely be thinner."

"Of course there's controversy. Anything that involves change has an element of controversy about it. Look at Caltongate, that's accounted for a huge part of our work for a considerable time. There were a lot of issues raised by local objectors, but most of these were – and would always have been – addressed by the planning system.

"In retrospect, Caltongate took longer than we would have liked but the reasons for that are apparent, including the fact that it was dealt with by a fairly new planning committee."

He adds: "There's always a tension in the planning system. On the one hand the system is in favour of development but on the other there's the recognition of the need to consult and the right to allow people to voice objections. In Edinburgh there's always debate. Sometimes that's healthy but sometimes it's organisations burying their heads in the sand."

Tough words. But it's been almost ten years since he was handed the reins of the city development department, with an £81,000 salary, a budget of £110 million and 900 staff. It must be hard to leave after wielding such power. Holmes says he's neither desperate to leave nor, as some have suggested, has he been pushed out.

"There does come a time, in this job anyway, when a change is beneficial," he smiles. "Of course because the job is so interesting and stimulating, it is difficult to let go, which is why I told my staff six months before I handed in my notice – so that I wouldn't weaken.

"You can't do the job forever and said I would go once I hit 60 and that was last year, so... if people tell you I'm not happy about going it's because it's a tug not because someone's got my arm twisted up my back. If that was true I'd be holding out for a pay-off."

And what does the future hold for him? "I'm moving to Pitlochry. If you're going to make a change, make a big one. It's a place I have always liked and has a great social and cultural life around the theatre. And it's only an hour or so away from Edinburgh, so I won't be too far away."

ANDREW HOLMES ON . . .

Gogarburn: "We were working with RBS for a long time. We helped them look for different sites and once they decided on Gogarburn we helped them deal with the planning issues. People say we gave planning permission for building in the green belt, but there was a development there before (the hospital) and the site was suitable for a single user who would respect the site and RBS has done that. If you can say that you got the world's fourth largest bank to establish its HQ in a small city in northern Europe then you're not doing too badly."

Waterfront: "I'm proud of the opportunity that exists there... it was just wasteland when it came to us and now it's the biggest regeneration project in the UK. Before the regeneration started many people didn't even know where Granton was, now they want to live there."

Craigmillar: "The regeneration there is something I'm very proud of. Last month people were queuing up to buy houses in Craigmillar – you wouldn't have thought that a few years ago."

Planning system:"It always gets knocked. When I was appointed, we had the slowest system in Scotland. We are now considerably better than the average. We were the first to announce online applications. We've got a much more responsive system. When people kick the system what they're really reflecting on is that a lot of applications pose challenges because of the nature of the city. But nearly every application gets approved as long as developers stick to council policies."

The future: "Edinburgh faces a very big challenge in being able to deliver the number of houses the city needs. We're having a look at the planning process to deliver more affordable housing. The Government has set us a challenge to increase the number of houses by 50 per cent by 2015. There's a review under way of the greenbelt. We have to look at sustainable expansion

Bob the Buider tipped to get Caltongate contract

Yes the Independent Republic of the Canongate was shocked to when we heard that Bob the Builder had taken the Caltongate contract. We wondered what Bob, Wendy and the crew were up to. But after some investigation it turns out to be Sir Robert McAlpine builders that have been "tipped" to build Caltongate. Hope they don't go out too soon to buy the cement and bricks just now Sir Bob - as the Scottish Ministers are still to make a decision for approval or not. And there still might be a public enquiry! As Mark Cumming from PPS (Caltongate spin doctors) told the local community council "it could go on for months without a decision".

Check the article in Contract Journal here

Have you written to the Scottish Ministers yet? Please make sure you do.

Panmure House - Common Good asset? Sold on the "free" market.

The Canongate's Panmure House, an A listed building, is to be sold by the Council on auction - Adam Smith, the economist and philosopher lived in this house, it looks like his home is to be a victim of the free market Capitalism he once spouted in his Wealth of nations.

However how did Edinburgh happen to own this house - is it a common good asset? Does anyone know if Edinburgh bought the house or was it gifted to the city.

There is no doubt it's proximity to Caltongate is one of the reasons the council hopes to sell it but if it was a common good asset it wouldn't be the council's to sell. It looks like we are are to lose another municipal asset in the Old Town.

Who was Adam Smith - find out here

Adam Smith's house goes to auction
Historical conservationists cry foul as founder of modern economics falls victim to the free market
The house where philosopher and economist Adam Smith spent the last years of his life has been put up for sale.
The Canongate building, just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile, was Smith's home between 1778 and 1790.

It has been used in recent years as a centre for troubled youngsters by Edinburgh City Council, which has put it on the market for £700,000; however, analysts expect the property to attract bids approaching £1 million.

The building has been A-listed - the maximum level of protection for a property - but includes planning permission to convert for residential or commercial purposes.

Kate Morgan, sales agent for Rettie & Co’s land and development department, told The Scotsman: “It is close to the Scottish Parliament and the planned new Caltongate development. Developers know that the area is up-and-coming so it is possible that a local developer will buy and maybe sit on.”

The Canongate building was originally erected for the Earl of Panmure in 1691.

Campaigners oppose the decision by the council and fear the historical value of the building could be lost in the hands of a developer.

Economists from the University of Edinburgh have launched a campaign opposing the sale, expressing the view that the public would be better served by using the building as a policy institute for economics in Scotland, or a study centre for the Scottish Enlightenment.

However, as pointed out by Tatiana Kornienko, a member of the campaign and an economist at the University of Edinburgh, with the closing date for bids on 4 April, it would be impossible to raise the funds to buy the house themselves.

“We can understand that the Council needs money to run its social services, schools, help for vulnerable people,” Kornienko said.

“Our only frustration is that the Council put the house on the market without any advance warning." The campaign team from Edinburgh University is now trying to bring together possible investors.

However, the director of the Adam Smith Institute, Dr Eamon Butler, has questioned the value of an Adam Smith museum.

“Even if we thought we could manage to buy it, what can we do with it? Whether there are enough artefacts to make a museum that takes up a whole house is not known. But it would be nice if whoever buys it remembers him in some way and gives people something to look at,” he told The Scotsman.

Read the article in The Journal here

Corstorphine Hill threatened by developers

There are plans to build luxury homes on Corstorphine Hill. These are NOT desperately needed homes i.e. family sized social housing that people in Edinburgh can afford but those big fancy Cala Homes. Corstorphine Hill is a unique habitat to plants and animals and we need to preserve our natural habitats as well as improve the habitats for animals kept in the zoo.

Eddie Price from Friends of Corstorphine Hill (March 2008 Newsletter here) is part of Edinburgh at Risk (EAR), a group that is getting together too discuss the damage of our beautiful city, our city that seems to get sold off to the highest bidder with no consultation with the wider community - hopefully we can campaign together too.

If you are involved in a campaign to stave off unhelpful developments or developments that are out off character in Edinburgh or the shutting down of a community facility - come to the Canongate Community Forum on Tuesday, 25th March 2008 at 7pm at 8 St Mary's St to meet other campaigners and concerned citizens.

By GARETH EDWARDS in the Evening News

AN expert group has been set up to fight Edinburgh Zoo's controversial plans to sell off land for homes.

The zoo's £72 million expansion plans were thrown into doubt last year after councillors voted to oppose the development of houses off Kaimes Road.

The plans are a key part of the zoo's masterplan and are the focus of a local public inquiry later this year. The Friends of Corstorphine Trust – one of the main objectors, has now enlisted the help of planning experts from community councils to prepare a case ahead of the inquiry, and any possible appeal against the final decision.

The trust warned that if the zoo's plans went ahead it would bring traffic chaos to the area.

Eddie Price, chairman of the Corstorphine group, said it wanted to be prepared.

"It is impossible to know whether the zoo will appeal the council's decision, although I would imagine with so much at stake that it will," he said.

"We have been working with local community councils in the area to get together a working group of people who know about planning and traffic issues, so that we can look at all the arguments and be prepared.

"These plans are of huge concern to local people. If they went ahead it is likely local roads would grind to a halt."

The city council's planning committee overturned the authority's previous support for housing on part of the Corstorphine Hill site last October.

The zoo had hoped to sell off the land to raise up to £20m to help fund its 20-year masterplan to create a world-class visitor attraction. More than 200 people opposed the plans, including the Friends of Corstorphine Trust.

A final decision on the housing plans will be made at a local public inquiry, due to be held towards the end of this year. The trust's expert group has looked at the issues surrounding the development, and has drawn up a map to highlight just how serious traffic problems in the area could become.

As well as plans to develop housing on the west side of the zoo, there are proposals to install a roundabout and traffic lights on Corstorphine Road. These would be needed to deal with the extra traffic created by new houses – including a nearby development of 130 flats – as well as increased visitors to the zoo and an expansion of the nearby Forestry Commission car park.

The zoo's masterplan is aimed at turning the attraction into a modern wildlife and research facility attracting almost a million visitors a year. Under the plans, ageing cages would be replaced. The first stage of the 20-year plan would see a £10 million wildlife trail made to form an all-weather exhibit. It will feature the almost-complete Budongo chimpanzee enclosure, the new Rainbow Landings bird exhibit and a forthcoming rhino enclosure.

David Windmill, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: "We will be involved in the local inquiry later this year."

A zoo spokeswoman said it could not comment about a possible appeal until the outcome of the inquiry.

Standards Commission's Newspeak conclusion

Have any of you read George Orwell's 1984? Where Newspeak is used? When words have opposite meanings and politicians say one thing but mean the other? Well it seems that when it comes to Caltongate we live in an Orwellian nightmare. Jim "laugh a minute"Lowrie, the Planning Convenor of the Edinburgh Council Planning Committee said in October 2008 " We have to get big developments like Caltongate up and running as soon as we can." but after someone complained that he wasn't impartial (it is part of the councillor's code of conduct not to comment on Planning issues if on the Planning Committee) - the Standards Commission for Scotland said "Merely holding a view in favour of development of a particular site does not explicitly, or by implication, mean that an individual councillor has reached a particular view."

Eh? And he then went on to vote for Caltongate in its entirety at the Planning Committee. So Jim Lowrie said something, that was obviously what he meant but a QUANGO gives it a different interpretation from its original meaning in order that he hasn't breached the Code of Conduct? It's Orwellian Newspeak nonsense.

You can read the hair splitting excuses from the Standards Commission here

Read the article in the Evening News here

CITY planning leader Jim Lowrie has been cleared of any wrongdoing regarding comments he made on the controversial £300 million Caltongate plans.

The Lib Dem councillor was reported to the Standards Commission for Scotland following an Evening News article last October, when he said: "We have to get big developments like Caltongate up and running as soon as we can."

The complainant, thought to be a protester fighting the scheme, argued that Cllr Lowrie should not have commented before the planning application was heard by the council.

The scheme has since received the go-ahead.

As part of the Standards Commission investigation, Cllr Lowrie confirmed that the comments made in the Evening News were accurate, but chief investigating officer Stuart Allan said: "Merely holding a view in favour of development of a particular site does not explicitly, or by implication, mean that an individual councillor has reached a particular view."

Easter Greetings

My 3 year old daughter chose this photo, she`s very excited as we`re off on our Easter Holiday for a week.... where the `C` word is not to be mentioned.
If any news pops up Cat will keep you all posted, but in the meantime its important to keep up the pressure on those who can help save Edinburgh from this terrible threat that looms over the city.

So if you have time between chocolate eggs do get writing...

To Stop Caltongate individuals and organisations need to Act Now
All Planning Applications have been passed (last one Weds 5th March 08)
They are now presented to ministers.
You do not have to live in Edinburgh to show your concerns and that Caltongate should be stopped.

Write, using the following guiding points as well as your own in all letters to the following individuals and organisations.

It is understood that all the Caltongate Planning Applications must be sent to ministers under the Notification of Applications procedures for a number of reasons -

1. The council has a significant financial interest in the proposed applications and stands to receive financial payment on the delivery of planning consent.

2. The proposals ( in particular the demolition of structurally sound, in use buildings, both listed and unlisted in an Outstanding Conservation Area and World Heritage Site) conflict with key policies contained in the approved Structure and Local Plans and as such is a significant departure from the Development Plan.

3. There have been a significant level of objections received from community organisations and heritage groups in addition to the numerous individuals.

4. New legislation, policies, planning guidance is at a crucial stage and the proposals could set a dangerous precedent which would prejudice the effectiveness of these new policies.

5. The Caltongate Masterplan has been imbedded in the Finalised Local Plan for the area which has provoked many objections which have been requested to be heard at a LPI. The protection of listed and unlisted buildings, reference to the World Heritage Site, protection of housing and has yet to be tested through the Development Plan process.

6. The consultation process has been heavily critisised as not being inclusive, balanced or transparent and conflicts with new government guidance on growing community assets, partnership working, and community engagement.

7. The site lies in an area with international importance, a World Heritage Site.

8. This is a crucial time to send out the right message to developers.

9. The claimed economic benefits of the scheme could equally be made for a far more appropriate scheme, retaining homes and listed buildings, and with a far less detrimental impact on the WHS.

10. More Points Here to add to your letters


PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS TO WRITE TO

1. Write to the following Scottish Ministers urging them that Caltongate be called in and determination sought through a public inquiry
Cabinet Secretary John Swinney Minister for - Finance & Sustainable Growth

Linda Fabiani - Minister for Europe, External Affairs Affairs & Culture


More on their responsibilities here Scottish Government you can email them at this address marking your letters for the attention of each individual minister scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Write to them at St Andrew`s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG

2. You should also write to your constituency and regional MSPs find them here MSP FINDER by your postcode urging them that Caltongate should be called in and a Public Inquiry held.

3. You can also write to your MP and MEPS Find MP and MEPS (Scottish ones are listed even although it doesn’t say on home page, you just enter your postcode and they will appear)

4. You could also write to your local councillor(s) (although yours may be one of the planning committee that voted the plans through on the 6th Feb! (check here) asking them to write to The Scottish Government to press for for call in and determination through the Public Inquiry System.
All councillors emails or write to them C/O The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ
Find your councillorsAmong points you could make are the following, do add your own and include any material you feel important, especially if you think it hasn`t been considered, and do let others know they can do this too.

5. You should also write to ICOMOS UK as its ICOMOS who advises UNESCO International Council on Monuments & Sites UK, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ Email mail@icomos-uk.org

6. You should also inform UNESCO The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action.
Edinburgh`s Inscription Edinburgh World Heritage Trust

See Latest on Bath at Risk
Private individuals, non-governmental organizations, or other groups can draw the World Heritage Committee's attention to existing threats. If the alert is justified and the problem serious enough, the Committee may consider including the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
To inform the World Heritage Committee about threats to sites, Committee's Secretariat at:

E-mail: wh-info@unesco.org
World Heritage CentreUNESCO7, place de Fontenoy75352, Paris, 07 SPFrance

see www.eh8.org.uk for more

Mountgrange didn`t want council selling them short

This appears in Property Week on the 14th March
Full Article Here


"The scheme will have to go before the Scottish parliament in any event, as the city council has a stake in the scheme. Mountgrange bought some council-owned land around the site it owned, a former bus garage, which was due to be developed. The council will receive a small share of the profits from the site. ‘It was done to make sure the council didn’t sell us short,’ says Berry. ‘It only has a passive involvement.’ "

"In October, eyebrows were also raised over the appointment of Donald Anderson, former council leader, as Scottish director of PPS, the public relations agency that is promoting Caltongate on behalf of Mountgrange."
Questions That Demand Answers

Brunel Building Saved from demolition

A pumping station from an innovative railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been listed Grade II after a campaign to save it from demolition championed by Jeremy Clarkson.
Dairy Crest to demolish Brunel pumping station
The "Top Gear" presenter, whose advocacy of the engineer won him a close second to Sir Winston Churchill in the BBC's Great Britons series, got involved after the company Dairy Crest proposed to level the building in Totnes, Devon, for a housing development.

A rare survival of a building designed by the great engineer, the pumping house was to have provided the power for Brunel's South Devon Atmospheric Railway. Trains drawn along by a piston in a tube laid between the rails.

The listing means that Dairy Crest will have to apply to the local authority for permission to demolish, if that remains their intention.

Conservationists applauded Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, for deciding to list the building against the advice of English Heritage.

Adam Wilkinson, secretary of SAVE Britain's heritage, said: "The Secretary of State has clearly seen sense and listed a rare survival from one of the more exotic chapters of our industrial, architectural and transport history.
"Dairy Crest must now see the value of this building and work with the people of Totnes to come up with a scheme which makes use of Brunel's pumping station."

Full article here Telegraph Article

What You Can Do To Save The Buildings Below
Art Deco The Sailors Ark

Former Victorian School Canongate Venture

1930`s Macrae Tenements

find out more at www.eh8.org.uk

Bath and Edinburgh At Risk

The issue of whether Bath should be stripped of its coveted World Heritage status because of the controversial Western Riverside development is to be scrutinised by conservation experts from across the globe.

The United Nations' World Heritage Committee will meet in Quebec, Canada, in July ? and the question of Bath's status is high on the agenda. The committee will decide whether Bath should be formally placed on its World Heritage 'in danger' list because of the Western Riverside scheme.
The 43-acre development along the Avon will feature residential housing blocks, which objectors say will spoil the city's skyline. World Heritage Status brings huge kudos to the cities and locations which hold it.
To lose it would be a sharp blow to Bath's reputation as a world-leading tourism destination. Full Article Here
See more here on Bath

Edinburgh is also at risk of losing her World Heritage Status because of the proposed Caltongate scheme.

"ICOMOS-UK considers that the Caltongate project should have been referred to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Furthermore we consider that it would be appropriate for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to consider these proposals. However, as quoted above, such notification should take place before any approval is given.

If the proposals are referred to the World Heritage Centre, then they might be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its next session in Quebec in July 2008. The Committee would then have the option to ask for a joint UNESCO WH Centre/ICOMOS Mission to consider the project and the Mission’s report would be presented to the Committee. If they were concerned, the Committee could press for changes to be made to the project or they have the option to consider putting the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until such time as the threats could be removed." February 2008 6th this is taken from ICOMOS On Caltongate

What You Can Do To Help

Anyone for a game of Edinburgh Monopoly?

In the Evening News today -

"As a new report reveals Edinburgh is facing a critical shortage of hotel rooms, what options are available to make sure visitors to the Capital have somewhere to stay?"

Todays article would have you believe that we are facing a crisis of hotelless tourists....much more worrying than homeless residents?

So like Caltongate will it be a case of look I`m a developer I now have 18 of your green little houses so I can cash them in for a French 5 star hotel...

Full article here Eve News

The following comments on article speak more sense -

It also seems to me that the quote from the Chamber of Commerce: "We have hotels coming through now at places like Quartermile and Caltongate, but it has taken years to get them to that stage. We are getting the image of not being friendly to developers"

shows a major ignorance of the national planning system..Deeply worrying that people like this are given so much newspaper space to spout.

It is true that Hogmanay and the Festival see a horrendous excess of demand over supply, and this needs to be addressed in anyway possible. But outside these relatively narrow periods lets remember that capacity in Edinburgh exceeds supply - often on a huge scale. Developments on the fringe of the city such as Edinburgh Park should be encouraged, but within the City Centre there are other considerations.In discussing 'hotels' it should also be remembered that Edinburgh has a long tradition of bed and breakfasts and guesthouses that goes back to when there were few hotels in central Edinburgh other than for the well-heeled. There are literally hundreds of these and their combined capacity is a significant slice of Edinburgh's accommodation pie. It has for several year's been in VisitScotlands interests (apparently) to exaggerate how 'busy' Edinburgh is and there are many anecdotal stories of the visitor centre suggesting accommodation in Penicuik or Haddington long before Edinburgh's own capacity is genuinely full.These small facilities utilise and preserve historic buildings without destroying them. The City Council is entirely right to think long and hard before ripping the heart out of the city in the fashion that all large hotel developments seem to necessitate. Reducing the city's appeal by inappropriate and ill-concerned developments may well solve the capacity problem by lowering demand as much as increasing supply.Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Totally agree - and the dreadful Old Town Caltongate development, with its facade scheme and demolition of the Listed Caltongate Venture, is another nail in the coffin of the attracation of the city for tourists. Claims of the need for a new and very ugly Sofitel Hotel and a conference centre are greatly over stated in order that the developer can make a huge profit, aided and abetted by the Chamber of Commerce and sundry councillors and ex-councillors and planners.See:www.ew8.org.ukand tha daily blog.


They could sleep in their cars in the shiny new robotic car park...

The occupancy rates quoted in the paper today (as opposed to the online version) suggest that Edinburgh should be trying to fill what's there before building even more boxes glass and concrete monuments to spiv developers. The city is at the bottom of the comparison list with one fifth of rooms remaining unfilled - ie: below Hanoi but above Zurich. What effect will the dollar rate have on tourism from N America?

Community Research Today

Come along today Sunday 16th March from 12.30pm to 5pm in the shop at 8 St Mary's Street.

People are free to drop in at any time throughout the day and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup. Come along, share your ideas and get involved. The shop is no. 8 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU ...which is just off the Canongate.

The Soot campaigns` parent organisation the Canongate Community Forum (CCF) was successful in receiving an award from the Scottish Community Action Research Fund SCARF at the end of last year. The Community Action Research - -will run for 4-6weeks from April

People of all ages are encouraged to get involved and you don't have to live or work in the Canongate, if you care about the capital's historic heart do join in.

Its your opportunity to put your ideas forward, its all about getting actively involved in decisions and in carrying out the research itself.

After today a programme will be put together and made available as soon as is possible.

You are welcome to do what it is you are interested in and comfortable doing, although it is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and discover talents you didn't know you had.

All input is voluntary although expenses will be covered where appropriate.

To get you thinking,-

The shop itself will need staffed, welcoming folk, helping with displays, teas, coffees etc...
General Admin
Publicity, leaflets, posters, press, radio, TV, the web
Information gathering, will include in the shop, computer searches, networking, on street surveys, etc
Filming, photography, writing and documenting process and findings
Local businesses being brought in to be involved
Helping out with events and workshops
This list is not exhaustive, so do get thinking and jot down your thoughts and ideas. Looking at what is good in the area, its downsides, what is missing, what could be improved could all be explored. Alternatives to developer led regeneration? What Edinburgh World Heritage status means to you, the city, the area, your home?

Information, including dates and events will be displayed on the windows of the shop itself in St Mary’s Street, as well as on www.eh8.org.uk.

SOOT Fundraiser tonight 14th march

Get yourself along to The Canon`s Gait Cellar Bar tonight from 8pm til 1am. Map

Acts so far include ,Missing Cat , David McGinty
Andrew Gordon and Sabai

From Yesterdays Eve News
Caltongate
'a threat to world heritage status'
AN architectural historian who has demanded a European investigation into the £300 million Caltongate scheme has warned that losing the city's world heritage status is a "very real prospect". David Black has contacted the European Commission with allegations that the city council broke competition laws over the sale of land for the massive project. Mr Black has raised a number of concerns over the council's handling of the scheme.

As a result, campaigners have vowed to lobby Unesco's heritage arm in a bid to place the Capital on an "endangered" list. The international council on monuments and sites has also said it is "appropriate" for Unesco to examine the scheme. But developer Mountgrange has insisted there is no justification for an investigation, and has called the threat of losing status a "wild suggestion".

There is a poll on the article`s page to the right hand side which you can vote on which asks you -

Are you pleased that councillors have approved the Caltongate scheme?
Yes, Edinburgh has to change to survive and thrive
Yes, as long as the Royal Mile tenements are preserved
No, it’s architectural vandalism on a grand scale

There was bad news for the Save Meadowbank Campaigners as MEADOWBANK Stadium is to be demolished and a third of the site sold off to pay for a new £25 million centre following a vote by city councillors. The decision was reached last night, despite protests from campaigners battling to save the site. Read more Eve News

Someone has left the following comment on the Caltongate article

"Caltongate, the Waterfront, leisure facilities, wanton disregard for Common Good land and assets, parks and open spaces. Why dont all the groups get together and have a "Reclaim our City for the Citizens" movement? I'd join."

They have a point, what is the future for those who live in the capital all year round? Are we to go and be replaced by hotels, conference centres, office blocks and become a city who forgot its most important asset, her people?

The following letter in todays Eve News adds to this

YOUR article on figures released by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (Holyrood's £100,000 window cleaning bill, News, March 11) reveals the amount spent each year cleaning the windows of The Scottish Parliament.

It is obscene that this can happen in a city where the council has recently downgraded pensioners' meal provision from fresh food, to microwaved instant garbage, in order to save money.

If the building is still here in the year 6608 we will have spent what the building originally cost in just cleaning its damned windows! Not that the Scottish Parliament building will be here in 6608 . . . nor 2033 probably. Like anything else put up in Edinburgh these days it will be lucky to last 30 years before we pull it down before it falls down.

If the MSPs had been content with the debating chamber, offices and splendour of the Royal High, and the nearby working accommodation of old St Andrews House, the fabric of the buildings would outlast the institution of Parliament using them.

We desperately need architects and developers with the bravery to build for a long future, not Caltongate carpetbaggers who take the money and run. Mind you, as soon as the powers-that-be realise that the Parliament, Caltongate and the new council HQ, will be tottering wrecks when the old council building on the High Street will still have 200 years left in it, they'll probably knock that down too.

What is it about longevity in a building that offends the planner, architect and developer so?

Canongate Community Forum Drop In

Drop - in Sunday 16th March 12.30-5pm

A drop in day is to be held this Sunday 16^th March from 12.30pm to 5pm in the shop at 8 St Mary's Street. People are free to drop in at any time throughout the day and enjoy a bowl of homemade soup. Come along, share your ideas and get involved. The shop is no. 8 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU ...which is just off the Canongate.

The Soot campaigns` parent organisation the Canongate Community Forum (CCF) was successful in receiving an award from the Scottish Community Action Research Fund SCARF at the end of last year. Premises have now been secured to run the project from in St Mary's St. The Action Research - -will run for 4-6weeks from April

People of all ages are encouraged to get involved and you don't have to live or work in the Canongate, if you care about the capital's historic heart do join in.

An initial planning meeting was held to decide the details of what will be included in the research was held on Tuesday the 4^th March 7- 9pm in the shop. Information dates and events will be posted in the windows of the shop as well as around town and on www.eh8.org.uk.

To get involved just pop along to the shop, or email canongatecommunityforum@yahoo.co.uk

Its your opportunity to put your ideas forward, its all about getting actively involved in decisions and things can happen, be improved.

So come along, tell others and share your ideas on what you would like to see forming part of the research, the outcome of the project?

You are welcome to do what it is you are interested in and comfortable doing, although it is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and discover talents you didn't know you had.

All input is voluntary although expenses will be covered where appropriate.

The following are merely things to get you thinking,-

• The shop itself will need staffed, welcoming folk, helping with displays, teas, coffees etc...
• General Admin
• Publicity, leaflets, posters, press, radio, TV, the web
• Information gathering, will include in the shop, computer searches, networking, on street surveys, etc
• Filming, photography, writing and documenting process and findings
• Local businesses being brought in to be involved
• Helping out with events and workshops

This list is not exhaustive, so do get thinking and jot down your thoughts and ideas. Looking at what is good in the area, its downsides, what is missing, what could be improved could all be explored. Alternatives to developer led regeneration? What Edinburgh World Heritage status means to you, the city, the area, your home?

Information, including dates and events will be displayed on the windows of the shop itself in St Mary’s Street, as well as on www.eh8.org.uk.

Budget Day

If you missed last nights progamme Taking On Trump you can Watch it Here until Monday 17th to watch it again on the BBC iplayer.

More news later

Caltongate Battle Not Over Yet

Trump at Menie Links

Worth a watch tonight is a half hour show 10.35pm BBC1 Scotland. It all sounds too familiar doesn`t it? Except this time its in a rural setting with an American waving a chequebook.

"A unique landscape, the power of the dollar, and a billionaire used to getting his own way. These are the ingredients for a documentary which investigates the feud surrounding Donald Trump’s bid to create “the best golf course in the world”.
Issues of planning consent; the balance between progress and environmental destruction; and the emotional attachment to the land are all explored in TAKING ON TRUMP"
Campaign Menie Not Money

Chande in Edinburgh`s Princes St Gardens

Well, its definitely not the campaign`s press releases that get printed word for word in the paper, its very difficult to get much in at all....we don`t have Donald Anderson`s heavyweight PR firm PPS Group behind us for a start, only the wish to fight for the best for the city. Below is what is in the Evening News today and following is the full press release sent out last week.

Caltongate fight 'will go on' Evening News

PROTESTERS fighting against the controversial Caltongate development have vowed to continue their campaign despite the final piece of the jigsaw being approved.
Save Our Old Town, the action group which has fought against the huge redevelopment project since the outset, has reaffirmed its commitment to taking its protest to the highest level.
They are also hoping for a public inquiry, they said.
A spokesman for the campaign said: "It is far from over.
"The plans have to go to the Scottish ministers for a final decision.

"Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, SNP MSP Shirley Ann Somerville, Green MSP Robin Harper and architect James Simpson are among the many individuals and organisations calling for greater scrutiny of the plans and this could mean a public inquiry."

Campaign Press Release

"Caltongate Battle Not Over Yet" say Edinburgh World Heritage Site campaigners

Most of the controversial Caltongate development won support from Edinburgh City Council at the planning committee last month. This came as no surprise to objectors considering the council has a major financial interest in the project. The land deal between the council and Mountgrange was only to go ahead on the granting of planning permission.

The Committee had asked developers Mountgrange to come back with an alternative to the destruction of all but the facades of the Canongate tenement buildings.

So when developer Mountgrange altered the application to propose retaining the "majority" of the front and rear elevations of the McRae tenements as well as preserving the buildings at 221-223 on the historic street, the city's planning committee approved the plans yesterday.

Save Our Old Town campaigner Sally Richardson said today

"The whole tenements thing was a carefully stage managed sideshow, a smokescreen to hide amongst other things, the demolitions like that of the listed Canongate Venture , the building of the controversial Malcolm Fraser block that will ruin Jeffrey Street and the overall total inappropriateness of the architecture, for the World Heritage Site"

She added " Its also to distract from the many legal concerns such as the complaints that are currently been investigated by the EU Commission, due to the extent that Mountgrange may have been provided with privileged access and offered exclusive consideration in pursuance of its commercial objectives; Mountgrange`s donation to the Labour Party; the actions of Donald Anderson during his period as council leader should also be scrutinised, given that he is now director of the developers PR firm PPS Group; the clear breach of Article 7 of the Standards Commission (Scotland) code of conduct in the case of Planning Committee convenor Jim Lowrie, because of his views expressed in the Edinburgh Evening News of 11th October 2007, and these are only a few"

John Thompson another campaigner added "I have seen it all before - they'll just tell us its progress, like the St James's Centre, but money was made there and money will be made from its demolition and replacement, by no other than Caltongate`s main architect Allan Murray who it seems has been made Edinburgh makeover king"

But it is far from over; the plans have to go to Scottish Ministers for a final decision. Independent MSP Margo Macdonald, SNP MSP Shirley Ann Somerville, Green MSP Robin Harper and Conservation Architect James Simpson are among the many individuals and organisations calling for greater scrutiny of the plans and this could mean a Public Inquiry.
"We'll keep fighting' says SOOT.

The Councils New Masterplan

Adapted from Hans Christian Andersons`The Emperor`s New Clothes

Not so long ago there lived a council who cared so much for fancy schemes, they spent all the city’s money upon them, and on junkets and on rebranding the city and the like. They gave no thought to their citizens or to the affairs of their city. They had a new idea for every hour of the day and spent most of their time in the pages of the local papers so that everyone might see their wonderful projects.

One day there came to the city a carpetbagger called Manish Chande who had set himself up as a developer. He said he knew how to build the most wonderful development in the world. The materials and the architecture were marvellously beautiful, he said; but this project could not be seen by anyone who was stupid or unfit for their office.

"We must have lots of developments made from these materials and architecture," thought the council. "When the people see the development, we shall know the clever people from the dunces. That developer must be brought to us at once."

So the developer came to the city chambers. The council offered him a land deal so that he might begin his work without delay. The developer immediately set to work. They called for the worst architects, materials and the dodgiest PR firm they could find. They then worked steadily at convincing the city of their terrible plans.

Day after day the council could hear the rattling of the PR machine. They became very curious to see the wonderful masterplan and they decided to send someone to find how the developer and architects were getting on.

But they remembered that no one who was stupid or was unfit for his office

could see how marvellous the development was. "We will send our faithful old Leader Donald Anderson to see it," thought the council. "He is a very clever man, and no one is more worthy of his office than he."

So good old Donald went into the room where the developer and architect sat with the masterplan. He stared and stared, and opened his eyes wide."Mercy on us!" he thought. "It’s monstrous” But he said nothing at all."Come a little closer," coaxed the architect. "Is not this a beautiful masterplan? And the buildings- are they not magnificent?" And he pointed to the concrete blocks. Poor old Donald put on his spectacles and bent over the plans, but he could see only a vision from hell!

"Mercy!" he said to himself. "Is it possible that I am unfit for my office? Certainly no one must know it. Am I a dunce? It will never do to say that I cannot see the beauty!""Well sir, what do you think of it?" asked the developer."Oh, it is charming - beautiful," said Donald, as he peered through his spectacles.

"The buildings are gorgeous and the layout is very fine. I shall tell the council that I am much pleased with your work." "We are very glad to hear you say so," said the developer and architects. And they went on talking of the masterplan. They had named it Caltongate, and described the peculiar layout. Donald listened carefully, for he wished to repeat to the Council all that was said.

Soon the developers began a consultation on the masterplan.

It was a sham but it was useful to say they had done it.

The council then sent an official Alan Henderson and the chair of the planning committee Trevor Davies to see the masterplan. But these men fared no better than their leader. They stood before the monstrous masterplan, and looked and looked and looked, but they didn’t see a beautiful development fitting for the World Heritage Site.

"Is this not magnificent masterplan?" asked the developers. And then they praised the gorgeous architecture and explained how it was a once in a generation opportunity for the city, which it certainly was not.

"Dear, dear!" thought Trevor and Alan. "Surely I am not stupid. It must be that I am unfit for the council." But they did not want to appear so and they praised the beautiful Caltongate."Ah!" said Trevor. "The design is most unusual; and the architecture is marvellous. I shall tell the Council what fine progress you are making."

Then all of the council knew that they must view the marvellous masterplan.They went to view it along with Trevor, Donald and Alan, who thinking that the others would see how monstrous it was, all began to cry out at once, "Look, everyone, do you see the beautiful design? And the buildings- aren’t they gorgeous?”"See!" the developer said. "There are the beautiful buildings! Here is the economic argument! It’s an all or nothing deal. You may act as if this will not affect the world heritage status. That is the beauty of it."

"What is this?" thought the Councillors. They could only see a monstrous development not right for the world heritage site! “Are we not fit to be councillors? Am we dunces? If that were known, we should be deposed.""Yes, yes, it is very pretty," said the councillors aloud. "We could not be better pleased!" They smiled and nodded their heads, and stared at the horrific masterplan.
Their officials too, looked and looked, but saw only what the others saw.

Yet they all cried, "It is marvellous!" And the planners recommended that the council planning committee approve the Caltongate Masterplan.

Soon everyone in the city was talking about Caltongate.

Mountgrange placed ornamental cows around the city with their name on them so everyone could see what wonderful developers they were.

So then the people in the city were allowed to gaze at the masterplan for they too wanted to see the magical Caltongate"How handsome the Councils Caltongate is!" they all cried. "What a perfect fit for the World Heritage Site! What marvellous architecture"

"But it is horrible!" cried a resident in the Old Town."The resident tells the truth," said her neighbours quietly.And the people began to whisper to one another what the resident had said. "It is horrible! A resident says it is horrible!" Soon all the people and the city’s heritage bodies were saying aloud, "But it is horrible!"

And the Council, hearing what they said, shivered, for they knew that their words were true. But it would never do to stop the process; and so they held themselves stiffer than ever.

And behind them, their officials held their heads higher than ever, and took greater pains to justify the Masterplan.

As the day of the committee came nearer, the PR team worked with might and main.

They were never out of the local press. They filled the pages with empty statements and the airwaves with spin.

The Planning Committee’s 15 councillors looked again the masterplan,

and then they held their hands high in the air and approved it. They did not dare let it be known that they saw a vision from hell.

The developers then pretended to listen again, to the local community, while they drew up the detailed plans. They sent out more promotion all over the city. They wined and dined whoever they had to and Alistair Darling gave money towards their underground heating although this will not serve the peoples housing.

"How well the city will do with this new development." says the Chamber of Commerce? "What a becoming style! What beautiful economic arguments! They are indeed fit for the world heritage site!" The Chamber gave the developer Manish Chande a key position, and the architect was told he could redesign the entire city.

In the following year after the masterplan was approved, Donald and Trevor were not re-elected. But alas Trevor carries on his love for Caltongate in the local press from time to time and Donald now works for the developers’ infamous PR firm PPS. Alan Henderson is still in office and has just recommended that the new planning committee approve the individual plans on the 6th of February.

On the 6th February, the new planning committee continued with the pretence, only two of the councillors joined in the cries of the people Cllrs Burgess and Keir

When the new council leader Jenny Dawe was elected in May 2007 she branded designs for the landmark building in the Caltongate development "grotesque and hideous", raising further questions about the future of the £300 million project.Articlehere But now she too is seeing the Council`s New Masterplan -Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "The Caltongate development will breathe new life into a neglected part of the Old Town.".Article

Press Coverage
Scotsman Article OpinionPieceScotsman PPSGROUP OTHERS

Latest on Trevor Davies

Save Meadowbank

Rally to Save Meadowbank - March 10th - Holyrood Abbey Church - 19.30

February 27, 2008 — savemeadowbank

Meadowbank is an essential sports & leisure centre serving the whole of Edinburgh and beyond, and should be upgraded. However, there is still a real risk that a large part of Meadowbank may be sold off to property developers. City of Edinburgh Council will be meeting on March 13th to decide.

This campaign continues to oppose any sale of land and any reduction in the range and level of sports facilities offered at Meadowbank and we would like to share with you, at a public rally, our detailed plans to upgrade Meadowbank, and to offer you the opportunity to challenge leading Council and national politicians over theirs.

Date: Monday March 10th

Place: Holyrood Abbey Church, 83 London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5TT

Time: 19.30

What can you do:

Help promote the rally by assisting at our flyering sessions.

Download this poster to advertise the rally.

Download this leaflet and distribute among your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.

Email your Local Councillors explaining what you think of any plan to sell off Meadowbank, neither in whole nor in part.

Forward this Email on to your friends, family, etc, and any suitable contact lists.

Very importantly, though, come to the rally on Mar 10th.

Be there if you care; When it’s gone it’s gone; Don’t let it happen!

Happy International Women's Day

March 8th is International Women's Day celebrated throughout the world. So the Independent Republic of the Canongate wishes all the women out there a good one.

When looking for an appropriate wee story for our daily blog I found this poster.

100 years ago the Labour Party were fighting against evictions and private landlords. 96 years later they are pulling down the things they fought for decent housing at affordable rents, the Sailors Ark to feed and support the homeless, an Edwardian school that can no longer educate the children of the Old Town because their parents have been out priced from the area to move away and the demolition of a building that is used as affordable work space for artists, artisans and small businesses for a fancy 5 star hotel, conference centre, luxury apartments and more shops to spend our money in.

"The outbreak of war in 1914, and the sudden migration of thousands of workers into munitions districts in Glasgow, intensified pressure on available housing. Many landlords saw this as an ideal opportunity to increase rents, which quickly led to increased hardship for many working class households led by women.

Women from these areas organised to resist threats of evictions from landlords and began a campaign of non-payment of rents which forced the government to pass legislation preventing any war-time increases in rents.

The rent strikes saw the first mass organisation and involvement of Glasgow working class women in political agitation."

The Macrae tenements built by the City architect Ebenezer Macrae were built as a direct result of the Housing Act brought about after the Glasgow Rent strikes so workers could have access to affordable housing owned municipally.

NEWS FLASH

Today we find out in the Edinburgh Evening News here that former Labour Councillor and Planning Convenor Trevor "the finger" Davies has become an disHonourable Professor of Urban Design at Glasgow University.

Edinburgh Needs You!

what would be lost

To Stop Caltongate individuals and organisations

need to Act Now

All Planning Applications have been passed (last one Weds 5th March 08)

They are now presented to ministers.

You do not have to live in Edinburgh to show your concerns and that Caltongate should be stopped.

Write, using the following guiding points as well as your own in all letters to the following individuals and organisations.

It is understood that all the Caltongate Planning Applications must be sent to ministers under the Notification of Applications procedures for a number of reasons -

1. The council has a significant financial interest in the proposed applications and stands to receive financial payment on the delivery of planning consent.

2. The proposals ( in particular the demolition of structurally sound, in use buildings, both listed and unlisted in an Outstanding Conservation Area and World Heritage Site) conflict with key policies contained in the approved Structure and Local Plans and as such is a significant departure from the Development Plan.

3. There have been a significant level of objections received from community organisations and heritage groups in addition to the numerous individuals.

4. New legislation, policies, planning guidance is at a crucial stage and the proposals could set a dangerous precedent which would prejudice the effectiveness of these new policies.

5. The Caltongate Masterplan has been imbedded in the Finalised Local Plan for the area which has provoked many objections which have been requested to be heard at a LPI. The protection of listed and unlisted buildings, reference to the World Heritage Site, protection of housing and has yet to be tested through the Development Plan process.

6. The consultation process has been heavily critisised as not being inclusive, balanced or transparent and conflicts with new government guidance on growing community assets, partnership working, and community engagement.

7. The site lies in an area with international importance, a World Heritage Site.

8. This is a crucial time to send out the right message to developers.

9. The claimed economic benefits of the scheme could equally be made for a far more appropriate scheme, retaining homes and listed buildings, and with a far less detrimental impact on the WHS.

10. More Points Here to add to your letters

PEOPLE AND ORGANISATIONS TO WRITE TO

1. Write to the following Scottish Ministers urging them that Caltongate be called in and determination sought through a public inquiry

Cabinet Secretary John Swinney Minister for - Finance & Sustainable Growth
Linda Fabiani - Minister for Europe, External Affairs Affairs & Culture

More on their responsibilities here Scottish Government you can email them at this address marking your letters for the attention of each individual minister scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Write to them atSt Andrew`s HouseRegent RoadEdinburgh EH1 3DG

2. You should also write to your constituency and regional MSPs find them here MSP FINDER by your postcode urging them that Caltongate should be called in and a Public Inquiry held.

3. You can also write to your MP and MEPS Find MP and MEPS (Scottish ones are listed even although it doesn’t say on home page, you just enter your postcode and they will appear)

4. You could also write to your local councillor(s) (although yours may be one of the planning committee that voted the plans through on the 6th Feb! (check here) asking them to write to The Scottish Government to press for for call in and determination through the Public Inquiry System.

All councillors emails or write to them C/O The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Find your councillors
Among points you could make are the following, do add your own and include any material you feel important, especially if you think it hasn`t been considered, and do let others know they can do this too.

5. You should also write to ICOMOS UK as its ICOMOS who advises UNESCO
International Council on Monuments & Sites UK, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ Email mail@icomos-uk.org

6. You shoul also inform UNESCO
The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action.

Edinburgh`s Inscription
Edinburgh World Heritage Trust

Private individuals, non-governmental organizations, or other groups can draw the World Heritage Committee's attention to existing threats. If the alert is justified and the problem serious enough, the Committee may consider including the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
To inform the World Heritage Committee about threats to sites, you may contact the Committee's Secretariat at:
E-mail: wh-info@unesco.org
World Heritage CentreUNESCO7, place de Fontenoy75352, Paris, 07 SPFrance