The Canongate Burns

250 years ago today our national poet Rabbie Burns was born...............



Review of book Word Power Books Edinburgh

"Drawing on extensive scholarship and the poet's own inimitable letters, this edition offers a wealth of information on Burns's life, the hardships of his early days, his political beliefs, his hatred of injustice, and his fate as a writer too often sentimentalized by biographers and critics.

Through his poetry, and as if for the first time, we see Burns as a radical figure in a British as well as a Scottish context, the peer of Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, and Byron in the revolutionary and repressive world of the 1790s.

Containing recently attributed and never-before-published poems demonstrating that the poet's political sympathies were more radical than he could safely put his name to in public, The Canongate Burns also includes the sexually scandalous verses known as "The Merry Muses, " originally circulated only in handwritten copies.

This major and definitive edition offers vitally fresh insights into the irreverent spirit and the democratic convictions of Scotland's greatest poet."

Yes, if Burns was around today he would be a member of Save Our Old Town....even his greatest inspiration Robert Ferguson loves the Canongate so much he`s been immortalised here, and when we pass him everyday he says keep going with Save Our Old Town, Auld Reekie needs you!

Enjoy a Parcel O Rouges in a Nation by The Corries about the rotten burroughs and the law makers of the time, not too far removed from what we experience today

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Js7x3u2GHYs

Housing Scandal! 400,000 bids for 2700 homes

Council home in Dumbiedykes for rent - for more information see http://keytochoice.scotsman.com/property.cfm?id=139264

The council cannot house the over crowded, homeless, those fleeing domestic abuse, those who just want their own home and those who may become potentially homeless of Edinburgh. There has not been a council house built in Edinburgh for nearly three decades, the right to buy has drained the council stock and housing assosiations and co-ops just don't have the capacity. The council's policy of building affordable social housing by getting homes from developers just does not work and is developer driven, it is a folly policy. Developers build housing units not homes i.e. one and two bedroom flats - there is a derth of three, four and even five bedroom homes fit for families. Many families get stuck in accomodation that is overcrowded because there are not bigger homes particualrly when their families expand.

The Edinburgh Evening News reports read here that there were nearly 1/2 million bids were made for 2700 homes in Edinburgh, yet 9 council homes lie empty on the Canongate waiting to be re-developed by Mountgrange, some of the houses have been empty for nearly 2 years. The Independent Republic raised this back on 14th December - read here This is an outrage! Even if they could not be used as permanent homes they could be used for temporary accomodation.

The council agreed at the Planning Committee in February 2008 to build social housing through Places for Places on Calton Road, yet there is no movement, not a brick has been laid. The land is not owned by Mountgrange but by the council, so where is the housing? What is the problem? The council should not be restrained by the economic problems of the developers. If the council had not sold the land where the gap site is there would be a great space to build community resources and council housing. Now we might see a gap sit for decades.

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas from all the citizens in the Independent Republic of the Canongate. Eat well, be merry and remember to recycle!

I tell you what we need!

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall stares lovingly at his hen

After watching repeats of that curly hared man I always forget - Hugh Thingy Me Bob and saying "oh if Caltongate goes ahead I might as well go and grow jureseleum artichokes and look after chickens - I've had enoug of this city!"

I then thought about the ugly gap site on New Street and I think if it is not developed by the summer we need to put planning permission in to make it into gardens and allotments, I know its north facing but with the help of some polytunnels I think we could have a wee enterprise to rival River Cottage. Read more about allotments here

After all hundreds of years ago the north and south back of the Canongate were the market gardens of Edinburgh.An allotment -much more useful than a 5 star hotel, sustainable too.

Macrae tenements lying empty when there is homelessness in Edinburgh (to be demolished to make way for the 5 star hotel).

Lets do that - lets put something useful there so we don't have a big dirty hole and whilst we are at it we should demand the council opens up the council housing that is going to rack and ruin at the Macrae tenements, at approx £230 a month rent and £120 council tax a month, the council is missing out on £400 a month per flat - there's nine empty ones so that's £3,600 every month, that's just short of £40,000 a year - so much for homelessness and the credit crunch!

Check out the council's choice base letting system, here - if my maths is right there have been 8 council houses in the past year up for let from the council and 3704 people/families have bidded for them yet 9 lie empty on the Canongate alone - check the figures out for yourself - here.

Yet Caltongate scheme will demolish these 9 flats replace them with 6 council flats and 6 more "affordable housing units" at Cranston Street (where the suspected common good land is, which legally belongs to the people and not the council).

So Caltongate is bringing an addition 3 "affordable "housing units", however to get these 3 extra "housing units" we have to have 9 empty houses for months and months - soon getting into years. Is it me or is this just plan daft and uneconomical?

Obama says Yes to Canongate - No to Caltongate!

Obama Barack chose the Canongate, he really did - he choose to have Canongate Books publish his book, - Dreams From My Father. Out of all the publishing companies in the world he chose to come to the Canongate, he recognised the unique qualities of the Canongate, its outstanding universal value in the World Heritage Site. Not only that but the campaign in Scotland for Obama Barack was based in the Canongate.

Watch video on YouTube

A little birdie also has told us that should Obama be elected as President he wants to visit the Canongate.

Obama today when asked about the Canongate said " I sure wanna see that Canongate, that has been so supportive to me........I hear that ruthless developers wanna destroy that beautiful Canongate and replace it with an American style mall. Malls are a good idea for America but ain't a good idea because a shopping mall in a World Heritage Site doesn't seem a good idea to me."

Atlast - it's time for the Time Ball

The Big Lottery and Edinburgh's World Heritage Trust are to repair the time ball on top of the monument on Calton Hill - it's not gone up and down down at 1 O Clock for nearly two years. Read more here

See the ball here

What is the time ball - find out more here

The Independent Republic hopes this has been an interesting and informative experience for you and we look forward to once again looking out of our windows at 1 O Clock and to see the time ball fall like a stone.

Temper, temper!

It has been reported to the Independent Republic that a certain spin doctor was like Rumpelstiltskin the other day because of what was said on this blog - very grumpy and very cross - about a source stating that Mountgrange were pulling out. The Independent Republic were only reporting what we were told!

Now please remember what happened to Mr R when he didn't get his own way - he stamped his foot so hard he fell into a chasm - perhaps it would be the big hole left when Caltongate have to walk away from the Caltongate site!

Chris Hoy appeals to save Meadowbank

The Independent Republic wishes to share its congratulations to Chris Hoy and points out the need for local sports facilities.

Chris Hoy in video appeal for Meadowbank to be saved

August 18, 2008 — savemeadowbank

Triple Olympic medallist Chris Hoy has given his backing to the campaign to save Meadowbank from closure.

The most successful Scottish Olympian of all time learned his craft in his home town of Edinburgh and readily admits he wouldn’t have achieved his record haul had it not been for the Meadowbank velodrome. Yet Edinburgh Council plan to ignore thousands of objections and demolish the velodrome - plus the neighbouring international athletics stadium and sports centre - and replace it with a cut-down complex that doesn’t cater for most of its current sports, including cycling.

In the video clip, produced by Edinburgh Racers, Chris Hoy said: ”Elite sport cannot stand alone without local facilities giving kids the chance to get into the sport in the first place. I really hope Edinburgh is going to continue to produce world champion cyclists in the future but we cannot do this without a local facility.”

Mark Barry, director of youth racing in Manchester, added: ”This is a track that has been absolutely fundamental in the success of the Great Britain cycling team. Most of our world, Olympic and European champions have come from here.”

The video highlights the lack of proper investment since the Meadowbank track was built forty years ago and the absence of a roof, which causes several events to be rained off every year.

Allister Watson, director of Scottish Cycling, made a telling comparison between Scotland’s top two medal-winning sports: ”Cycling is Scotland’s second most successful Commonwealth Games sport. The most successful sport is swimming. I wonder how our swimmers would get on if there was only one swimming pool for the country and it was outside.”

Save Meadowbank spokesman Kevin Connor welcomed the video. He said: ”Chris Hoy is a great role model and proof of what Meadowbank has helped achieve. Imperfect facilities are better than no facilities at all. Edinburgh Council claim they are being forced to radically downscale Meadowbank purely on financial grounds. If that is the case we call upon the Scottish Government to provide them with adequate funding.”

• Sign the e-petiton
• Read the Case for Grassroots Facilities
• SMC submitted this document in response to a Dec 2007 Edinburgh Council report recommending that Councillors agree to fund a small centre by selling off a huge chunk of the Meadowbank site for housing. Their report entirely ignored the interests of cyclists. Councillors went on to agree to the sell-off including the loss of the velodrome.
• See this Evening News Mouthpiece article by Save Meadowbank written in the days after Edinburgh Council voted to rid Edinburgh of its velodome back in March. Significant sections were edited out by the newspaper, including the total omission of the case for the Meadowbank Velodrome. The original uncensored article can be seen here, with the censored elements in CAPITAL LETTERS.
• SMC Organising meetings

Canongate Loses Out once again!

Right statue, but it's been put in the wrong place

HOW predictable that the city council should site the new statue of Adam Smith, no doubt using some of the people's taxes, across the road from the City Chambers, where they can be the first to bask in his new reflected glory.

I am sure that this is a mere coincidence and there are a thousand other good reasons to give it to the council to enhance their strip of the Royal Mile.

It should have been placed instead low on the Canongate, where he already lies among his people, and where one of his old houses will soon be rededicated to him ... but I suppose that the citizens of the Canongate have been restive about Caltongate of late, so they must be put in their places.

Cancel their street party at short notice for a start – an Orange march is much more important – and then steal their famous son. To his canons of taxation perhaps Adam Smith should have added: "If there is anything good, valuable or enjoyable on the go, a council will grab its share first.

"If we were going to put up anything sensible in front of the City Chambers it should have been the guillotine from the Chambers Street Museum, to remind the unco guid what can happen when the citizen gets fed up with inefficient rulers. We must find a way to empty out the whole of the current City Chambers, and start again.

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Letters Eve News 2nd July 2008

Jenny Dawe proves she is tough!

It's funny how the promise of 20% share of profits and £4.5 million can buy your opinions, isn't it Mrs Dawe? Last year you thought Caltongate was grotesque yet this year it proves that you and your council are tough. No it doesn't it means you fell for the spin from the developers and the council officials and the promise of 20% of £300 million once ALL the development is sold off. When will that be, if ever at all? Not a penny before though! £4.5 million for all that land in the council's city centre and world heritage site is pretty cheap don't you think considering some of it is common good (and not the council's to sell) and some of it is council housing (now lying empty and direlect when there is a housing crisis on, could it not have least been used for temporary housing in the meantime?) and you are gambling on the status of Edinburgh's world heritage.

And it was all sold off the table - it didn't go to the "open market" just to Mountgrange, who may or may not have been the highest bidder or offered the most of best value. Jenny, you sell yourself and the people of Edinburgh short. A tough decision would have been to reject Caltongate and to insist on something better for the Old Town not to accept what was on offer by one developer

Dawe praises 'tough' council

Friday 9th May 2008 in the Scotsman

COUNCIL leader Jenny Dawe today said that approval for the controversial Caltongate scheme proved that her administration can make tough decisions.

The £300 million plans for the Old Town have been backed by councillors on the planning committee and now await a response from Scottish ministers.

In a speech to mark the first anniversary of the Lib Dem/SNP coalition, Councillor Dawe said: "It had been suggested a coalition – particularly with such tight numbers – might lead to paralysis.

"This, quite simply, has proved untrue. We have shown ourselves ready to act properly and in the best interests of the city and to face up to the thorny issues and tough decisions which the previous administration ducked out of."See the article here


However last year she said - you can see the article in the Evening News here
"I'm not anti-development at all. However, I do believe that any development must respect the heritage of the city.
Malcolm Fraser is a very well known and respected architect and I was astounded to discover he was behind those images which appeared in the Evening News last week. The images were just grotesque and hideous. "I would've expected someone of his reputation to produce something a bit more sympathetic to its surroundings, but they were pretty gross."

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

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."

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.

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

Will the rain never stop?

Nothing to report today, no news in the newspapers. Everyone seems to be a bit miserable because of the rain.

More tomorrow.........................maybe it will have stopped raining by then, maybe we'll be closer to a Public Enquiry.

Things are at Boyling Point

Frank Boyle's cartoon made the Republic laugh when it came out. He obviously was paying attention to what was going on.

Go along and see his exhibition at the City Arts Centre in Market Street from 16th February to 19th April and best of all it's free.

The AGM for the Canongate Community Forum will be held on Tuesday, 19th Febraury from 7 pm at Old St Paul's Church. The SOOT meeting will be held directly afterwards - everyone is welcome, please bring your ideas along - they are really needed

City fails to back school listing bid

Craigmillar a scheme in Edinburgh is currently being regenerated and it looks like it is looking good with some nice houses and that but we now have an issue about St Francis School. It's to be demolished to make way possibly for a supermarket. Historic Scotland are considering listing it but the Council - is against it and "not in a position to support the inclusion" as the site is needed for the development.

It is worth pointing out that the school was built by Ebenezer Macrae here none of his buildings are listed but I think atleast one should be or one day there will be no Macrae buildings left. Macrae is the same architect who built the Macrae tenements to be demolished and facaded on the Canongate.

The Independent Republic of the Canongate doesn't have a fetish about Ebenezer Macrae or listed buildings - just thought it was interesting what was going on around Edinburgh.

The Evening News article suggests there is to be a "Save St Francis Primary School"

By ALAN RODEN
THE city council was under attack today for fighting proposals to give listed status to a historic primary school earmarked for demolition.
The 1930s St Francis RC Primary School in Craigmillar is set to make way for the £180 million ParcLife project aimed at regenerating the area.A new campaign group has been set up to fight to save the school on Niddrie Mains Road, described as "one of the few beautiful buildings" in Craigmillar.Government agency Historic Scotland is considering listing the property, due to its "good plan form and very good streetscape presence", which would make demolition much more difficult.But in a letter seen by the Evening News, the city's top planning official, Alan Henderson, said the council was "not in a position to support the proposed inclusion" because the regeneration scheme requires the site.A £13m campus, bringing together St Francis and the non-denominational Niddrie Mill Primary School, catering for around 700 children, is due to open for the next school year. The massive regeneration will eventually include 3200 homes, three other new schools, a library and a remodelled "town centre".Residents fear that St Francis will be demolished to make way for a supermarket car park.Former city councillor and ex-community councillor Paul Nolan, who helped set up the Protect St Francis campaign, said the situation was a "scandal".Mr Nolan, an ex-pupil of the school, said
: "St Francis is one of the few beautiful buildings in Craigmillar and many of us feel that what little heritage the community has should be protected."The group has written to members of the city's planning committee, MPs and MSPs, and has contacted former pupils.In a letter sent to the campaigners by Historic Scotland, inspector of historic buildings Joan Richardson said: "We intend to proceed with proposing this building for addition to the statutory list and will shortly be in consultation with the council."A spokeswoman added today: "We are in the process of consultation with City of Edinburgh Council on whether St Frances RC Primary School merits listing."Councillor Jim Lowrie, the city's planning convener, added: "The council is committed to the regeneration of Craigmillar and continues to consult with local residents, community groups and other stakeholders

Manhatten has the Cloverfield Monster ...Edinburgh has Caltongate

New blockbuster film from the states is Cloverfield where a big ugly monster smashes up Manhatten - well the World Heritage Site doesn't need a nasty monster cause we have Mountgrange (aided and abetted by the cooncil)

Here is a trailer for Cloverfield and here is a trailer for Mountgrange

Which monstrosity were you most frightened off?

Edinburgh Needs You

SAY NO TO CALTONGATE
PROTEST
WEDNESDAY 6TH FEB
OUTSIDE CITY CHAMBERS,
HIGH ST, THE ROYAL MILE
From 9am


Come along and make the Planning Committee and others see that Caltongate is so wrong for Edinburghs` Old Town, and that they should not be voting to approve this inappropriate development.

What is needed is lots of people. As many at 9am as possible. We aim to have a presence all day until committee ends. Which will be until after 4pm. Come whenever you can, come and go throughout the day.

Bring along placards and banners, musical instruments, whistles etc. Be prepared for the weather, bring flasks of hot drinks, snacks and even a portable seat if you need to.

Do make your own banners/posters to put on or outside your windows from today. A clear message can then be seen all over the city, you don`t have to live in The Old Town. Its everyones Old Town and World Heritage Site.

You can print off a poster for your window at these link

http://www.eh8.org.uk/files/PORTRAITPOSTERNO.pdf
http://www.eh8.org.uk/files/LANDSCAPEPOSTER-1.pdf

Sigh the petiton at www.eh8.org.uk

ABOUT THE MEETING


If you wish to sit in on meeting - Report to main reception in city chambers quadrangle to pick up a visitors pass and to be directed to meeting.

Meeting is to run as follows Timings Approximate

10am Director of City Development Alan Henderson to present reports on applications and recommend that the committee approve them.
10.30am 8 bodies will give deputations (10 mins each ) against Caltongate
Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland
Canongate Community Forum
Cockburn Association
Old Town Association
Edinburgh World Heritage Trust
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)
Old Town Community Council
Royal Park Terrace and spring Gardens Residents Association
12.05pm Representations in favour of applications by Visit Scotland/Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
12.15pm Questions by committee to the deputatees and to the Director of City Development
1pm Presentation by applicant Manish Chande (Mountgrange Caltongate Developer)Then questions by committee to the applicant and director of City Development.
1.30pm Comments by Councillor Beckett as a local ward member
*************Break for Lunch*************

2.30pm Meeting Resumes - Debate and DECISION by the committee

With only two days until a decision is taken on the Caltongate Applications, the PR spin machine behind them is working overtime. Did you know that in a report published by property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle it shows the Capital is trailing other major European destinations in hotel provision – offering just a third of the number of rooms available in Prague and ten times fewer hotels than Paris.
Well the facts are that Paris is 1118 sq km, population 11.5 m, Prague 496 sq km, Population 1.2 million,whereas Edinburgh has only 259 sq km and only a population of 500,000 thousand!!! So that means Paris is just over 22 times more people and about 5 times as big so the amount of hotel space is probably right, unless every home is made into a hotel bedroom? So there is statistics, statistics and damn right lies. The full page advertisement for Caltongate courtesy of The EveningNews


Just for the record the Save Our Old Town campaign is not against having a hotel on the empty site. It is only against the knocking down of listed buildings and evicting residents from their homes in order that the hotel can have their frontage!

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh's Chamber of Commerce, said the plans for the Caltongate scheme were "visionary and ambitious".He said: "The designs are contemporary, bold and complementary to a city which has always been constructed in the styles of its times.

Remember the Chamber are all pally with Manish Chande, they made him head of their Property Portfollio group.

Above Manish Chande Mountgrange Chief Exectutive, The Sailors Ark and part of the Macrae Tenements that would be lost for the above Caltongate Sofi Hotel.

"Edinburgh is crying out for more high-quality hotel space to boost our conference and tourism sector. It's therefore imperative this development is approved."Ben Carter, area director of VisitScotland, said the organisation would "support the development of a flagship hotel" in the Old Town.

Remember that former Leader of Edinburgh Council Donald Anderson was executive member for tourism, culture and sport, before being ousted from office.believes the hotel will create 300 jobs, as well as rejuvenating ‘one of the most tired areas of the city centre’ Now he is director of Mdevelopers Mountgranges infamous PR firm PPS Group.

Now also remember , GVA Grimley, Jones Lang LaSalle and Rettie & Co are advising Mountgrange.
PropertyWeek