Its snow more for Caltongate...

View yesterday over the Canongate Venture, you can see the New Street site to the right...and unfortunately you can see the mother ship of the cooncil to the left in the 2nd photo

See latest on the news that council are finally considering what the public have been saying for months...more snowy photos later...and great news here for Lancaster, check out the news on this blog.

Malcolm "award winning hypocrite" Fraser

You can imagine our surprise when we read that one of Caltongate's architects, Malcolm Fraser is hitting out at his own inconstistency in approaching green building.....

Read article here -

headline -

Malcolm Fraser hits out at his inconsistent approach to "green building"

Then we read again and he was hitting out generally at green building approaches, which he must feel has nothing to do with him.

"Particular scorn was reserved for the practice of demolishing existing buildings, often justified by touting the sustainable credentials in their replacements, but this was rubbished by Fraser who said: “the idea that you take a 100 year old building, cowp it in a landfill site replace it with cardboard and that will save the planet is extraordinary”.
Oh, the cheek of the man....does he think people have short memories...

you were all for knocking down this 100 year old building and putting it in a cowp!

Canongate Venture to be demolished for conference centre

remember this green building he was going to dump on the the world ?

Remember the buildings he was supporting the demolition of and the views he wanted to ruin? see here

Perhaps if Mr Fraser admitted his past intentions and ate a piece of humble pie, perhaps people would believe his words he so freely spouts nowadays, now that the hey day of anything can be demolished in the name of economic benefit is over and attending developer's champagne receptions..

Save Our Old Town Guerrilla Gardener's stake a claim on land

Today citizens of the republic carried out Guerilla Gardening in a bid to highlight the plight of public land, assets and facilities being left to rot.

The kids enjoyed pulling out the enormous weeds and everyone enjoyed a well deserved summer solstice tea party that could be heard down the Canongate

After a hard day's toil they ended their community gardening and clean up of the Canongate Venture by planting a Rowan tree.

For those that don't know the Rowan Tree is renowned to offer protection to a building and the people around it and specifically protection from bad people. It is said that removing or even damaging a rowan tree brings havoc and bad luck to those that remove it.

See more pics of the day here

What now for New Street?

An inner city allotment idea, perhaps a possible part of the temporary solution for New Street see more here

The following piece by Ian Fraser in The Sunday Times 10 May 09 in which he is calling on the council to listen to the community and

"Let imagination grow

Edinburgh city council ought to become more imaginative. Owing to new-found caution at Lloyds Banking Group, there is now a massive hole-in-the-ground in the heart of the old town where Mountgrange had been hoping to erect its hugely unpopular Caltongate development.

According to property experts this is likely to remain a vacant site for at least the next three to four years.

So perhaps councillors should listen to local residents who have suggested that the cleared former bus garage should be turned into an adventure playground and allotments for Edinburgh’s younger generation — at least until administrator Deloitte manages to sell on the site. After all, play is a human right too."

Article here 4th May 09 in Eve News on suggestions for city gap site

Letter here to Evening News 7th May suggesting a playground for site

Below an inner city community playground, ideas from London Here

But of course the ideas for the site are endless, and in the meantime lets get pressure on the council to get tenants back into the cleared flats, has Manish Chande stopped paying the rent?

and lets get people back into the Canongate Venture and the Former veg market back into use. Lets get them maintaining our public spaces and buildings, not allow them to fall into disrepair because Mountgrange used to playing Bingo promised them the jackpot..

Canongate Venture Former pupil reaches 100

In yesterday`s Evening News was the life of "French polisher Mary Neilson smoothes the path to her 100th birthday" a trip down Old Town memory lane -

Full article here
From article -
"Mary Neilson will mark a major milestone tomorrow

when she celebrates her 100th birthday.
Mrs Neilson was born Mary Thomson in Edinburgh's Old Town on February 24, 1909, the youngest of five children.She grew up in a tenement on Holyrood Road and was a pupil at North Canongate School."

The North Canongate School is now known as The Canongate Venture and at risk from demolition as we know from the "Caltongate"

Mary would have skipped along this lovely minstrel`s gallery and enjoyed the daylight through the beautiful sunny atrium

and was perhaps taught in this room ......the building is 8 years older than Mary and could last another 100 years and be of use to another generation of the capitals residents.

There is no reason to knock it down for what does not exist anymore (Conference dream over) which was used even by Historic Scotland - to justify the destruction of the sound building. The empire of the greedy has like other empires before, risen and now fallen and the time has arrived again for this building to do what it was originally built for, to serve the public good , not the greedy self interest of a few individuals.

Like Mary the building has reached a fine age as it too is strong.

"She's a very strong-willed woman, but I think you would have to be to reach that age"

In the article it also tells how Mary is a member of the Canongate Kirk which has a connection with her former primary school -

Perhaps Mary was one of the pupils who met artist Stanley Cursiter . When he was a young artist in the 1920s from Orkney, Stanley and his friends who were starting out in Edinburgh, they thought it was a great idea that all the children in the capital``s primary schools saw an original work of art hanging in their school and meet the artist themselves. Each painting would tell each school something of the history of their own school and facts about their own neighbourhood.

So Stanley Cursiter did the one for the North Canongate School, recording the founding of the nearby Abbey at Holyrood.

After it was hung in the school though trouble broke out over it and there were letters to ‘The Scotsman’. ( cuttings of which are held in the Geddes Archives at Stathclyde University)

Someone had noticed that the cross in the painting was a crucifix and had written to the newspaper complaining that in a State, Protestant and Presbyterian school a crucifix had been infiltrated. The picture was not allowed to remain on the walls. The young artists thought this was an act of censorship, so they withdrew their support and this was the only picture to survive.

The painting was discovered in the 1960s in the Royal Mile Primary School, then called Milton House School. They did not want to hang it anywhere public and asked the minister of the kirk, Dr Selby Wright what they could do with it. He took it and hung it in the Canongate Kirk.

It now hangs between two windows, preserved from the light.

The painting is based on a Pisanello painting which you can see in the National Gallery in London. It shows the King’s Park and Arthur’s Seat with the wild flowers and animals to be found there.

You see King David kneeling before the white stag with the cross between its antlers.

Not adding up!

Sailor's Ark 0n Royal Mile faces demolition for "economic" reasons.

Something just isn't adding up, I don't want to take away from the good work Heritage Scotland does but when you look back to their input into Caltongate, questions have to be asked and quite serious ones. Do they do their sums on the back of fag packets?

Historic Scotland said there was "economic justification" to demolish the Ark Building and Canongate Venture in the Canongate, these buildings are listed buildings, yet because it was seen to be profitable to build Mountgrange's fantasy they could be knocked down to build a 5 star hotel and a conference centre . Yet today we hear that the EICC - Edinburgh International Conference Centre is in financial sctoom.

The EICC made a £600,000 plus loss in 2007 and some of it's staff may face redundancy. It is predicted equavelent losses will be made this year too. Read about it here

Seemingly 4 years ago Edinburgh was in the top 20 places to have an International Conference but has slipped out of the Top 20 League today, the economic crisis will be taking its toll.

So what exactly were the economic figures for the Caltongate Conference Centre, were they just based on speculative capitalism and unlimited growth? Was it wishful thinking?

We were promised 2000 plus jobs through Caltongate however I can't thelp think that all there sums just didn't add up.

Imagine if the demolitions go ahead on the basis of Historic Scotland's "economic justification" and nothing is built - listed buildings would belost forever. Hopefully we can save them if Caltongate can't go ahead due to it's own economic crisis - and maybe even bring back Jock the Cock who was undignifiably removed from the Canongate Venture a couple of years ago. See here to see Jock the Cock's fate.

Canongate Snowtime

View up the Canongate with Macrae tenements to the right

which are to be demolished for Accor Five Star Hotel.

Up and down past the Canongate Tollbooth

Every morning pigeons sit on the Canongate Kirk and a crow on the stags antlers.

View toward New Street site where bulk of Caltongate to be built, with Canongate Venture in foreground, to be demolished for 5 star hotel`s conference centre. Calton Hill in background.

Whats left of the Belltower on the Canongate Venture building, which the council vandalised in 2007.

Where is Jock the Weathercock?

View through former Vegetable Market and Canongate Venture on East Market St to the new council headquarters. Caltongate buildings to replace the market and school are basically more of the same, basically nothing but glass with the odd bit of opaque material, So lots of heat lost in winter then blinds down when a ray of sunshine appears.

The lights are on but no-one's in at council offices

ARRIVING in the city at the end of last month to take up a six-month work contract I was greeted as the train pulled in by what looked like a new office block ablaze with all its lights left on (all weekend no doubt) and not a soul inside.
My first thought was that the city council would be ashamed of any firm engaging in such high-profile corporate eco-terrorism, making such an unfavourable first impression upon visitors. When I saw the building again in the same state later in the week and went to find out who it belonged to, I could really hardly believe it is none other than the city council's own HQ – you couldn't make it up!It really beggars belief that the council can be so inept that they would set such a brazenly bad example. I can't imagine I'm the only person in the city to take issue with this, and wonder whether there is any way that something can be done about it? I assume they have some sort of environmental policy, however rudimentary? I noted with approval before I arrived that the city had elected some Green party councillors – how I sympathise with them if they have to try to tackle Neanderthal behaviour of this kind from the ruling group and/or officers!

Robert Steel, Dean Park Crescent, Edinburgh

Someone has written in about the Johnston Terrace Tree Travesty from last week -

Trees down but ineptitude grows

I WAS saddened to read of the crass stupidity of the parks department in cutting down the trees in King's Stables Road (News, February 4). Is there no end to the incompetence of our overstaffed, overpaid, underworked council departments?Anyone with half a brain knows trees and bushes are a stabilising factor where you have an embankment, otherwise it will erode and the earth slip down the slope.The "over-the-top" reaction by these jobsworths typifies the poor administrative skills and judgement of council staff where silly people justify their expensive existence by coming up with hare-brained ideas like this.Besides the loss of greenery and wildlife, planting wild flowers is a pathetic response to such civic vandalism.

Cecilia C Cavaye, Durham Terrace, Edinburgh

Both letters appear in today`s Evening News

Recession Proof Caltongate

Caltongate is recession proof, so much so it is going to be "Depression" themed. Most of the building`s facades to be retained are from the 1930`s.

The Old Sailor's Ark, funded by a benefactor to house sailors in need built 1936 by architects Tarbolton & Ochterlony.

This will be home to "Let Them Eat Cake" a soup kitchen themed restaurant in the French Hotel Group Accor`s Five Star Caltongate hotel. The hotel is rumoured to be having an overall French nautical and "1930`s styling throughout.

The Macrae Tenements part of the hotel were built during the 1930`s to house the ordinary working person. Rooms will pay homage to the previous council tenants, aptly named and with a small plaque telling guests about who slept there in the past.

The Victorian school building known as The Canongate Venture is to be completely demolished for the hotel`s conference centre.

A source close to the project said - it is only right that we pay our respects to the poor and needy children who must have benefited from this sandstone school board building by (Robert Wilson 1901)

Neither are we forgetting the many businesses that have been tenants in its final use as a small business start up venture, provided by the council.

Perhaps Canongate Books and Birlinn press can help with ideas, but one so far is having quirky Girls and Boys entrance doors to the building.

The source added that lip service will be paid to the Patrick Geddes guy, perhaps the roof terraces on the conference centre, will be named after him, as after all he encouraged the poor folk of the Old Town to garden, didn`t he?

Save Our Old Town latest

Mountgrange`s Manish Chande, London Developer pulling a Brave Heart Cow through Princes Street Gardens when he arrived in the capital

So we`ve been Trumped! The ministers are so busy with Balmedie they have taken their eyes off the even bigger ball here in the shadow of the Scottish Parliament and their offices at St Andrews House. Do not despair it is not over, come to the Street Party and see what The Canongate Project findings are so far....the real exciting work will begin once the credit crunch has banished the Carpetbaggers Mountgrange from the city for once and for all.

Street Party Saturday 28th June 2008
11am - 4pm
East Market Street
see www.eh8.org.uk for more

What does listing a building really mean?

BHS building above due to be listed by Historic Scotland

The Listed Victorian Canongate Venture building which would be demolished for Caltongate

Princes Street needs to move out of the 60s if it's to survive

Listing the best of a bad bunch will just delay revamp, says Shirley-Anne Somerville.

PRINCES Street is unique. Other European cities might have castles, parks and shops but nowhere are the three brought together in such a dramatic setting. It has attracted visitors to our capital for years and rightly makes Edinburgh residents proud.

But I don't think anyone can deny that our premier street has seen better days. It's been something that has happened slowly, with longstanding businesses moving out and being replaced by amusement arcades and shops blaring out tinny pipe music. Fortunately the council is now getting to grips with the issue. The "String of Pearls" plan will see the street revived. It will take major investment and many years but there is no denying that it is long overdue.So it's disappointing to see a public agency putting this vision under threat.

Historic Scotland has floated the idea that the Princes Street Bhs store be considered for listed building status. If successful it would join the likes of Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument and swathes of the Old and New Town.Such a decision has significant implications. It will make it more difficult for a developer to demolish or refurbish the building. It will push up the costs of any redevelopment. It will put investors off getting involved in that section of the street and for what? So we can keep an example of a failed 1960s vision.The council and Scottish Government are already forking out more money to refurbish the Commonwealth Pool than it would have cost to demolish it and start again. Why? Because it's a listed building. Coincidentally, the pool was designed by the architects behind the Bhs building, RMJM – the same people that worked on the Scottish Parliament.

At the same time, Historic Scotland has backed the demolition of other listed buildings as part of the controversial Caltongate development. It's reasoning – Edinburgh has similar buildings designed by the same Victorian architects. Thank goodness we only have one castle if that's their defence of our built heritage.But this is not an argument about traditional architecture good, modern architecture bad.

Although tourists flock to our city to admire the history they also want to experience a vibrant and modern Edinburgh. I just don't think that folk are flocking here to see the Bhs building. My stance will be unpopular with those who view Bhs as one of the best examples of a 1960s building on Princes Street. That may be so, but that's not a reason to hold up the redevelopment of our premier shopping street.

There were many architectural mistakes made in the 60s, from tearing down tenements to demolishing large sections of Princes Street. Let's not compound those errors by hanging on to unwanted buildings just because they are the best of a bad bunch.

Shirley-Anne Somerville is a Lothians MSP This article appeared in todays Evening News

see what else would be lost at www.eh8.org.uk

Prince Charles and World Heritage Talk Tonight

Free Talk on Edinburgh`s World Heritage Status Tonight Friday 6th June 6pm - 7.30pm at 8 St Mary`s Street, just off the Royal Mile

See Map Contact us on 07788 755303

Talk and discussion with Jane Jackson and David Hicks of The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. What does World Heritage Status mean to Edinburgh and her residents? http://www.ewht.co.uk/

Charles in building projects appeal - Prince Charles in Edinburgh yesterday

The Prince of Wales has called for architects to put beauty at the heart of building projects to create long-lasting communities.

The Malcolm Fraser Building proposed for Jeffrey St as part of Caltongate, above is view of it along East Market Street

He shared his thoughts with an audience - including Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond - at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on how nature should play a central role.
Evoking the World Heritage status of Scotland's capital, Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, said: "Beauty is surely, when you think about it carefully, at the heart of genuine sustainability.

"If something is beautiful you don't want to knock it down."

Above is from top are the beautiful buildings to be knocked down for Caltongate, The Victorian School known as Canongate Venture, The Sailor`s Ark , unique Art Deco and 1930`s Macrae Tenements.

He said Scottish planners could take a leading role in the UK to build ecologically-sound communities - but warned that attitudes must change.

"We live on a very small island on which presumably many generations will want to live," he said.

"So apart from everything else, we need to work out where the water is going to come from in an increasingly uncertain world. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren not to wreck it all."

Charles called for a return to "civil, courteous and well-mannered" architecture and added: "We must rediscover - rapidly - our respect for nature and her universal principles that can give us everlasting inspiration and environmental hope."

He delivered his speech following a presentation by Mr Salmond, MSP for Gordon and MP for Banff and Buchan, at the seminar hosted by the Prince's Foundation. The foundation has contributed to the design of 50 developments during its 10-year history in the UK and overseas.
These include projects at Ballater in Aberdeenshire, Cumnock in Ayrshire, Lincoln city centre, the urban extension of Plymouth, the new town of Coed Darcy on the former BP oil refinery in South Wales and the regeneration of a strife-torn neighbourhood in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Press Association

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