McCall Smith going LoCo over SoCo

"Plans for a £40 million hotel in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town have been attacked for destroying the “rhythm and elegance” of the city centre by the novelist Alexander McCall Smith and Sir Timothy Clifford, the former director general of the National Galleries of Scotland. "

So another Old Town site that Allan Murray has on his to do list is causing a stir in the toon. see Times today

So perhaps Alexander MacCall Smith will get in touch with the ladies of the Save Our Old Town No.1 Detective Agency and together ..... Edinburgh could move closer to achieving the best new additions to her heritage and the best for the people who live in the city, who we believe are called residents, the communtiy, stakeholders, voters, but are probably called other names by the powers that be.

"In a letter to The Times, Mr McCall Smith and Sir Timothy join six other eminent figures in deriding the plans for SoCo, a hotel which has been designed to rise from the Cowgate on to South Bridge in Edinburgh, on a site destroyed by fire in 2002. "

"The authors of the letter - including Alexander Stoddart, the sculptor, Douglas Rae, the film producer, and Professor Richard Demarco - describe the aftermath of the fire as the perfect opportunity to restore the symmetry of South Bridge, which was planned by Scotland's pre-eminent architect, Robert Adam, but completed by Robert Kay, in 1786. "

This Weeks Events

Richard Demarco looking at the disturbing images of "Caltongate" at The Canongate Project Shop last Monday the 5th May after he had given his talk "A Portrait of Edinburgh as a World Heritage Site" which was both entertaining and thought provoking. Heres this weeks events ..

Tuesday 13th May

3-4pm.Reminiscence Group

The memories and experiences of people testify to the special significance of the Canongate. If you have spent time in the Canongate at some point in your life drop in and join us for a chat and a cup of tea.Then every Tuesday until the 10th June 3-4pm

Tuesday 13th May

7-9pm Film Screenings

"Past Perspectives" A collection of dramatisations, experimental, and artistic films looking at some of the characteristics of Edinburgh and her inhabitants from the Scottish Screen Archives

Wednesday 14th May

2pm - 3.30pm What does World Heritage Status mean to Edinburgh and her residents?Talk and discussion with Jane Jackson and David Hicks of The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust.

7pm - 9pm Do you have an idea to make a difference in your community? Talk by Eileen Inglis of Scotland UnLtd, Come and find out how you can get support and funding.

Thursday 15th May

2pm - 4pm Learn how local people can set up Development Trusts to improve the quality of life in their community.Talk by Wendy Reid of Development Trusts Association Scotland.

7pm - 8.30pm Banner making group Come and help produce a community banner. A great opportunity to create something special for the Canongate.Every Thursday until the 5th June

Friday 16th May

3-5pm Street Party Organising Group Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors

Saturday 17th May

11am-1pm Film Screenings "Past Perspectives" A collection of dramatisations, experimental, and artistic films looking at some of the characteristics of Edinburgh and her inhabitants from the Scottish Screen Archives.

]

Sunday 18th May

2-4pm Family Funday activities, face painting, stalls, refreshments

3-4pm Street Party Organising Group Get involved in organising the Street Party. A fantastic day out for all the community and visitors on the 28th June.

ALL EVENTS AT or LEAVE FROM 8 ST MARYS STREET

This Weeks Events

The Royal Mile looking down towards the Canongate by Richard Demarco.

The Canongate Project

see full programme here


ALL EVENTS AT 8 St Marys Street unless otherwise stated

Monday 5th May

Come and hear the entertaining and inspiring Richard Demarco ` A Portrait of Edinburgh as a World Heritage Site` at 4pm Previously advertised as 2pm in printed brochure. Still spaces available.

Demarco on Edinburgh

Demarco Website

Earlier posting On Demarco


Tuesday 6th May

3-4pm Canongate Reminiscences
The memories and experiences of people testify to the special significance of the Canongate. Every week, on Tuesdays from 3-4pm, we will be leading a group reminiscence workshop at 8 St. Mary’s Street. If you have spent time in the Canongate at some point in your life we’d like to invite you to join us for a chat and a cup of tea. If you are unable to make our weekly meeting at 8 St. Mary’s Street, we can arrange to meet you at your convenience.

Contact Christa at cbtooleyATgmail.com or Margaret at 0131 622 0139.

7-9pm Film Screen (week1) - A Mile of Memories

A collection of historical documentary and educational films featuring the Royal Mile and including Walkabout Edinburgh with Richard Demarco from 1970.

Wednesday 7th May

7-9pm Community Land Partnerships with Chris Cook. Come and learn more about CLP’s.


Thursday 8th May

1-3pm Local People Leading with Di Jennings

"LPL is an informal alliance of national networks, local community groups and individuals that has come together to campaign for a strong and independent community sector in Scotland.LPL has two main functions - to promote the work of local people in their communities and to influence national policy development. We email regular briefings to our supporters on both these themes."
Local People Leading Website

Friday 9th May

3-4pm Street Party Organising Group
Get involved in organising the Canongate Street party. A fantastic day for all the community and visitors.

Saturday 10th May

11am -1pm Repeat of Film Screen 1 A Mile of Memories
A collection of historical documentary and educational films featuring the Royal Mile and including Walkabout Edinburgh with Richard Demarco from 1970.

1-2.30pm Banner Making Group Launch
Come and help us produce a community banner. A great opportunity to create something special for the Canongate. There will be a trip to the People’s Story Museum. Meet at shop first.

Sunday 11th May

3-4pm Street Party Organising Group

TTBC 'Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile'.

Walking tour with Jean Bareham of Blueyonder Tours. The tour will include some social history, but will mainly cover how people use green space in the city these days.

World Heritage Day

Had a few days off the blog, as its been a very busy time organising The Canongate Project, more on that below.

Lets hope World Heritage Day today brings hope and real solutions, action to take - to those in rural environments, villages, towns, cities, and countries all over the world who`s very uniqueness, heritage, culture and communities are under enormous threat from the fearless march of progress in the name of regeneration and redevelopment, breathing new life, you know the stock phrases that are used time and time again to make vast profit for the very few at the expense of the many. More on the day here

Flags fly for World Heritage Day

on the BBC website

Flags will be flown from each level of the Scott Monument
Fifty flags of World Heritage Site countries are to be flown from the Scott Monument.
Friday's spectacle, to coincide with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun, marks World Heritage Day.
Volunteers will carry flags to the four levels of the monument and at the sound of the gun will display them from its viewing galleries. City culture leader Deidre Brock said: "The Scott Monument will be full of colour for 15 minutes." She added: "So it really will be worth stopping to look up right after the One O'Clock Gun. "Flags will fly from the bottom right to the top so people will be able to see from some distance, in fact it's worth a visit after the event because a climb to the top offers some of the best panoramic views in the city." The display will be followed by a public seminar at the Storytelling Centre on the value the World Heritage status brings to the city with speakers including director of Edinburgh World Heritage Adam Wilkinson, Edinburgh City Council leader Jenny Dawe and John Graham, chief executive of Historic Scotland.

Edinburgh World Heritage Trust Historic Scotland

Canongate Community Doing it for Themselves

Press Release 17/04/08

Canongate Community Forum is proud to present an innovative 6 week long project to document the historic heart of Edinburgh ’s Old Town , an area that is the focus of a hugely controversial re-development plan.

The launch of the programme on April 18th coincides with World Heritage Day, commemorated around the world which offers the opportunity to debate issues of world heritage and how it can be protected and conserved.

Full Programme Here in PDF

The Canongate Project has been made possible through a grant from the Scottish Communities Action Research Fund (SCARF) and features an in-depth documentation of the area and its people, seminar’s and talks from a range of bodies and individuals, community based activates such as banner making and a film festival, culminating in a street party on Saturday 28th June.

Scotland’s internationally renowned arts impresario Richard Demarco begins the programme with his talk “A Portrait of Edinburgh as a World Heritage Site” on Monday 5th May 2pm, booking is advised for this and all other talks and walks which will prove to be popular.

The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, The Cockburn Association and other conservation and community focused organisations will be among other talks.

Common Good expert Andy Wightman is one of the many gathering for the Common Good Day Scotland on Saturday May 24th. Campaigners from all over the country will be discussing and making plans to continue the reclaiming of land and assets belonging to the people of Scotland .

Canongate Community Forum secretary and Save Our Old Town campaigner Sally Richardson said; “We are proud to be presenting a packed programme of events and activities as part of the Canongate Project. “During the 6 weeks Edinburgh ’s historic Old Town will have its life and people documented by the community along with activities everyone can get involved in.”

Canongate Community Forum Website

Saving Edinburgh

9 days to go before Craltongate goes before planning committee http://www.eh8.org.uk/


The Royal Mile looking down towards the Canongate by Richard Demarco.

His fears about Edinburgh losing its world Heritage Status if Caltongate was to go ahead, were aired here in a recent HeraldArticle His views on the UNESCO designation here from2002 where he says

"As the 21st century begins, one thing is certain – Edinburgh does not need a Disneyland, a city of make-believe. Edinburgh, when seen as capital of a magical land, is the real thing; Camelot under the light of common day. "

Ron Hewitt chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
said this today in the TheScotsman "If we want a developing city that lives with the times, whilst caring for its citizens and workers and respecting its historical legacy, then we need to welcome organisations with the willingness and resources to invest in it." This is the same man who in this Article
" Hewitt moved house an astonishing 28 times in 30 years. " "I'd been working, waking up at 5.30am and getting home late for 30 years. I've got a family but they grew up with, much of the time, me not seeing them. I do regret that"
So this man knows all about what its like putting roots down, being involved in your local community and caring about your local environment.

Meanwhile in todays EveNews they have reported that Jim Lowrie the current planning leader of council is under investigation by the Standards Commission, see yesterdays post for more on this.

Remember come and make your voice heard at Wednesdays Stop The Demolitions Meeting in Old saint Pauls Church Hall, Jeffrey St. Doors open 7pm meeting starts 7.30pm mapanddirections

To mark Legos` 50th Birthday Allan Murray architects knocked up this Nightmare Vision called Caltongate, which if built wouldn`t even reach its 40th birthday. Spot what is real, what has been obliterated and if at all anything you can see that would stop World Heritage Status being withdrawn?