Don`t DIY Alone Event in Edinburgh

Save Our Old Town supporters are completing the community banner, which was started during the Canongate Project last year. We hope to display the banner at our Action Research launch on Saturday 21st February at. (More on that to follow)

We have taken the opportunity to take part in an event this weekend which is detailed below.

We have been given space to work on finishing the Community Banner at the Forrest Cafe on Saturday 7th Feb between 4pm - 7pm

Everyone is welcome to come along and help on the banner if they can.

Don't DIY Alone: February 5-8th 2009

Don't DIY Alone - a gathering and symposium in Edinburgh 5-8th February 2009 - share skills and create together!

Visit the blog for more details

DIYEdinburghblogspot

Royal Mile in the past

Evening News had a wee film in the paper today about the Royal Mile just photos of the past. You can see it here The Evening News made the point that in 1975 the homes and shops were demolished to make way for a development that never happened - there was a gap site there for 15 years. Let's hope the gap site in New Street doesn't lie empty for 15 years or 30 like Greenside!

SOOT Gathering Tues 2nd Dec 7pm

Come along to Old Saint Pauls Church Hall, Jeffrey Street mapanddirections on
Tuesday 2nd December. Next to Waverley Station, close to Princes St and St Andrews bus station.

All welcome, come at whatever time you can and stay for however long suits you.

Doors open 7pm, start meeting 7.30pm

We will be discussing the recent UNESCO visit, The Canongate Project, volunteers wanted to help finish off and collate work of the Project and new threats around the city, including SoCo, The Tron, West Port etc

Then rest of evening until late`ish will be a social get together.

A chance for you to share your news over a glass of wine and a mince pie.

Please BYOB. Glasses and some snacks provided, but do bring some more to share if you can.

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

3000 more hotels to be built

Shame the priority is hotels but very few affordable homes are being built in Edinburgh, the homeless figures go up and more and more people are stuck in privately rented and mortgaged accomodation they can't afford. Where's the investment in homes. What about a headline "City to get 3000 more affordable social homes in just seven years". Come on get your priorities right.

City to get 3000 more hotel rooms in just seven years

Published Date: 16 June 2008

By ALAN RODEN

A MASSIVE hotel building programme in Edinburgh will create more than 3000 new bedrooms in the space of just a few years, it was revealed today.

A report produced as part of the Scotland-wide bid to increase tourism revenue by 50 per cent before 2015, shows the city is already well ahead of target.

In the last year, the city council's planning committee granted permission for 1542 new rooms – including a five-star hotel in the controversial Caltongate development, the Hotel Du Vin on Forrest Road and an Apex Hotel on Waterloo Place.

On top of that, new developments with a total of 1487 rooms are set to come before councillors this year, including a massive £200 million project at Haymarket, which features two hotels with 426 rooms.

A 2006 report identified a need for 4000 new hotel rooms in the city by 2015, meaning Edinburgh is three-quarters of the way towards that goal.

Although pressures on the global economy have resulted in a fall in advance bookings for June, July and August this year, Edinburgh's hotels traditionally run at an occupancy rate of more than 90 per cent during the Festival months.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said today: "The growing demand for hotel rooms is a sign that Edinburgh remains a highly-attractive destination.

"This is great news for the Capital's economy, with positive knock-on effects for jobs, shops and other businesses. The target of 4000 should be easily met within the recommended timeframe."

In 2007/08, 134 hotel rooms were completed, and construction began on another 775. On top of that, planning consent was granted for developments with 633 new rooms – a combined total of 38.6 per cent of the 2015 target.

Sinead Guerin, VisitScotland regional director, said today: "Investment in the tourism industry is crucial for improving the prospects for both leisure and business tourism. It is very encouraging that the local authority has recognised this."

Edinburgh has been set its own goal of increasing tourism revenues by 63 per cent by 2015.

Business tourism currently accounts for £300m of the £1.08 billion spent by visitors to the Capital every year.

The flagship hotels at Haymarket and Caltongate – if approved – will both be five-star.

To read the article in the Edinburgh Evening News click here

Radical Walk with Allan Armstrong

12.30 to 2 pm, 8th June 2008, walk through the Old Town meet at Canongate Project, 8 St Mary's Street

Allan Armstrong has taken an interest in the radical history of Scotland and Ireland for most of his life. Allan is a socialist, activist and trade unionist. Allan will look at the role Edinburgh's Old Town played in shaping radical Scotland and the world. From dissident lawyers, dissenters and protesters to riots and marches to Marx and Engels. Allan will explore the graves, lanes and closes of the Old Town taking you on an adventure of protest, declaration and the demand for liberty and equality.

Edinburgh's "radical road" around the crags was built by "radicals" fleeing persecution from the west of Scotland (in the 19th Century) who were given sanctuary and work in the city, the Radical Road was the fruits of their labour.
For a wider view of the radical road click here

NB: The walk will not include a walk up the radical road

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

Another Application Rubber Stamped

Today the "revised" Macrae Tenements Application goes before the Development Management Sub-Committee of the Planning Committee Wednesday, 5 March 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Well there is no point in making comments to this committee, as they do not listen. But at the Public Inquiry they will.

Full Planning Application
New Street I 221 -223 Canongate (land adjacent to - PA4A) - Erect
buildings for residential and business (Class 4) and/or community
facility, retail (Classl) and/or food and drink (Class 3) purposes.
Podium structure (including ground source heating and cooling
system), car parking, access, open space and landscaping including
public square and pend / arcade route off Canongate, works to south
end of New Street, and associated works (07/044OO/FUL) - report by
the Director of City Development (circulated)
It is recommended that this application be GRANTED.

Conservation Area Consent

221 - 225 Canongate - Demolish buildings with part retained facade
(as amended) (07/01299/CON) - report by the Director of City
Development (circulated)

It is recommended that the Sub-committee NOTE THAT CONSENT IS
NOT REQUIRED.

Our campaign today is in Newham , London, Friends of Queens Market

Queen's Market, Upton Park is a thriving and profitable covered street market. Situated in the East End it has been in existence for over a century and is the heart of a vibrant community that draws in people from across London and beyond. Famed for its affordable and culturally appropriate produce, it is much more than just a market, it is a living information exchange and a communal space. Queen's Market is an important centre of employment as well as bringing millions of pounds into the local economy. It exudes entrepreneurial spirit, tolerance and good humour. Little wonder then that Londoners love it. Sadly, it is now under direct threat due to the arrogance and irresponsibility of Newham Council.

The campaigners have a constructive vision of the future of the market, one that sees a full appreciation of its unique character and that makes the most of its potential. Such has been the success of their campaign that Asda-WalMart have pulled out of the hugely controversial Wales/St Modwen scheme. Their campaign is growing all the time and they are determined to expand it to save Queen's Market and the Queens' pub from the rapacious clutches of property developer - St. Modwen Properties Plc

Community Action Meetings

SCARF



The 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.


Now the CCF is pleased to announce that premises have finally been secured from the council, to run a drop-in ideas shop from, as well as workshops and events.

The Community Research will begin in April and run for around 4 – 6 weeks, with the shop being open daily and used to host events and workshops.

People of all ages are encouraged to get involved whether they live, work or have an interest in the Canongate and Edinburgh's Old Town.

Most importantly the research is designed, undertaken and owned by YOU, the community. This will allow the community to demonstrate what their needs and aspirations are, with a view to finding a more appropriate way forward which is truly inclusive of the community’s ideas.

Looking at what is good in the area, its downsides, what is missing, what could be improved can all be explored. Alternatives to developer led regeneration? What does Edinburgh’s World Heritage status means to you, the city, the area, your home?

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 shop itself will need staffed, welcoming folk, helping with displays, general admin, publicity, leaflets, posters, press, radio, TV, the web, information gathering, networking, on street surveys, etc filming, photography, writing and documenting process and findings, helping out with events and workshops..

An initial planning meeting to decide the details of what will be included in the research is to be held on Tuesday the 4th March 7- 9pm in the shop at 8 St Marys Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU ...which is just off the Canongate.

A further ideas day will be held on Sunday 16th March from 12.30pm to 5pm in the shop at 8 St Marys Street. People are free to drop in at any time throughout the day, share their ideas and enjoy a bowl of soup.

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


Information, including dates and events will be displayed on the windows of the shop itself in St Mary’s Street, other shops, community places as well as on EH8 and here on the blogspot.

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

The SOOT Shop is at 8 St Marys Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU ...which is just off the Canongate.

We are pleased to announce the next SOOT Fundraising night is on Friday 14th March at 8.00pm in The Canons Gait’s Cellar Bar, 232 Canongate, The Royal Mile.

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

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

The Councils New Masterplan update

Next SOOT MEETING WHAT NOW? and CCF AGM 19th Feb Old Saint Pauls

more details next week.

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.
Will this new planning committee join in the cries of the people or continue with the pretence………….to be continued

PPSGROUP OTHERS
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Today the 2nd of February yet another Caltongate Lies Letter has slithered through over 28,000 letter boxes

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On February the 6th 2008 the New planning Committee continued with the pretence, only two joined in the cries of the people Cllrs Burgess and Keir

See yesterdays posting for more details

Todays Press Coverage

ScotsmanArticle

OpinionPieceScotsman

On the 27th may 2007 NEW Lib Dem Council Leader city council leader Jenny Dawe today branded designs for a landmark building in the Caltongate development "grotesque and hideous", raising further questions about the future of the £300 million project.Articlehere

now she is seeing the Emperor`s New Clothes

Ben Lee, PlanningResource, 7 February 2008
A controversial £300 million flat and office development in Edinburgh's Old Town has been largely approved by city councillors.
Edinburgh city council's planning committee passed 10 out of 12 applications before it - including a five star hotel and new public square.Councillors will continue discussing an application for a residential and business facility and a request to demolish buildings in Canongate.Officers had already backed developers Mountgrange's plans. Minor conditions relating to materials, affordable housing and a community facility were added.Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "The Caltongate development will breathe new life into a neglected part of the Old Town."The competed scheme would include 200 homes, offices and restaurants. A street would be built to link Holyrood Palace, the Scottish parliament and Waverley station.Around 350 individuals and organisations - including Edinburgh World Heritage and the Cockburn Association - have lodged more than 1,800 objections to the project.Article

Dracula Speaks

This has to be read in the style of Dracula(for it to work....(sorry we have had a long and emotional day, you will have to indulge us).

"Today I feasted on the people of Edinburgh ha ha ha ha ha........I have sucked the blood from the community, from the council housing, the heritage.......ha ha ha ha Van Hesling could not fight me, for with my £300 million I am safe to demolish any building I want......I can have what I want........I don't have to show my bank balance.... the councillors fell for my evil but simple plan....ha ha ha ha

As a Tory it was easy.......I brought my friend Igor, you will know him in his disguise of Malcolm Cooper with me from Englandshire... he told me - "Lord of Darkness do not worry I will get through your application , with my job in Scottish Heritage, I will just tell these fools there is economic justification, they are greedy they will fall for it" And that is was my little friend ,Igor did.... ha ha ha.... my other Tory friends Joanna Mowatt and Cameron Rose they fought so gallantly for me, my heart (if I had one) beated with pride"

The fools, the Planning Committee fell under my spell, they did not consider the whinges from the community or these know-it-all heritage groups as my money spoke...... threee hundred millliiiiooonnnnn pounds can buy you what you like ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My friends from the night, from the Planning Department bored them sooooo much they could not tell they were being sold a folly that bring me millions.........ha ha ha ha ha

I am sure the minions from the Independent Republic of the Canongate will be on tomorrow to tell you the decision was not democratic, the councillors were fools.......but these people are no-ones and they don't understand that profits must come before people.....ha ha ha ha ha ha

Will We Ever Learn From Our Mistakes

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein

Tomorrow the City of Edinburgh`s Planning Committee have to decide whether they want to go forward with the legacy they were left from the previous New Labour administration...

Will they have the courage to say no and fight for an appropriate development, which does not depend on a five star hotel which demands the destruction of historical buildings, homes, and may ultimately cost the city its World Heritage Status.

1. Jurys Inn Jeffrey St, hotel does not use image when advertising, surprise surprise!

2. St James Centre Whatwaslosthere

3. Appelton Tower, Edinburgh University Whatwaslost

Read early posts to catch up and details of protest outside

City Chambers from 9am tomorrow , Weds 6th feb.

more background at www.eh8.org.uk

Chair of Planning Committee Compromised

9 days to go to Planning Committee

Who is going to Chair Controversial Caltongate Committee?

Save Our Old Town Campaigners are asking who is going to chair the imminent planning committee on the 6^th February. They say that as the Planning Leader Jim Lowrie is currently under investigation for remarks in an Evening News article of 11th October 2007, it is unlikely that he could be the chair. The article was one in which former Planning Leader Trevor Davies warned city chiefs they risked sending Edinburgh into years of "dereliction and decline" by appearing hostile to major developments.

Davies who famously stuck his middle finger up at carol singing campaigners in December 2006 was himself investigated by The Standards Commission, because he attended Caltongate developer’s Champagne Reception.

'City planning leader Cllr Jim Lowrie said: "I really don't feel that we are that far behind Glasgow in terms of the speed of the planning process, but the problem in Edinburgh is the number of historic buildings and the need to address heritage concerns.

"However, we don't want to fall behind and it's very important we listen to organisations like the chamber.

"We have to get big developments like Caltongate up and running as soon as we can."'

Article at this link here

Donald Anderson Speaks

New labour, New Money. Donald Anderson until 2006 was the Leader of the Labour run council in Edinburgh. He resigned from being the leader so he could concentrate on his ambition to be an MSP in the Scottish Parliament. Luckily the people of South Edinburgh are not totally bonkers and did not elect him. (We really should be thankful for small mercies).


Donald Anderson took his reduncancy money then set up a PR company based in the Canongate called Anderson Strategy or something as daft. It lasted only a few months before he wrapped it up to become wait for it ..................... the Director of PPS - evil PR company for Mountgrange check out what Channel 4 Dispatches had to say about them here.


The man is a total charlaton - the Labour Party, Mountgrange, Historic Scotland, the council officails and even the Edinburgh's Local paper the Evening Snooze are all in cahoots. Today's article in the Evening Snooze announces that the objectors - that's us - are defeated but doesn't even ask SOOT or anyone for a comment. Alan Roden the journalist was seen in Starbucks with Donald Anderson on Tuesday - getting the article written for him no doubt.


Well the Great Darth Anderson spoke today about the dark side's triumph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYyBi2Bgfvg

Who's that guy?

15 days to go

Allan Murray this, Allan Murray that! Who is that guy? Well he is the architect who likes to build those big blond concrete, steel and glass structures all over town. Quite bland and a wee bit boring but meant to be modernity. He has many fingers, in many pies - check out his website here

We are not necessarily saying Allan Murray is a bad man, or a bad architect but is his design what is needed for a World Heritage site in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Well there is no evidence that he is, this is not a sensitive development but a big in yer face modern spralling development.

Make up your own mind - check out the developers Caltongate site here

Old Town not Clone Town

16 days to go until Caltongate Plans go before Council Planning Committee on the 6th Feb `08

Will we be seeing an advertisement like this soon in the Edinburgh World Heritage Site?

After all, as Caltongate Developer has told us "Caltongate is a once in a generation opportunity" In many people`s eyes Caltongate would be something this generation would pass on with heads hanging in shame. But like the buildings in yesterday`s post it would only last a couple of generations before being knocked down and replaced.

Caltongates` main architect Allan Murray has now taken his vision of glass and concrete to Glasgow`s Merchant City see HeraldArticle. See what Architects over in Glasgow think here

Read clonetownthefightback about how communities are fighting back against this blanding of their town and cities by architects like Murray, developers like Mountgrange and councils who seem to can`t get enough of this anywhere architecture as economically they love it!

Of course getting the right PR team is crucial and you need one with a motto like Mountgrange`s choice of team to get Caltongate through...

"Call PPS if ...you need to undertake community consultation or if you feel your scheme may run into political or community opposition." hotlinehere

See some of those who are up currently against this infamous pr outfit

JerichoBoatyardOxford Council rejected plans Dec 07, but developers have lodged an appeal

maerhillsactiongroup

stopstanstedexpansion

Lets continue to fight for the best for Edinburgh, come The Stop The Demolitions Meeting which is to take place on Wednesday 30th January in Old Saint Pauls Church Hall, Jeffrey Street see mapanddirections Teas, coffees, information stall from 7pm, meeting starts 7.30pm read about the very busy successful lastmeeting

Build for Old Town, not Cumbernauld

20 days to go...www.eh8.org.uk

A Stop The Demolitions Meeting is to take place on Wednesday 30th January in Old Saint Pauls, Jeffrey Street
link for map and directions

Teas, coffees, information stall from 7pm, meeting starts 7.30pm read about the very busy successful lastmeeting

This letter appears in todays Evening News.

Build for Old Town, not Cumbernauld

WITH a political decision due soon on the Caltongate plan, it is vital that councillors realise the precedent that they are deciding. There is a long queue of controversial plans piled up behind this one. Developers are waiting to see if the new administration has the political courage to assert itself on behalf of the city as Jenny Dawe has suggested it might, or if they will roll over as compliantly as the last lot to have their tummies rubbed. The main point of contention is about what development is acceptable in a World Heritage Site, or more to the point, what is a WHS for?

Popular belief has it that it is to protect a few special places, to prevent inappropriate development and to ensure that the facades and streetscape of sympathetic developments do not strike a discordant note with the overall historic ambience of the area. If WHS status cannot do this, could someone please explain what other point it has?

The developer behind the Caltongate application has chosen a lead architect who is notoriously unsympathetic to historic context for this profoundly sensitive site, an architect who is indeed celebrated for brash, modern, glass blocks. Alan Murray has predictably produced a scheme of identikit concrete and glass structures, more fitting for replacing the centre of Cumbernauld than the missing pieces of the Old Town of Edinburgh.

Had Mountgrange engaged one of several practices in Scotland specialising in conservation or heritage work, it is inconceivable that they would be confronted now with such broad and determined opposition.

In the post war years planners and councillors allowed the architects to raze acres of viable Edwardian, Victorian, Georgian and Jacobean property, built to last indefinitely with reasonable maintenance. It was replaced with unsustainable buildings using new materials and techniques. These buildings, many of which won architectural prizes at the time, now top polls for the ugliest buildings ever. Having reached the end of their brief design life 40 years on, they are now being replaced. The materials used, glass, concrete, extruded metals and hydrocarbons consumed vast amounts of energy in manufacturing and are recyclable, if at all, only at enormous expense.

Why are we locked into repeating this? Instead of single-use snapshots of architectural fashion, could we not have adaptable buildings that might have several uses over a long life? Buildings that look as though they belong in the Old Town World Heritage Site?
Ken Smillie, Jackson's Close, Edinburgh
letter here where you can leave your comments

Yesterday Tuesday 15th this letter was in The Evening News

Mountgrange plan is height of bad taste

HISTORIC Scotland has said it finds Mountgrange's Caltongate plans for the Old Town "generally acceptable" Does that mean they are going to object to certain aspects of the plans in particular?

I do hope so because as one of the many existing Old Town residents who will be deprived of not only our view of the Calton Hill but of a considerable amount of daylight should Mountgrange be allowed to build high, we are particularly concerned about the detrimental affect these buildings are going to have on our quality of life.

Has Historic Scotland given any consideration to the impact these buildings will have on the REAR of the Canongate . . . overlooking the proposed development?

If the interests of the existing residents are of no consequence then Historic Scotland and the other concerned bodies should pay heed to what will be on offer to the tourists in the future if these buildings are allowed to be built to the height at present proposed by Mountgrange.

More akin to downtown Dallas than Old Town Edinburgh!

This monstrosity exterminates the view from the Canongate to the Calton Hill, a concern expressed by the Church of Scotland, and likewise the view from the Lower Regent Road to the spine of the Royal Mile. This should be of particular concern to Historic Scotland.

I have expressed my concerns to Historic Scotland. I await with particular interest their reply.
Helene de Battista, Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

letter here where you can leave your comments

Welcome to Hotel Caltongate

22 days to go...www.eh8.org.ukAbove is the proposed Caltongate Hotel which is to be a French Accor, no surprise there then as Mountgrange developer Manish Chande will tell you "He was Chief Executive and co-founder of Land Securities Trillium Plc (LS Trillium), the UK’s leading total property outsourcing company"morehere

"Trillium's Millions Land 30 Accor Hotels Accor has agreed a sale and leaseback deal involving 30 of its hotels (5,000 rooms) in the UK. Land Securities Trillium (LST), part of the Land Securities Group, will pay £439 million for the mix of Ibis and Novotel properties, which Accor will operate under 12-year variable leases for a total of 84 years. LST will pay an additional £35 million over four years towards the renovation of the portfolio. Accor intends to use the agreement to create a long-term partnership with Land Securities that will allow the hotel chain to develop further in the UK. " Hospitalitynews

Last Tuesday this Article appeared entitled "Royal Mile Flats Saved as Demolition Ditched"

The Save Our Old Campaign got in touch with The Evening News saying this was misleading and untrue. But all they printed the next day was an article which didn`t state the facts yet again, but one that implied that those moany protestors will never be happy, even when the developers twist the facts and try to make out they have listened to what concerns people and heritage bodies have about this "once in a generation" Caltongate.

But today we read that at least Caltongates` major architect AllanMurray Architects has rubbished reports that an integral part of its £300 million Caltongate masterplan in Edinburgh has been scrapped. The following article appears on The Architects` Journal

"An Edinburgh Evening News report claimed that, due to pressure from several of the Scottish capital's numerous heritage bodies, plans to demolish a section of Royal Mile tenements had been shelved.However, speaking to the AJ, practice principal Allan Murray said that the scheme for developer Mountgrange was still going ahead.
'It is right that the application has been withdrawn, but it hasn't been scrapped – it has simply been replaced,' Murray said.
'There was an issue over a breakthrough that will create a link between the new public square and Waverley Station. This is now being replaced by a doubled height, covered route through.' "
Thanks Allan!

The Common Good of Scotland

23 days to go...... Well, there is nothing to report from today`s press. So today, I will focus on The Common Good A brief introduction -

"Visit any town in Scotland and you will come across names such as Market Muir, Market Street, Muirton, Links, and Green. These all denote forms of common land such as all burghs in Scotland owned at one time. The property of the burgh was known as the common good since it was to be used for the common good of the inhabitants.

And this property still exists. It still belongs to the people and forms an important part of their cultural heritage.

It is also a significant resource for regenerating local communities. But since 1975 when Town Councils were abolished, this land has been subsumed within new local authority structures and assets that should have been carefully stewarded for the benefit of the inhabitants of the former burghs have, instead, been lost, neglected, and in many cases misappropriated.

The total reported value in the accounts of local authorities stands at just over £181 million
But given the missing assets, inaccurate accounting and lost receipts the total is probably in the region of £2 billion.

In Edinburgh, millions of pounds have gone missing and, incredibly, the former Waverley Market(now Princes Mall) in Princes Street, a common good asset worth over £40 million is leased on a 206 year lease for 1p per year!

Citizens are beginning to wake up to this hidden wealth. At the same time, communities are being empowered to take ownership and control of land and property and to fashion a more prosperous and sustainable future for themselves. However, much of this has been achieved through the allocation of money from the Lottery.

For many communities its not necessary to seek opportunities on the open market or to seek financial support from the Lottery in order to build up their asset base since common good assets already exist and could form the basis for building a multi-million property portfolio that could deliver housing, leisure and much needed community facilities."
Readfullarticle by Common Good Expert Andy Wightman

It is important to note that Common Good Assets not only includes heritable land and buildings but moveables such as paintings, books, jewellery, furniture, monuments, weaponry and fishing rights..this list is not complete

I first got involved in The Common Good when I met Common Good Expert Andy Wightman in 2005, shortly after the first Caltongate Masterplan was unveiled. Following on from this I learned that part of the proposed land sale by the council to the developers Mountgrange includes Common Good.

© Copyright: Andy Wightman

Above is East Market Street, Jeffrey St above it, with the spine of the Royal Mile visable infront of Arthurs Seat. Highlighted in red is the property on East Market Street that developers Mountgrange want to buy from the council. The building furthest to the left is The Canongate Venture, then the Former Vegetable Market (which is Common Good) and then the Market Street Arches.

When I knew this building was held on the Common Good Account of the Council, I became one of threepetitioners to The Scottish Parliament, calling on greater protection for Scotland`s Common Good.

Come and learn more and get involved in reclaiming your Common Good at at The Januaryreshuffle in Glasgow in The Pearce Institute, Govan on Saturday the 26th January.
There will be a film presenting an overview of what the Common Good is, featuring an interview with land reform activist Andy Wightman along with members of local communities involved in Common Good campaigns. There will also be a Common Good workshop along with lots of other events and activities including ones for children and tasty food on offer from The Broth Mix cafe.


If you can`t get along still get involved. Andy Wightman has produced an excellent CommonGoodGuide to get you started and you can find out more on his comprehensive website ScottishCommons