The Vandalism of Edinburgh

Mark Cummings PR supervandal for all developments that stink , collects his wages

Today we must catch up on all the news, on our holidays at the moment so daily postings not possible -- but one thing is clear we must all write to UNESCO asap - To inform the World Heritage Committee about the threats to Edinburgh write to - Committee's Secretariat at -

wh-info@unesco.org

It's time to turf vandals at the 'gate out of office

Letters Evening News 15th July 2008

"YESTERDAY I (and presumably the other 2000 objectors to the Caltongate affair) received a letter from dear old Edinburgh City Council informing me that the first phase of demolition work in the course of the Caltongate development had been approved, and will shortly commence.
My computer dictionary defines the word 'vandalism' as "deliberate, mischievous, or malicious destruction – or damage – of property" (particularly in regard to public property). Who are the greater vandals – the 16-year-olds spraying their tags on a building wall, or the councillors and council officers who have driven through the Caltongate abomination against significant local objection, and failed the people they were elected and appointed to serve? It is time to clean the hive, and I appeal to every one of my fellow voters to vote for anyone except your sitting councillor at the next council election ... and if you like the idea, tell someone else about it: let's dump the whole lot and start again. Voting in a clean council would only be the start, because the new council should be pressed to dismiss those council officers who significantly promoted the worst depredations of its predecessor."

Evening News 16th July 08 Tory Cooncillor Rose (who voted for Caltongate on the planning committee in Feb 08) rabbles on trying to justify the vandalism committed against the city ...really you should be ashamed of yourself and do good in your retirement from the police.

Architect Peter Wilson has something to say on Rebus Rose Rantings

Thorny Subject
Still in Edinburgh, Planning Committee member, Councillor Cameron Rose, has taken it upon himself to expose the architectural and urban design credentials that made him an obvious choice for the job. The retired police inspector feels a “legislative look” at Historic Scotland’s listing policy should be taken, a viewpoint formed from his bewilderment that a building such as the Royal Commonwealth Pool by RMJM could possibly merit it’s A-listed status.
Showing a commendable appreciation of 1960’s architecture, Councillor Rose feels that “it’s debatable whether it has historic significance”. His real beef, however, is with a listing process that allowed two C category buildings to impede the Council’s eagerness to appease the developer of the Caltongate site next to its new headquarters. As with so many of his colleagues, he is happy to repeat the public relations rhetoric that the proposed project is “creating a new living community” in the heart of the Old Town, encouraging the thought that perhaps it is the city’s Planning Committee itself that merits a legislative look at some of its recent decisions. Article on Architecture Scotland

Then in the Times Article July 17th 08 an unnamed vandal says -

"A spokesman for Mountgrange, the property company that is developing the £300 million site next to the Royal Mile in the Old Town, said that work was likely to begin before Christmas. He added that the scheme would reflect “the way we live today whilst respecting the past”. (Pass the sickbag, quick!)

Our Friends in the West!

Cold comfort - it's no just the Canongate. Developments developments ....ever where you look are developments. Big business rules! Funny isn't it? Glasgow gets an other giant Tescos. The M77 went ahead despite the protests from local activists and environmentalists. The Silverburn Centre was built once the M77 was completed now has Britain's biggest Tesco in Pollok. Who owns Silverburn? - Philip Green. Who is Philip Green? He's the guy who lives in Jersey (avoids British taxation) who gave Charlie Gordon (ex-leader of Glasgow Council and MSP) money for Wendy Alexander, who then had to resign for taking money for taking money from outside Britain.

Green light for TescoTown plan

Exclusive by Vivienne Nicoll

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has won its controversial fight for planning permission for a huge supermarket and hundreds of flats in Partick.

Earlier this year, a two week public inquiry was held in Glasgow into two sets of plans by the company for a site near the bottom of Byres Road.

One was for a large scale development with a 7435sq m superstore, 653 student flats, 220 private flats and leisure uses on the banks of the River Kelvin, the other was for a stand alone superstore.

TIMELINE:
DECEMBER 2005: Tesco unveils a blueprint for a superstore, 1300 student flats and 300 private apartments in Partick.

JANUARY 2006: Locals begin organising a campaign of opposition while SPT transport chiefs warn they may block the plan.

SEPTEMBER: The supermarket attempts to appease critics with a revised plan featuring a huge store and just 900 student flats.

OCTOBER: The changes fail to win people over. Over 700 objections are lodged with the city council.

APRIL 2007: Tesco triggers more anger by demolishing an historic railway station in the West End.

JUNE: The supermarket lodges a second application in case Tesco Town fails - a store in Beith Street.

OCTOBER: Opponents take their battle to the Scottish Parliament.

JUNE 26: The Evening Times revealed store chiefs had failed to buy land needed for the flats.

JULY 18: We revealed the Reporter to the public inquiry into the development backs Tesco Town.

The Evening Times has discovered the Reporter to the public inquiry has thrown out the plan for the smaller of the two developments but backed what has been dubbed the Tesco Town scheme.

The decision has shocked local councillors and campaigners who fought against the Tesco proposals on the grounds of traffic congestion and pollution.

However despite the decision to grant planning permission, it is still not clear if the store and flats will get off the ground.

Last month, the Evening Times exclusively revealed that Glasgow City Council agreed to sell a piece of land in Beith Street, which is vital if the larger development is to go-ahead, to Glasgow Harbour for £4.1million.

Without that land, it is unlikely the superstore and flats can be built.

But if an agreement can be reached with Glasgow Harbour, Tesco Town now has the official go-ahead.

Partick West councillor Aileen Colleran admitted she was stunned by the decision to grant planning permission.

She said: "I am disappointed because I felt the case against Tesco was very strong.

"The one ray of light is that the Reporter to the public inquiry has not recommended the stand alone store for planning permission.

"Tesco owns all the land for that so permission would have meant game over. This story isn't over yet because the city council agreed to sell the land in Beith Street to Glasgow Harbour.

"That means Tesco cannot go ahead unless the owners of that piece of land agree to co-operate with them on the development.

"I wasn't in favour of either of the Tesco supermarket developments because even the stand alone store was going to be big but we will now just have to wait and see what happens."

Gordon Bickerton of campaign group Stop Tesco Owning Partick (STOP) admitted he was shocked and disappointed by the Reporter's decision. He said: "I cannot believe that a government department would fly in the face of so much public feeling against this. I am astonished.

"I would have thought if anything had got the go-ahead it would have been the smaller development given the level of protest there was about the big one.

"This decision is unbelievable and I am in total shock."

Tesco corporate affairs manager, Jennifer Duncan, said: "We are pleased that the reporter has recognised the benefits associated with our mixed-use proposal.

"We would like to thank everybody who took the time to support our application."

The planned Tesco Town will be built on disused land in Partick close to the former Partick Central Auction train station site at the junction of Benalder street and Beith street, above, and the Glasgow Harbour development

Ms Duncan said the original plans for the area had been reduced considerably following extensive consultation.

The number of student rooms was cut from 1300 to 653 and the number of flats from 300to 220.

Tesco says the size of the superstore was increased to 7435sq m to allow a wide range of non-food products to be sold in the store.

The supermarket chain says studies of shopping habits show local people are travelling to stores in Govan, Anniesland and Maryhill for their weekly shop.

A statement said: "The proposed development will help to retain shoppers in Partick, benefiting the area and boosting the local economy. The new Tesco store would also create around 400 new full and part-time jobs."

Nobody from Glasgow Harbour was available to comment on the planning decision.

Allan Murray Unveils Latest Masterpiece

Evening News Article £20m Office Cube

Article on Allan Murray

Exhibition on Glenrothes where wee Allan "Caltongate or Edinburgh must Die" Murray grew up

Why is this one man reshaping the capital, answers please to canongatecommunityforumATyahoo.co.uk

Read all about it

The Planning Committee Convenor looking a bit confused after reading the news that perhaps Caltongate will cost Edinburgh her World Heritage Status

Press Coverage 8th July 08
The Times The Herald Daily Record
Regen.Net Property Week

Edinburgh Under Investigation

Unesco to investigate if Edinburgh should lose world heritage status

Read Caltongate Calamity piece by Conservation architect James Simpson which gives the overall damage that Edinburgh faces if Caltongate was to go ahead.


Published Date: 07 July 2008 By BRIAN FERGUSON The Scotsman

Article in Evening News and BBC TV Coverage STV News

AN INVESTIGATION has been ordered into Edinburgh's World Heritage Status, The Scotsman has learned.

An official inquiry, which may lead to the capital being stripped of the title by Unesco, was launched yesterday at a summit of the world heritage committee in the Canadian city of Quebec.

Delegates said they were particularly concerned about the potential impact and handling by the Scottish Government of Caltongate, a massive new development in Edinburgh's Old Town, which was approved despite around 1,800 objections being received.

The Scottish Government, which approved the scheme last month after dismissing demands for a public inquiry, has been condemned for failing to consult Unesco before coming to a final decision on the scheme, which will see two listed buildings demolished to make way for a five-star hotel.

The inquiry will also examine the proposed redevelopment of Leith's docklands over the next 20 years and the planned revamp of the St James Centre.

A team of Unesco inspectors will visit Edinburgh later this year to assess its "state of conservation".

The Scottish Government has been ordered to submit its own dossier by February of next year. The 2009 Unesco summit in Seville will then decide if there is enough evidence for Edinburgh to be placed on the "at risk" register.

A spokesman for Unesco's world heritage committee said: "The committee voiced concern at the potential impact of the Caltongate development and were also deeply concerned that it was approved by the state government in June without complying with the operational guidelines for world heritage sites.

"The Scotsman understands that Unesco officials are adamant Caltongate fell under the category of "major restorations or new constructions which may affect the outstanding universal value of the property".

According to its guidelines, Unesco should be consulted before any such development is ruled on.

The opening of the inquiry into Edinburgh's world heritage status, which Unesco awarded to the Old and New Towns in 1995, will be a major concern for the city council and the Scottish Government.

Councillors have come under mounting pressure from their own officials and business leaders in the capital not to turn down major developments amid claims Edinburgh is losing out on investment to Manchester and Glasgow. However, heritage and conservation groups have repeatedly warned that Edinburgh's heritage status is being put at risk by over-development of sensitive sites.

About 2,000 jobs have been promised by Mountgrange, the developer of the £300 million Caltongate scheme, which involves the creation of a hotel and conference centre, 200 homes, a public square, office blocks and a new arts quarter.

Councillors approved the vast majority of the Caltongate scheme at the first time of asking. The same happened last month when a 17-storey hotel at Haymarket was approved despite claims it would ruin views from as far afield as the Dean Gallery and Inverleith Park.

Liverpool is already being investigated by Unesco amid concern over the scale of development at its waterfront, while a separate inquiry is under way into the impact of new skyscrapers near the Tower of London.

Historic Scotland endorsed the Caltongate development, but has been fiercely critical of the proposals for Leith Docks and the St James Centre.

Historic Scotland declined to comment yesterday, but culture minister Linda Fabiani, who is responsible for the agency, said: "I'm confident that when the Unesco mission visits our capital, it will see a vibrant, growing city which embraces its cultural and architectural heritage as well as managing an improvement in development that benefits Edinburgh as a whole.

"Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh's deputy council leader, said: "I don't think we'd be too perturbed over this. It's fairly commonplace for Unesco to re-evaluate World Heritage Sites and that kind of scrutiny goes along with the title. I don't think Edinburgh has done anything to devalue its status."The St Kilda archipelago, New Lanark and Orkney's "Neolithic Heart" are among Scotland's other world heritage sites.

Manish Chande of London Developers Mountgrange who are behind Caltongate. Will this image of him pulling a "Braveheart" bull come back to chase him out of the city as fast as he dragged it in.

See what will be lost here www.eh8.org.uk

Credit Crunch Casulties Continue

Will this happen to Crooked Caltongate? Time will tell......The following will ring a few bells....

Credit crunch threatens Gehry's Hove scheme

2 July, 2008 Building Design By Marguerite Lazell
Frank Gehry's controversial scheme for the Hove sea front has been thrown into doubt because of the credit crunch.

Karis, the developer of the £290 million scheme to build 750 apartments and a leisure centre, admitted on Tuesday that the economic downturn could scupper the project.

Managing director Josh Aghiros told BD: "At the moment, due to the economic climate as it is, we’re doing a viability study. There’s no conclusion. All options are open.

"With the way house prices are any major development in the country is in this position."

The scheme was granted planning permission on the casting vote of the chairman of the Brighton & Hove Council planning committee in March 2007 after local opposition to the scale of the development.
On Tuesday, Gehry confirmed his involvement with the project was over. In an interview in the Guardian with BD columnist Jonathan Glancey, he said: "Don’t go there. It was a painful experience. I guess I never did understand your planning system and all those interfering government design advisers."

Aghiros commented that the King Alfred project was not the sort of scheme Gehry was used to working on. "The major projects that Frank Gehry has done have been funded by philanthropists, or institutions," he said. “This is a commercial proposition that needs to stand on its own feet. If it’s viable we’ll proceed.”
Aghiros said a final decision about the future of the project would be made by the end of July.

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