The Edinburgh Reporter December 2021

2 NEWS
Letters to the editor
Change endangering Common Good land
Editorial
IN EDINBURGH, Christmas already began
revving up in November, and just a little
before Remembrance Sunday, the Christmas
Wheel was already taking shape. There is a
new look for The Mound with Hannah Ayre’s
geometric snowflakes and a new look on the
road where red and white wands have given
way to black and white “defenders”. Parts of
the cycle lane are no longer segregated,
except for a painted line, to allow buses more
room while North Bridge is closed. Some
regard this as a backward step in a year when
so much has been done to improve active
travel. But there is also talk of reintroducing
zebra crossings in Edinburgh to make it safer
for pedestrians. Back to the future?
This is the final year of the council’s
arrangement with Underbelly who produce
the Christmas and Hogmanay events. The
council will put new festive season contracts
out for tender soon. The results of a survey, to
which 8,600 people responded, show that
there is “overwhelming support” for the
winter celebrations in Edinburgh to continue
- but in a revised format. One person or
organisation will become Winter Festivals
Director with responsibility for a programme
including lighting installations and fireworks.
Covid-19 has been mentioned in most of
our stories both this year and the last. The
pandemic is not over yet, and the
government continues to monitor case
numbers and transmission. The R rate
is just over 1, which means that care
remains essential.
The best stories usually involve meeting
interesting people, and I have met many over
the last eighteen months who are caring for
those in Edinburgh who are in great need.
There are people all over the city who have
volunteered their time to distribute food and
meals. Foodbanks are called upon more and
more to fill the gap. Some of these
community-based organisations would
love to have more volunteers, and most
would readily accept donations of items or
funding. Christmas is perhaps a good time for
anyone who can to start thinking of how to
help them.
I wish you all a happy and peaceful time
this Christmas.
Phyllis Stephen, Editor
Dear Editor,
As citizens of Edinburgh, we all
inherit common good assets
bequeathed long ago to us, and to
future generations. The
Community Empowerment Act
(2015) requires public consultation
if there is a change of use on
common good land, yet such
privatisation is being facilitated
by the City Council, without
such consultation.
The streets of the Old and New
Towns, and of Leith, are Common
Good land. Last summer, while
indoor numbers were restricted by
social distancing rules, bars and
restaurants fronting these streets
were allowed to build “temporary”
outhouse decks and shacks. Now,
with higher vaccination rates and
more relaxed rules, there is a push
to make such street incursions
permanent.
What’s wrong with that? Don’t
GET IN
TOUCH
TODAY!
we all enjoy al fresco eating and
drinking? Shouldn’t Edinburgh
prioritise economic recovery?
I have no problems with café
culture or chairs on the pavement
adjacent to the frontage of a café.
But a permanent structure beyond
the pavement is a different
proposition. In practical terms it
means that the café/bar extends
across the pavement and to the far
side of the decking. Staff shuttle
across to serve and to clear.
Yes, pedestrians can still
thread their way through without
being customers, but it feels like
being a trespasser in a private
space. And for how long? Once
“temporary” becomes permanent,
the logical next step is to close the
gap and control entry to the space
as a whole.
The concerns are not just
abstract. Residents in some streets
have contacted The Cockburn
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Association in desperation.
Decking creates an ideal habitat for
rats. The seating is used for loud
drinking sessions in the early hours,
creating disturbance to those living
in flats overlooking the street and
litter piles up. The road is blocked
forcing heavy delivery vehicles to
park on pavements, damaging the
surface and blocking footpaths and
amenity and ambience are lost.
Precedents are being set. Never
waste a good crisis! A World
Heritage Site is being trashed with
planning rules suspended.
Covid-19: the numbers
WHILE OTHER countries on the
continent experience an increase
in positive cases and some have
entered another lockdown -
mainly as a result of people
choosing not to be vaccinated - our
numbers remain relatively static.
The number of people who have
had their booster dose is now
heading towards two million.
Cases in Edinburgh have been
much the same in recent weeks
with around 400 cases per day
reported, and the number of
people in hospital is just
under 1,000 and has been for
some weeks.
The number of people who have
died since the beginning of the
pandemic is now approximately
10,000 a figure which hides a great
deal of heartbreak.
The First Minister briefed MSPs
and rather than announcing an
extension of the Covid certification
scheme to pubs and cinemas, the
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Common Good land effectively is
being privatised, without the
required public consultation.
The future of the heart of our
city, and of our public assets, is at
stake. The city centre is being
emptied of people, as affordable
rented flats have been bought by
investors to use as short-term
holiday lets, and over-tourism has
made life a misery for many residents.
Before it’s too late and we lose
our unique residential city centre,
will somebody say that enough is
enough? A balance needs to be
struck between the rights of
residents, the claims of business,
and care for the environments that
make this city special. Legal
requirements to consult must be
met. Is anybody in the City
Chambers listening?
Emeritus Professor
Cliff Hague, OBE,
Chair, Cockburn Association
Cabinet had agreed (by a thin
margin it appears) to introduce
another option instead. As an
alternative to the Covid Passport a
recent negative lateral flow test
can be produced instead.
Ms Sturgeon said: “This change
makes it possible for people who
cannot be vaccinated, or who are
not yet fully protected, to make
use of the scheme. The new rule
will also, we hope, encourage the
greater use of regular lateral flow
testing and it will still meet our
aim of reducing the risk of
transmission, within higher
risk venues.
“We encourage everyone to
continue to test themselves
regularly and particularly before
you meet up with people from
outside your household, whether
you are meeting in your home or
public place. If you test positive
stay home, isolate and take a
PCR test.”
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Editor: Phyllis Stephen
Designer: Felipe Perez
Photos: Martin P McAdam
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