Festival to take over George St
George Street
A MAJOR new Festival venue and outdoor bars and cafes would be created in the middle of George Street under ambitious new plans that could see the area closed off to traffic.
A Spiegeltent would be built in the middle of George Street in place of the existing parking bays under the proposals, which are designed to help the city centre fight back against the drift of Festival activity to the south side of the Capital.
The plans have been proposed by comedy promoter Tommy Sheppard, pictured, who will also run the new Fringe venue within the revamped Assembly Rooms when it is officially reopened this summer.
One option currently being discussed with city transport chiefs is to close the street off to through traffic and divert buses on to Queen Street or Princes Street instead
Mr Sheppard, who also runs The Stand comedy club, said: “It is an exciting idea and one that will help to put that part of the city back on the map, and help to relaunch the Assembly Rooms with a bang.”
Work has already started on the process, with city transport leader Gordon Mackenzie lodging a council motion asking for permission to remove around 30 parking bays from George Street for the month of August.
But further talks will need to take place in the coming months about the traffic changes that may be necessary, including relocation of parking bays and the diversion of general traffic and buses. It is understood the proposal hinges on Princes Street being reopened to buses following tram works.
Mr Sheppard said: “We’ve signed the contract to manage the Assembly Rooms during the Fringe and we are determined to make it the biggest and best venue in Edinburgh.
“We would like to create a hub in George Street when there’s a whole lot going on inside and outside, while linking with other people on the street to try to create a centre of gravity in that part of town.”
The traffic changes are likely to include a system for taxis to drop off passengers. The proposals – including the traffic shake-up – have been backed by business leaders. Josh Miller, chairman of the George Street Association, said: “George Street is not really a through road anyway, it’s more about access to parking, so it will not be drastically different.
“There was no major Festival attraction in the New Town last year and it was obvious in the daytime and evenings so we are delighted that Assembly Rooms will be back and we’re positive about the idea of taking over the middle carriageway.”
Andy Neal, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, believes the venue will benefit all businesses, despite the new outdoor bar and cafe space going into competition with existing businesses. He said: “There is plenty of business to go around.”
Cllr Mackenzie said about eight or nine of the 30 parking bays could be relocated on George Street, adding: “Against that, thousands of people will come over and that will offset the impact of less parking.”
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Comments
There are 79 comments to this article
Page 1 of 6
KeithBraidwood
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:30 PMAs a relative newcomer to commenting on this site I apologise in advance if this has been raised on other streams but is there not an Edinburgh resident's committee or something similar that can gather support for and against proposals and formally put them to the relevant bodies. Like a few of you I'm sure, I was born in Edinburgh and have lived either in the city itself or on its outskirts all my life. This is, and has been awarded as such, a fantastic city for tourists and visitors. It is not, however, such a nice place to live for its residents when such projects are mooted. Although I am sure they exist I, personally, have yet to meet anyone completely in favour of the trams. After all, we have one of the best bus services in the UK. These and other such projects should at least be discussed with residents prior to implementation. Of course, we need to bring tourists and money into the city to pay for it but I still think WE, the residents, need a bigger voice in what gets done in OUR city.
Jams
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:50 PMThats odd. Is this not the same council who want to BAN buses from Princes Street. Someone should tell Gordon Mackenzie the3 meaning of the word "Contradiction". They could also try him with "Consistent" and "Ethical" but one step at a time.
Tartancult
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 05:34 PMBlow the whole place up and start again. Really.
Belle du Jeer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 05:22 PM72 - you are right, those are marvellous amenities, but to enjoy them, you first have to get about to earn a living. The Council are making that more expensive and harder to do every week. I'm sure they would love to make it a condition of staying here that you just give them your PIN number.
johndog
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 05:12 PMCrowded? Edinburgh?? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Some of you really do need to get out more and visit some BIG cities. Public spaces should not be clogged with private, poluting, anti-social, death traps often driven by lard-asses who wouldnt know a festival if it disturbed their grey march to the grave by knocking on their door, dispensed bonhomie before it traipsed upstairs and danced the Gay Gordons with their Granny. Only cars with a disabled sticker should be allowed within a mile of Hanover Street. End of.
NotANumberYet
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:48 PMEdinburgh 'is' a great city and, really, not at all overcrowded. Try London, Hong Kong or Ahmedabad. More the merrier I say and let's look forward to being out there with them all having a great time in August whether George Street Tents happen or not.
Belle du Jeer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:41 PM70 - yes it could and I sincerely hope it will, but please excuse me if I decline to hold my breath.
Mario Antoinette
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:37 PM70 Totally agree. The trams were a great idea - we need loads of tram services all over the place. Would take most of the buses out the immediate town centre. Of course they hade to make an unbelievable James of it. 66 Come now, take a walk down Hermitage of Braid, or the water of Leith , Dean Village 5 minutes from Princes Street. Along to the modern art gallery, or down to the botanics. Cant beat it.
Belle du Jeer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:35 PM68 & 69 - indeed. Although Duncan In Edinburgh's rather shrill claims to be a polymath rested entirely on his ability to recite the alphabet while tying his own shoelaces.
keyser soze
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:27 PMBelle @ 67... Edinburgh was a great city and could quite easily be again, if more emphasis by Edinburgh council concentrated on providing the services to the people and maintained the infrostructure of the city. This has not been done for over 20 years, hence the state the city is in at present.There has been to much emphasis on tourism and festivals and not enough on done for the residents.
Incandescent
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:25 PM#65 ...and a well-known penchant for the exclamation, "gosh".
Incandescent
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:19 PM#65 ...and champion of market prices for right-to-buy hovels, with the special ability to be simultaneously present on the A9 in a hire car and at Cameron Toll on a bus, depending on the subject under discussion?
Belle du Jeer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:18 PM66 - Mario, I agree with that, except your use of the present tense. Sadly, I believe Edinburgh's best days are now gone. To be fair, this decline isn't all the fault of clueless politicians and their council jobsworth cohorts, but they certainly haven't helped.
Mario Antoinette
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:09 PM61 good for you, honestly. Edinburgh is a great city despite some shortcomings. Most people there dont know how lucky they are. Its a great place to walk in, all the way from morningside to leith there is a buzz about it. The downside is that its a place that others will want to live to, and nothing can be done about that.
Belle du Jeer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:01 PM63 - maybe he's a self-employed businessman cum polymath with a taste for trams and other deviant fantasies?
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