Call for ban on staging events in 'overused' beauty spot

Published on Wednesday 25 March 2009 00:14

CAMPAIGNERS are demanding a complete ban on the staging of major events at one of Edinburgh's main beauty spots, amid fears that it is being damaged by overuse.

An action group set up to protect the Meadows, in the south side, has vowed to battle any attempts to use it during this year's Festival Fringe.

It has also vowed to fight secret plans to install an artificial surface on a large swathe of the Meadows to ensure that it can accommodate large-scale events and festival shows.

However, Edinburgh city council has warned that it sees the Meadows as vital to the city's festivals infrastructure and that income generated by events is crucial during the economic downturn.

The Scotsman can reveal that council officials are studying the use of such synthetic surfaces around the world, as a result of widespread concerns about the state of the Meadows in recent years.

A string of high-profile events have already been effectively forced to relocate from the Meadows this summer, including the Taste of Edinburgh food and drink festival and Moonwalk, a huge breast cancer research fundraiser.

Now the Lady Boys of Bangkok, the biggest-selling act on the Fringe, is being urged to relocate, along with a funfair, which has been staged on the Meadows in recent years.

A spokesman for Save the Meadows, Chris Wigglesworth, said: "The overuse of the site for commercial benefit does not sit comfortably with the aim of preserving the Meadows as a recreational ground for the citizens of Edinburgh, as well as for our visitors."

Robert Aldridge, the city council's environment leader, said: "The Meadows is a beautiful and valuable resource that will continue to play a role in hosting a number of events.