Less than festive mood in problem hit city

Published on Monday 28 July 2008 22:13

Mired by roadworks, an online ticket system people 'can't trust' and incomplete venues, is Edinburgh really ready for Festival season, asks Brian Ferguson

IT IS one of Scotland's few truly iconic events and Edinburgh's annual stint as a shop window for the world. But this year, more than ever before, serious questions are being asked about Edinburgh and its world-famous festivals.

It may be worth about 135 million a year to the nation's economy, but is Edinburgh really ready to host the world's biggest cultural extravaganza?

Do visitors from around the globe deserve to be greeted by roadworks around the city, massive queues at the Fringe box office and the prospect of nipping out to a portable toilet during the interval at a prestigious classical concert?

With concern mounting over the number of hotel rooms still available and private flats available to hire, will 2008 perhaps be the year that the capital's Festival chickens finally came home to roost?

A malfunctioning box office dogging preparations for the biggest festivals, a controversial decision to continue with a huge programme of tram works and the main concert hall still resembling a building site make up only half the story.

Add in widespread fears over the impact of the credit crunch, the growing competition Edinburgh's festivals are facing from around the UK and in-fighting over the city's new "comedy festival," it is clear everything in Edinburgh's festivals garden is far from rosy.

With the finishing touches made to dozens of temporary venues, and hundreds of Fringe previews set to get under way, the Fringe is still struggling to get to grips with problems with its box-office operation.

Although the massive backlog of postal bookings has finally been cleared, the Fringe Office is still closed for phone bookings or personal callers today. Only Fringe-goers who have pre-booked tickets to collect will be allowed into the box office.

Initial problems with the box office saw ticket sales for the first month slump from 160,000 last year to around 150,000. The Fringe has not disclosed the impact of the more recent difficulties.

One insider said: "The run-up to the Fringe launch is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year, yet it's been an absolute nightmare for the Fringe Office and many of the venues which rely on its box office. Ticket sales at a lot of venues were doing quite well, but it's become farcical that people are being told to book on a website using a system that people just can't trust."

Last night, Fringe chiefs were insisting they were "hopeful" the box office would be able to open for phone and counter sales tomorrow, just hours before the bulk of previews open.

Jon Morgan, the Fringe director, said: "We are continuing to work on the problems with our box-office system, and we are also working with all the venues so that Fringe-goers can collect tickets in the coming days.

"We plan to open the box office for phone and counter sales on Wednesday; in the meantime all Fringe tickets for all venues and all shows are on sale on our website."

The Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) has been grappling with problems over its flagship venue, the Usher Hall, for months, after it became clear the state the building would be in after being handed over by contractors working on a 20 million refurbishment. All of its bars and most of the toilets will be out of action throughout the EIF.

Temporary facilities are being brought in as part of what is being described as a "Herculean effort" to transform the building before the first classical concerts get under way early next month.

The Festival will be issuing leaflets to ticket-holders apologising in advance for the disruption caused by the building works and asking people for their patience. Staff insist their promotional efforts are paying off and ticket sales for Usher Hall shows are up around 8 per cent up on last year.

Jonathan Mills, EIF director, said: "We've been very active in ensuring an enjoyable Usher Hall experience for all at the 23 Festival concerts presented there this year. Our staff have gone to great lengths to make the best of a challenging situation and to ensure that all our customers are well catered for."

Although tram works in the heart of the capital will have been halted by the end of this week, the city-council company behind the scheme is unapologetic about the decision to start fresh work this month at the Gogar roundabout and the main junction at Haymarket.

The "festivals embargo" put in place for next month also excludes Leith Walk.

Graham Russell, the chairman of the Edinburgh branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "It's simply not a level playing field to suspend tram works in the city centre and have them continue elsewhere. Our members were furious when they found out work was to continue right through the festivals season. There will be roadworks right up to the door of the Edinburgh Playhouse."

Willie Gallagher, the executive chairman of tram firm TIE, said attempts had been made to balance the complex works with the city's needs.

He said: "We recognise the importance of this period to Edinburgh; however, the tight deadlines of the project mean that we need to work in key areas across the city, including Haymarket.

"We are working hard to ensure that we support the council and the festivals where we can, as the works continue."

Jenny Dawe, the leader of Edinburgh city council, conceded the tram works would cause disruption, but said they would be outwith the city for the duration of the Festival season.

"We have to look at the longer-term goals. If we completely stopped working on the tram project during the festivals every year, the programme would be delayed, costs would go up and trams wouldn't be operational in time for the festivals in 2011.

"I firmly believe the city will cope admirably. Visitors will understand the work has to be done and that when they return in future years they will look forward to seeing a world-class tram system and outstanding arts venue."