March of health and safety lobby falters on National Galleries' steps

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 17:45

A FIVE-year battle to tackle heath and safety concerns over one of Edinburgh's most iconic landmarks has been foiled.

The National Galleries of Scotland has failed to win support for measures to tackle a spate of accidents on the large steps outside the Royal Scottish Academy building on Princes Street.

Efforts to stop visitors toppling over while climbing up and down the steps and install safety railings between the Greek Temple-like columns have been thwarted by the capital's heritage guardians.

Galleries chiefs also wanted to prevent people using the steps to help ease congestion on a narrow section of pavement on Princes Street.

But the moves have been blocked after fears were expressed that new safety railings would be the first major change to the look of the building in almost 200 years.

One of Scotland's leading conservation architects, James Simpson, was charged with coming up with a sensitive solution to safety headache, following nine accidents in the space of two years.

But city planners have blocked the cast-iron railings following complaints they would ruin the look of the A-listed landmark, which dates back to 1822.

The Galleries has had two separate attempts to introduce chains between the existing columns of the building knocked back - in 2005 and 2008 - with the second refusal triggering an appeal to the Scottish Government, which was then turned down by an independent reporter.

The plans produced by the Galleries involve removing three flights of narrow steps from the front of the building, which are a recent addition to the RSA.

Staff have already tried to block off the "portico" area during the peak tourism season with temporary barriers in a bid to prevent any more accidents.

Historic Scotland's letter of objection to the city council over the railing plans describes the building as "an iconic set-piece in the cityspace of Edinburgh".

James Turner, inspector of historic buildings, states: "As we have noted previously, we recognise the need to balance the building's established character with ensuring public safety - therefore we fully accept the principle of some intervention.

"It is obvious that they (the railings] have been carefully considered and are of high quality.However, the level of visual interference they represent detracts from the building's special character.

"In particular, the architectural relationship of the steps to the columns, and the imposing Grecian Temple-like entrance."

Other objectors, including the Cockburn Association and Architectural Society of Scotland, claimed the railings would be detrimental to the whole appearance of the building.

Cockburn director Marion Williams told The Scotsman: "The main thing is to ensure the whole nature of the building is not changed after such a long time.

"Allowing these kind of railings to be introduced would have set a dangerous precedent for other historic buildings in the city."