Building work under way to boost security at parliament

Published on Monday 23 November 2009 08:38

THE paved area in front of the Scottish Parliament is to be turned into a building site for the next four months.

Work has begun on a 1.5 million contract to install new bollards and concrete benches as part of extensive extra security measures ordered by MI5.

Portable cabins have been set up, the ponds in front of the building have been drained and wire fences six feet high have been built around them.

A total of 162 new bollards and 18 concrete benches are to be installed in Horse Wynd, which separates the parliament from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and up the Royal Mile as far as Reid's Close.

A contraflow traffic system will be introduced in the Canongate when work begins there early in the new year, with the project not due for completion until March.

Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald said: "The parliament had obvious security weaknesses and they are now trying to make good some of these deficiencies.

"I don't necessarily agree with MI5's assessment of the risk, but I don't deny there is an element of risk."

Edinburgh Pentlands Conservative MSP David McLetchie said tourists coming to the Capital over Christmas and New Year would be disappointed to find a construction site in front of the 414m showpiece building.

He said: "One would be tempted to say the whole of Edinburgh is a building site at the moment, so why should the parliament be any different?

"The parliament has been advised these additional measures have got to be put in place because of security threats, as we saw in the attack at Glasgow airport.

"It will be unsightly while the work is in progress, but we don't have any alternative."

Parliament officials have e-mailed MSPs and staff to explain the works.

The e-mail said: "The contractor will be made aware of parliamentary business and events being held at Holyrood on a regular basis with a view to scheduling work to minimise any disruption. The work will take place during normal working hours."

Parliament bosses have already spent 223,000 on a "triangular roundabout" and chicane at the entrance to the car park in Holyrood Road and 300,000 on turnstiles at the Canongate and Queensberry House entrances.

Earlier this month, the Evening News revealed MI5 has also proposed a new security hut at the front of the parliament so visitors can be screened before they enter the main building.