Scottish Parliament row over £20,000 sign

Published on Wednesday 16 April 2008 10:27

SCOTTISH Parliament bosses are to spend more than £20,000 on a giant new sign outside the building to tell people what it is.

They decided on the move after a review of visitor services recommended signage at the public entrance should be improved.

The sign, measuring 5.9 metres by 1.1 metres and made of granite, is due to be installed within the next couple of weeks.

But today MSPs said they could not believe anyone needed a sign to tell them what the building was.

A new stainless steel display board, costing more than 5000, went up close to the main entrance earlier this week. It will give information on visiting the parliament and its public crche.

The new granite sign, which will match the stone already used elsewhere in the 414 million building, is due to be installed before the end of the month.

Former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie, MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, described the new sign – which will also be lit up – as extravagant. He said: "The Scottish Parliament is one of the most unmistakable buildings in Scotland, seared into the consciousness of every Scottish taxpayer. I would not have thought you needed an 18ft sign to make it recognisable to visitors.

"A more modest notice would have sufficed." Independent Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald, who has long been a critic of the parliament project, said few visitors would have any trouble recognising the building.

She said: "It's unlikely they would think it was anything other than the Scottish Parliament.

"The tourist brochures will describe the Palace of Holyroodhouse as an attractive, beautifully proportioned building and they will know the other one is the parliament. I think they can figure it out – the building that doesn't look quite right."

A parliament spokesman said the total cost for the granite sign, including manufacturing, installation and lighting, is 20,157, excluding VAT. Manufacturing and installing the stainless steel sign would cost 5125, excluding VAT.

But he defended the cost, saying the parliament had to use quality materials because of its location in a World Heritage Site.

He said: "We've listened to visitor feedback and the display board is one of the steps we are taking to improve information for the public visiting Holyrood.

"It will include information on attending parliamentary business, the visitor services we provide and our free crche facilities for members of the public.

"Our visitors' service review also suggested that the signage for the public entrance could be improved so we will be adding a more prominent sign later this month.

"We do recognise the costs involved, but given our location, we needed to make sure that the quality and appearance of the sign was appropriate for this World Heritage Site. The costs will be met from our existing budget."