New limit on use of parks puts outdoor gigs at risk

Published on Wednesday 28 October 2009 09:06

BIG-name outdoor concerts in Princes Street Gardens may be at risk as a new strategy for the city's parks proposes a limit on the days they can be used.

The strategy for West Princes Street Gardens plans to allow events to use the space for a maximum of five days at a time.

It is a move aiming to protect the surface of the Gardens, which regularly has to be re-turfed following big events.

But the cut in the number of days that events can run for could kill off hopes that major concerts will return to the Gardens.

Promoters have said shows in Princes Street Gardens have to be held in blocks for logistical and financial reasons, including the need to erect a giant stage.

Among bands to have played there previously are Franz Ferdinand, Faithless, Sugababes, Arcade Fire, and Belle and Sebastian.

The new strategy will also only allow a maximum of four events to take place on the western side of the gardens every year.

It will not affect the Christmas events such as the ice rink, for which East Princes Street Gardens is reserved. No other events are to be allowed there, although it is noted "there may be exceptions made for unique single events".

The tougher controls are part of a new parks "manifesto" produced by the city council to control the use of its eight biggest parks and gardens.

In the manifesto, council officials said: "The duration of an event has a major bearing on the extent of surface damage.

"From a horticultural perspective, it is therefore desirable to restrict the length of any event occupation on grassed areas."

At other major parks, including Inverleith Park, Lauriston Castle, Leith Links, Pilrig Park and Roseburn Park, events would be able to run for a maximum of 15 days.

The number of large events allowed each year is limited to two for Pilrig Park, which hosts the Mela every year, and four for Inverleith Park, which has hosted Taste of Edinburgh, the Moonwalk and Treefest.

A manifesto for the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh's biggest park, was approved in August. It permitted a maximum of five events a year, with each allowed a maximum of four weeks on the park.

The new manifesto will now go out to public consultation, with feedback due by early next year.

Mark Turley, director of the council's services for communities department, said: "These eight principles will help the council decide the most suitable park locations for events and how they should be managed in order to minimise damage to the fabric of the park.

"It will encourage event organisers to consider a far wider choice of parks and green spaces; give scope for new venues to host high-quality events; ensure that events are spread more equally across the city's parks and green spaces; and seek to limit the potential conflicts with other park users."