Should Caltongate protesters take their case to Unesco?

Published on Thursday 7 February 2008 20:45

BURNING ISSUE

NO

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

If this is the largest development in Edinburgh's Old Town since the 12th century, then the Caltongate proposals deserved close scrutiny. And this they have had in spades over four years.

The planning committee's approval of the great majority of the plan, and its caveats, observe two key issues – the need to send a message that developers are welcome here, and that the views of residents and local businesses are important in assessing planning applications.

The idea that the proposals should now be put before Unesco for some kind of further vetting are, frankly, preposterous. In September 2006, Francesco Bandarin, director of the Unesco world heritage centre in Paris, gave a lecture in Edinburgh. I was there. An architect and city planner with impressive academic and professional credentials, Mr Bandarin gave many illustrations of how new design and architecture in successful models has been highly complementary to existing heritage sites.

One of his approvals was for the contemporary pyramidal structure in front of the Louvre in Paris, which some might see as a travesty. But Unesco is neither democratic nor a planning authority. I do not pretend to be a judge of architectural taste, but might it not be more of a travesty if our only solution in modern architecture was to build mock baronial kitsch? It is not a choice for us to freeze our city in architectural aspic. The sensible decisions taken this week were done so with that understanding.

Replacing eyesores such as an abandoned bus station is an opportunity for boldness and style which is world class.

YES

Sally Richardson, a campaigner with the Save Our Old Town action group

The Save Our Old Town campaigners are planning to inform Unesco that Edinburgh needs to be placed on their official "list of World Heritage Sites in danger".

We want to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which Edinburgh was inscribed on the World Heritage list, and to encourage corrective action.

We believe the Caltongate proposals will damage the unique character of The Old Town and challenge the contrast between the New Town and the Old Town.

Edinburgh was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1995. According to Edinburgh World Heritage Trust's own website, the management plan identifies key features of the World Heritage Site such as the unique landscape, the contrasting architectural characters of the medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, and the history and heritage of Scotland's ancient capital.

Unesco can place Edinburgh on the register of sites at risk, and eventually remove WHS status, if it considers that the site no longer is worthy of it.

Unesco closely monitors the site and, given the scale of the plans and the sheer destruction of historic buildings, we believe it is most likely that it will join other sites being closely monitored because of inappropriate developments planned, such as Dresden and St Petersburg.

The councillors who approved the Caltongate proposals made it quite clear it is money they are interested in, rather than the priceless qualities that the Old Town has.