Winter Festival slips up over planning rules a second time

Published on Wednesday 12 January 2011 16:19

THE Capital's Christmas events on Princes Street Gardens broke planning rules twice in a fortnight, it emerged today.

It was revealed last month that the "Edinburgh's Christmas" events - which included the ice rink, Highland village and the ferris wheel - had been operating for the first 20 days of the Winter Festivals without having gained planning consent first.

It has now been revealed that the rules were broken for a second time this month, with organisers extending events for five extra days up to January 9 without formally applying for an extension to their consent.

News of the second planning error by the city council, which is responsible for gaining planning consent on behalf of the event organisers She's Gott It, has been criticised.

One source that contacted the Evening News but did not want to be named said: "The planning permission ended on January 4, 2011 and no extension was granted for the extension to the event, giving 48 hours to clear site of temporary structures. With the extension of the event this has not happened and should be followed up.

"The fact that there was no planning permission for the first three weeks and last week of the event is gross negligence on the part of the public body and should be dealt with appropriately."

The original mistake happened because council officials did not submit a planning application until November 25, just one week before events started, despite any application being subject to a statutory three-week consultation period before a decision can be made.

Permission was only granted at a development management committee meeting on December 22, giving consent for the period from November 26 until January 4.

Despite the permission ending on January 4, organisers extended events until January 9 - meaning there were another five days where formal consent was not in place. Graham Bell, a spokesman for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is clearly an error of judgement if this happened for a second time. External people who struggle with the planning process would be willing to (criticise] because nobody would want to see the authority that manages the process not follow its own rules.

"But, personally, I think 'what is the issue?'. While due notice of the process should be followed, there would not have been any time between Christmas and New Year to extend the consent anyway because everyone is off on holiday.

"It is fair to say if a local authority cannot obey the rules how can we expect others to. But, in reality, will anyone be affected by this? I doubt it."

Council officials say contact was made with planning officials regarding the extension to the events. A council spokesperson said: "There was no requirement to submit an extension to the planning application as the existing application's conditions still applied, regardless of the additional five days - namely that the ground should be reinstated to a satisfactory standard within three months of 4 January 2011."

Nickie Gott, managing director of Edinburgh's Christmas producer She's Gott It!, said: "We have delivered Edinburgh's Christmas successfully and cost-efficiently for four years now in partnership with the council, including working with the team there in detail with regards to the extension and the legislation required.

"We have just completed another highly successful Edinburgh's Christmas and it is disappointing to see unwarranted sour grapes so soon after the festivities have ended."