Caltongate campaigners turn to the UN

CAMPAIGNERS plan to lobby the UN to try and halt the controversial £300 million Caltongate development, it has been reported.

They are to ask the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to put Edinburgh on its endangered list, a stepping stone on the path to being stripped of World Heritage Status.

The Prince of Wales, who has warned about the growing threat of development to historical areas, is also being asked to offer his support.

Sally Richardson, of the Save Our Old Town campaign, said: "We will be encouraging everyone we can to inform Unesco about the threats to the World Heritage Site from Caltongate."

The protestors believe there is some sympathy for their complaints, particularly as Unesco had warned there had been "no adequate justification" for the demolition of two listed buildings.

Thomas Docherty, for the developer Mountgrange, said: "There is no justification for a Unesco investigation and these are wild suggestions."