Capital being ruined by poor first impressions, says Irvine

ONE of Scotland's leading tourism and events experts will today warn that the nation's capital is being let down by its "average" airport, a "clapped-out" main railway station and the "disgraceful" state into which its most historic street has been allowed to decline.

Peter Irvine, a best-selling travel guide writer, will tell a major summit on Edinburgh that the city is failing to produce high-quality new architecture, with, in his view, just one good building in the last ten years – the Holyrood parliament.

Mr Irvine, creator of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations since their launch in 1992, will also warn of the dangers of public funding being cut for the capital's festivals and major events, which attracted almost three million people in 2009. He is one of the main speakers at today's event – organised by The Scotsman, in partnership with business group Essential Edinburgh – which aims to kickstart a debate on the city's future, along with architect Malcolm Fraser, Owen Kelly, chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, and finance secretary John Swinney.

Mr Irvine will demand the city council bring in quality control standards to bring an end to the domination of "tartan tat" shops on the Royal Mile amid warnings that Scotland as a whole risks being seen as a "theme park" unless visitors are given an authentic experience.

He will bemoan the lack of progress made over securing a "bullet train" between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and criticise the poor impression visitors receive when they arrive at Waverley and the airport. Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Irvine said: "An airport or a railway station creates a crucial first impression of a country. You only have to look at the great modern buildings that have been created around the world.

"Edinburgh airport is average in every respect. Its big virtue is that it is small and at least you don't still get the smell of incinerating chickens that you used to, but it's just very ordinary.

"Waverley Station has clapped-out platforms and crappy food outlets, the whole place is very bitty. We should be offering people authentic experiences from arrival to departure, with food outlets offering Scottish and organic produce."

Mr Irvine said Edinburgh desperately needed to follow the lead of the authorities in Paris, who had recently drawn up strict quality control rules for traders.

"The Royal Mile is a disgrace, especially at the top end, which is where all the tourists flock. We should insist these shops sell high-quality products made in Scotland. The Royal Mile has been trashed with tartan tat, much of it made in China."

Mr Irvine added: "We seem incapable of creating great new buildings. There isn't a single one of note to have been built in Edinburgh, apart from the parliament."