City's giant TV screen could be switched to new site

How the big screen might look if it was relocated to St Andrew Square

City council chiefs are to be asked to investigate whether the screen can be moved to a new location where it would attract bigger crowds.

The review emerged as new figures today revealed that the screen has cost the taxpayer 107,000 since it was installed in 2009. One new option likely to be considered is whether the screen could be moved to the refurbished St Andrew Square.

Other potential sites include the foot of The Mound and Castle Street - two sites that were originally ruled out after being opposed by planning officials.

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However, any move could be rejected if the cost of relocation is judged to be too high.

The royal wedding was today set to be screened live at Festival Square - although it is not expected to pull in the crowds as no promotion of the screening has taken place and no additional activities were planned around the broadcast.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, the city's festivals and events champion, said: "We have to look at the costs of moving it but it (Festival Square] was never our favoured option because footfall was not as great as other parts of the city centre.

"When other sites were flagged up at the time there was reluctance from planning officials. There was the bottom of Castle Street and the foot of The Mound, but we could look again at these. I do not know if St Andrew Square might get permission because it has been well used.

"Although ostensibly this is for the Olympics, you have to think that everyone would agree that had it been situated in a more popular location, more people would be watching it.

"Obviously, location is something that we can look at again. We have got a new (head] of planning and a fresh pair of eyes might think differently."

The screen was paid for by the BBC but the cost of its upkeep is met by the council.

The council paid 68,688 on installation of the 25-metre screen in 2009 and another 38,123 since then on maintenance and event costs.

It was originally hoped that the screen would be used for live sport, coverage of the city's festivals and other local events before showing live coverage of the London Olympics in 2012.

Last summer, the council controversially decided not to show the football world cup on the screens because of concerns that it would lead to antisocial behaviour. Three Scotland rugby test internationals were shown live last autumn - only for the team of five stewards to outnumber the two fans who turned up to watch it.

Councillor Gordon Buchan, culture and leisure spokesman for the Tory group on the council, said: "They have spent over 106,000, with more coming; the fact that they can't give an idea of how many people have used it speaks volumes.

"It is a dead duck project and Cllr Cardownie is saying the problem is just about location to save face; the problem is it is a white elephant.

"People watch TVs in their homes, pubs and in other public places so they do not need to watch this.

"There is very little support for it and it is using up quite a lot of energy and money and we should be turning it off as soon as possible."