Live shows given top billing for city centre

THE Capital's busiest shopping streets will play host to a series of live performances and exhibitions as early as this summer, it emerged today.

City leaders have announced they will press ahead with a series of pilot projects to liven up the city centre and breathe new life into the area.

One of the first projects to be carried out in June is likely to be a widening of the footpath at the north side of George Street, which will allow more room for cafes and restaurants to promote continental-style pavement dining.

Parking in the centre of that part of George Street, between Frederick Street and Castle Street, would then be removed in order to create a performance space with seating.

Talks will take place with the city's festivals about holding events in the new area in August but a programme of summer performances and exhibitions could begin before then.

The pedestrian area at the junction of Princes Street and Shandwick Place will also be used as an activity space.

A consultation is also to take place between now and June about other controversial proposals to revamp Edinburgh's city centre, including cutting down on the number of buses that use Princes Street, the removal of railings and opening up Charlotte Square Gardens throughout the year.

The consultation is hoping to gather views on a four-year "action plan" drawn up in response to a damning health check on the city centre by Danish design experts Gehl Architects.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport leader, said: "The whole fleet of proposals is a very exciting opportunity to explore how far we can go with these in a sensible way and a way that learns from these demonstration projects we will set up, like using George Street for events.

"I want us to use our imagination and think about doing things differently to improve the city centre. Not all of these things will be successful, but we would be accused of not being ambitious enough if we did not push the boundaries.

"We will see the details of what these events will be over the coming months as ideas are flushed out but they will be short term and easily reversible."

Other projects being looked at include improvements to the kiosks at the junction of Princes Street and Castle Street.

The consultation into the wider four-year action plan for city improvements is due to get under way later this month.

A major public event is being planned for April to discuss some of the proposals. Consultation with city centre groups is also expected to continue over the coming months.

Cllr Mackenzie said: "The whole purpose is involving people in how we shape the city centre in the future. We want to do that with people who live and work in the city centre and we want to hear their views."

Dave Anderson, director of the council's city development department, said: "The proposed consultation exercise on the public realm plan for the city centre and Princes Street will have two strands: the vision and action plan, and the temporary projects. The outcome will be reported to the committee later in the year."