‘We hope that the plans will be rejected’

It was clear from the second we saw the ludicrous plans for giant Olympic rings tagged on to Edinburgh Castle that it was plain and simply wrong.

It is a poorly-judged marketing idea which should have gone no further than a quick call to the city council to presumably be told that it’s not a great plan to deface our most iconic building.

But instead it has progressed to the stage where our councillors will now have to rule – and hopefully unanimously reject – one of the strangest planning applications they have ever received.

We expected when we took a stand against the scheme that some would accuse us of being, quite literally, spoilsports.

But it is clear from the reaction that our story has received that there is almost universal dismay, led by our deputy council leader Steve Cardownie. Even Allan Wells, one of our greatest Olympians and an ambassador for the London Games, suggests that using the Castle in such a fashion is not appropriate.

We would hope that this is an indication that the plans will be rejected out of hand and a more suitable site found in Edinburgh, if required.

As ever with the city council, though, nothing is for certain, so we would urge all readers to follow our guide and make sure their elected representatives know to say “No to Coe” and ensure this plan is run out of Edinburgh.

The Evening News is a huge supporter of the London Olympics and recognises all the benefits it will bring across the country, and we will encourage everyone to enjoy what is sure to be an incredible spectacle next summer.

We trust, however, that the spectacle will be on the track and field, not a monstrosity shoved on the side of the Castle.

Show must go on

The news that the Leith Festival is facing the final curtain is deeply worrying.

Over the last eight years, it has grown into one of the city’s most popular fixtures, no mean feat in the shadow of the summer festivals.

Like all events of its kind, it relies heavily on its share of a diminishing pot of public and charitable funds, and is increasingly forced to turn to the enthusiasm and generosity of locals.

It is this on which the organisers will have to rely to ensure the show can go on.

The first challenge is ensuring that the showpiece Gala Day event continues and we would hope that there will then be renewed enthusiasm to make sure the festival can return in 2013. We wish the festival well in its endeavours.