Railings blow for art gallery

The National Galleries of Scotland has failed to win support to install new railings to tackle a spate of accidents on the steps outside the Royal Scottish Academy building on Princes Street.

One of Scotland's leading conservation architects, James Simpson, was charged with coming up with a sensitive solution to the safety headache, following nine accidents in two years.

But city planners have blocked the cast-iron railings following an objection by Historic Scotland that they would ruin the look of the building.