You can't reclaim the night ... it's too unsafe!

ORGANISERS of a march through Edinburgh to assert women's rights to safety have been forced to change their plans - because of safety fears.

The Reclaim the Night march on Saturday, May 28 will still go ahead, but the starting time has been brought forward after council officials voiced concerns that drunken football and rugby fans could cause problems as it passes through the Grassmarket.

Organisers said either the centre of Edinburgh was not safe for women or the council was over-reacting. And Lothians Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale said it was "hugely ironic" that an event to promote safety was being rearranged because officials claimed those taking part could be at risk.

Council officials originally suggested the march should be re-routed to avoid the Grassmarket, which is expected to be busy with people celebrating after that day's Champions League football final and Rugby Sevens. But organisers insisted they wanted to stick to their route and the compromise reached was to start the march from Festival Square, Lothian Road, at 8pm instead of 9pm. They say they were also told to keep chanting to a minimum in the Grassmarket.

Laura Leath, spokeswoman for Edinburgh's Reclaim the Night march, said: "The council made it clear to us that for the march to go ahead we'd need to make changes like moving it forward by an hour and remaining silent through the Grassmarket to ensure the safety of marchers.

"Obviously we'd rather march than not, but it's strange to say the least that a march highlighting violence against women is being compromised for fear of aggravating men and therefore risking the safety of women marchers.

"I hope the hypocrisy of this is not lost on local councillors and officials. Either the centre of Edinburgh is not safe for women or this is an over- reaction by the council.

"The point of the march is to make it clear that the responsibility for sexual and gender-based violence against women lies solely with the perpetrator. Women have a right to walk any time and anywhere through the streets of Edinburgh without fear of violence."

She said a decision by the council on the march was expected in the next few days. "We hope the march is given the go-ahead and the council sees that the compromises it is asking for makes the point for us, that the women of Edinburgh need to use their voices and reclaim the night."Lothians Labour MSP Kezia Dugdale said: "It's incredibly ironic that a march which is supposed to stand up for women's rights and build a fairer, safer community for them is being edited by the needs of a football and rugby crowd on a Saturday night.

"The whole point of the Reclaim the Night march is to give women a voice and empower them to feel safe in their own community - that's why they do it at night. They want to walk past the strip bars and rowdy crowds to make the point that women have a right to feel safe on the streets.

"For the council to change their route or timing is hugely ironic and inappropriate."

The city council said following the initial application for the march, a meeting was arranged with the organisers to discuss their proposals. One of the key issues had been the safety of the participants. A spokeswoman said: "The organisers proposed an earlier start time which has resulted in a mutually acceptable solution."