Olympic icon for Castle is a non-starter, planning chief signals

PLANS to erect a giant Olympic logo on Edinburgh Castle have been thrown into doubt after the city’s planning leader admitted it would ruin the look of the attraction and damage tourism.

Jim Lowrie, whose planning committee will rule on the controversial bid by the organisers of the 2012 London Games, said he did not expect the proposals to go down well with councillors after an initial outcry when they were made public.

He urged organisers of the sporting extravaganza to find an alternative site and raised concerns that the giant multi-coloured rings could damage the fabric of the castle during their installation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meanwhile, the city’s tourism leader, Tom Buchanan, admitted he did not know anything about the castle proposal before it was made public last week.

It also emerged yesterday that about £200,000 would be spent by Games organisers to put the rings on the castle, which would coincide with the start of Edinburgh’s festivals season.

Historic Scotland officials have given their approval to the proposal after being approached by the London 2012 organising committee, which is also pursuing similar plans for sites across the UK, though none of the other sites has as yet been made public.

The council is being asked to approve the installation of the five 27ft-tall rings for up to nine months as part of efforts help to promote the Olympics throughout Britain. They would be clearly visible from the Royal Botanic Garden, Calton Hill and Queensferry Road.

However, Mr Lowrie said: “It does seem to have divided people and there are people dead against it within the council. Historic Scotland and some of our officials seem to think it’s okay, but I don’t see it going down well with the committee.

“If you come to Edinburgh and want to take a picture of the castle I don’t think you are going to want these rings right in front of your face.

“I think they should probably look at somewhere else, even though it’s only temporary, as it may have an impact on the actual castle itself, which has already had bits falling off it in recent years.”

Mr Buchanan said: “The first I knew about this was when I read it in the papers last week, I’ve not been involved in any previous discussions involving the castle or the Olympic rings, so it was a surprise to find out about it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“My problem is that Edinburgh does not appear to be getting an awful lot out of it at the moment. I do think that if the castle is going to be used like this there should be some financial return for the city. That’s obviously something we’d need to speak to Historic Scotland about.

“I don’t think the city will be getting much more publicity around the world for doing this, apart from a bit of initial interest when the rings are unveiled.”

Deidre Brock, the city’s culture leader, refused to be drawn on whether she had given her tacit approval to the plans, insisting she was unable to comment in advance of councillors discussing them next month.

A spokesman for the organising committee, Locog, said: “We did look at other sites other than the castle but this was the one that was recommended to us after discussions with the council, Historic Scotland the Scottish Government.”

A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: “We have received a scheduled monument consent for a temporary application for the Olympic Rings installation at Edinburgh Castle, which is currently going through the due process.”