Pedestrian-only plan for Fringe arena in heart of New Town

THE heart of one of Edinburgh’s main thoroughfares would be closed to traffic to make way for a new al-fresco Fringe arena under plans expected to be approved next week.

Tommy Sheppard, the comedy promoter award the contract to run festival shows in the Assembly Rooms, on George Street, has won backing from officials and councillors for the idea of expanding the venue into the middle of the street.

A Spiegeltent-style tented venue – similar to those which draw huge crowds to George Square Gardens, in the south side, during the Fringe – is being planned, along with cafes and bars as part of a drive to revitalise the Festival atmosphere in the New Town.

It is hoped this summer’s experiment, which will coincide with the unveiling of a new Jamie Oliver restaurant in the revamped Assembly Rooms, will lead to part of George Street being pedestrianised annually for the Fringe.

The experiment, which would see dozens of parking spaces removed during August, would be the first major project carried out since Danish design gurus Gehl recommended large parts of the city centre be given over to pedestrians, after being called in to advise the council.

The plans have been drawn up by Mr Sheppard, who claims to have won backing from business leaders for the idea, in the wake of concern about a growing exodus of Festival-goers from the area.

The plan to remove parking from a large chunk of George Street has emerged just weeks after the city council signalled that it was prepared to keep buses off Princes Street until after this year’s Fringe. All traffic was banned from Princes Street to make way for tramworks last autumn, but had been due to return in July.

However, Mr Sheppard admitted his plans hinged on the council agreeing to return the majority of bus services on to Princes Street for August. The Assembly Rooms will have been closed for almost two years when it reopens in August after a £9.3 million overhaul.

Mr Sheppard told The Scotsman: “This is only at the feasibility stage at the moment, but I’ve discussed with councillors, officials, the George Street Association and the Essential Edinburgh business group and no-one has told me it is a bad idea.

“The idea behind it is that when the Assembly Rooms re-opens we do it with a bang rather than a whimper, but it’ll also be a relaxing environment that makes the most of its surroundings.”

Gordon Mackenzie, the city’s transport leader, said: “The proposals will necessitate the suspension and relocation of some parking bays on George Street and this will potentially be an annual event during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”

Fringe spokesman Neil Mackinnon said: “With more than 250 venues across the city, the Fringe not only has something for everybody, but is constantly evolving.”