Edinburgh triggers rethink on major festivals and events in public spaces
The people of Edinburgh are to get a major say on the future staging of festivals and events in public spaces as it emerged they are likely to spread more about the city in future and face new curbs over outdoor drinking.
Some parts of the city could play host to events for the city time while fewer major events may be allowed in the heart of the Scottish capital in future under a new blueprint.
T h e c o u n c i l i n s i s t s t h e r e t h i n k was p r e - p l a n n e d before the Covid outbreak, but added the pandemic was “a good t i me t o pause and consider what and to what extent our parks and green spaces should be used for.”
New rules are to be intro - duced setting out how public parks such as the Meadows and Princes Street Gardens, and other areas like the Royal Mile, Bristo Square, Festival Square, St Andrew Square Garden and George Street can be taken over.
Strict conditions on events a r e e x p e c t e d t o b e i n t r o - duced f or each par t of t he c i t y, i ncl udi ng new c urbs o n h o w l o n g t h e y c a n b e used and for what purpose, throughout the year, with a presumption against events which are “pri marily barfocused.”
An early version of the new rules, which the council has begun talks with community groups and event organisers on, said the temporary use of public spaces supported the city’s aims to “attract the best events to Edinburgh” and “strengthen Edinburgh’s posi
tion as the world’s leading Festival City.” However, the draft says it is "increasingly necessary to manage the intensity of activity in concentrated areas of the city and spread economic benefits of additional footfall over a wider area. The council will support and encourage the use of a wider range of spaces for activities and events.”
The draft blueprint states:
“There must be periods of time when each public space is free from temporary events and activities, to support the ‘ normal’ day to day use of a sustainable, living city.
“The length of time a space should be kept free from temporary events and activities that impact ‘ normal’ day to day use will vary, but will reflect the social, physical, historic, and economic context of the
space, as well as the impact of previous events and activities. Temporary events should not transform a space beyond a single season or festival period.
“No exclusive use, or single type of event, will dominate any one space. The temporary use of public spaces for the provision of a bar only, or primarily bar focused facility is not considered to balance the
needs of a wide range of different users of a public space and will not be supported.”
A spokeswoman for the city council said: “A range services are involved in planning, organising and licensing activities which take place in our public spaces. We will endeavour to take a more comprehensive, joined up approach.
"This plan will set out how Edinburgh will manage its
p u b l i c o u t s i d e s p a c e f o r events, filming and festivals. We’re at the early collaborative engagement stage with a f ul l public consultation planned for early next year. Whilst not initiated by the pandemic this is a good time to pause and consider what our parks and green spaces should be used for”.