Centre stage

Business leaders have warned Edinburgh city centre is at risk of "dying a slow death" due to complacency over the future of its festivals, cultural venues, hospitality businesses and international tourism. They want efforts to secure the “beating heart” of the city to be stepped up.

This is a city centre which turned its back on residents. It has for decades only been interested in tourists and tourism, with residents pushed aside for events. It seems to me like they have made their bed. Meanwhile, shopping is busy in retail parks and online.

Calum Melrose The council has been driving shoppers out for years making it impossible for cars to park anywhere. I said four years ago that Princes Street would be a ghost town – people are going to retail parks where you can park, shop and eat and you don't have to worry about getting a parking ticket. You reap what you sow.

Dave Ritchie

Edinburgh is in the worst condition i have ever seen. Council leaders should hang their head in shame. The city is looking an absolute mess with roadworks and a general rundown feel.

Derek Wilson

Sadly Edinburgh has been slowly been losing its allure and beauty for a long time now, what with the urge to build very incongruous ugly buildings that are ruining its historic beauty ( they have been warned that they will lose their world heritage status if it carries on) and doing all manner of awful things including removing the dedicated benches from Princes Street Gardens and destroying them. It's not the fabulous city I grew up in any more.

Lynda Hosie

I remember when I was young that you had to walk along Princes Street inside next to shops to go along to the West End and the outside of the pavement for coming back to the Bridges as there were so many Edinburgh people in town shopping. Now nobody does that and that should tell you something – that you have pushed out the Edinburgh people Don’t start crying to us: we are not interested.

Anne Amato That is rubbish. Of course Edinburgh people are welcome in the city centre. Most businesses are very encouraging to locals as they are the lifeblood that keeps them afloat all year round. As a small business owner it worries me that local people would think they were not welcome.

Eve Shaw I was brought up in the Royal Mile and now I don't recognise it.

Michael Nelson

Walked all the way up the High Street two days ago. A desolate sight. Only one or two shops open, but the only person inside was the sales assistant. Hardly anyone on the street. Tour buses empty. Many businesses closed for good. There has to be a better way “to save the NHS”.

Moira Macfarlane

Really? I was selling poppies on Saturday on Princes Street and it seemed just as busy as ever, too busy in fact with people showing no respect to other and barging by when others are waiting to let others pass safely.

Vicki Childerstone

Oher cities are preparing for less car use, if they haven't already done so. Amsterdam stopped encouraging cars 50 years ago. Hasn't done them any harm at all. Even locals are disinclined to drive into town. Barcelona has simplified many of its bus routes and given them priority and certain areas of the city are being fashioned into a maze for car drivers so that you wouldn't want to go inside and hardly be able find the way back out. Edinburgh is not doing anything other places haven't already done.

William Kay

Back in the day it was unique shopping, quality items and rarities.nothing to attract us locals back now except the beautiful architecture.

Bhioctoria Fionnlagh

When you deliberately set out to have an economy almost entirely dependent on tourism you can't really complain when the tourists don't come. Perhaps now would be the time for a review and actually bring some proper industry and decent jobs

Kacey Milne Every job creates more jobs as people spend money. Tourists spend money in hotels restaurants and bars. Those working there then spend money in shops buying food, clothes household goods etc. Those employees in turn spend money. All hopefully paying tax which pays for our public sector. The public sector employees in turn pay taxes and spend money. Take away any sector and the system fails. The same goes for the universities. People decry students and the amount of student accommodation but they all spend money.

Ian Vandepeear