Government asked to pay up
THE COUNCIL has called on Westminster
to pay back more than £500,000 spent on events in the city to mark the death of HM The Queen.
The capital played a major role in September as Her Late Majesty’s coffin was transported from Balmoral for a period of lying at rest in St Giles Cathedral
The city was an integral part of Operation Unicorn, and incurred costs for extra street cleaning, traffic management and stewarding.
Much of the cost was borne by the Scottish Government, but council funds were also used.
Council officers said the total cost of Operation Unicorn to the council was £608,998. This includes an estimated £42,000 in lost parking income over the period 8-15 September.
Cllr Alys Mumford who originally asked for information on the costs said: “It’s good to finally get some information about how much of this burden must be borne by the council. We look forward to further detail about how much the council will be expected to pay towards future royal events, so we can have an open and informed discussion about whether this is a spending priority while the majority of our citizens experience a cost of living crisis. And while we welcome the information on costs, we’re concerned the report doesn’t grasp the negative impact of Operation Unicorn on citizens beyond mild inconvenience: during the period of the mourning schools were closed, bus routes diverted, and peaceful protest was suppressed.
“These are all impacts of decisions made at the time, and the council should acknowledge this and do much better in future.”