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Scotsman
06-06-2025
- Scotsman
Public safety during Edinburgh's festival period to be reviewed after Liverpool parade tragedy
Counter-terror and public safety plans for Edinburgh's festivals will continue to be reviewed, councillors have been assured, after a tragic event in Liverpool saw a car driven into crowds. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 40 people were injured, some seriously, after after a car ploughed into the crowd at Liverpool FC's Premier League title victory parade. Temporary barriers to stop 'hostile vehicles' are to be included in plans for securing the festivals, while closing Cowgate to eastbound traffic and reopening the northern footway on North Bridge are being considered. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SNP councillor Finlay McFarlane asked officers at Thursday's meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee: 'The tragic incident in Liverpool is at the top of my mind as we approach the busy festival. 'I'm wondering if we are revisiting and making sure we have robust traffic management policies in place for our busy season which is approaching.' Edinburgh council officers laid out a range of proposed actions during the meeting, all aimed at keeping the city running smoothly during the festivals. Claire Miller, a public safety officer for the council, said: 'We actually reviewed a recent event in Edinburgh as a result of that as well. 'It's constantly ongoing in terms of reviewing and making sure we're following police guidance and making sure that the appropriate streets are closed, and that we have rated equipment where we need it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're working with our partners to make sure appropriate equipment is placed throughout the city.' Council officers laid out a range of proposed actions during the meeting, all aimed at keeping the city running smoothly during the festivals. Officers will now explore opening the northern footway on North Bridge to help with the high levels of pedestrian traffic expected on the route during the summer festivals. In addition, they will explore closing Cowgate to eastbound car traffic during the festivals to open more space for pedestrians. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This was considered for the festivals last summer, but discounted by officers. Officers will also aim to have contingency plans for terror attacks at the summer festivals completed by the end of this month. Permanent anti-vehicle barriers exist in parts of the Old Town, but the council has also contracted a company to provide temporary ones at other sites in the city, as well as purchasing their own temporary barriers. The report to councillors that contained the action plan also had data about how the summer festivals went last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to the report, 3.91 million people attended the festivals last year, up from 3.45 million in 2023. It also showed that the number of entertainment noise complaints had gone down, from 39 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. Foot traffic on Princes Street in August increased by 100,000 from 2023, reaching 1.67 million in 2024. Some 30,000 more people used the trams in August in 2024 than in 2023, for a total of 1.18 million riders last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, the number of bus users went down, dropping from 370,000 per week in 2023 to 329,000 in 2024. Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee, said: 'Summer festivals have a huge impact on the city financially, the economy is driven to a significant degree by it. 'So we need to manage them, and I believe that Claire manages them [well]. I have one little gripe about the South Bridge, and I have some concerns about public safety there. 'But apart from that, I am happy to move the report.' Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities committee, said: 'Edinburgh's summer festivals deliver significant benefits to the city, drawing millions of visitors, boosting the local economy and enriching the cultural scene. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'However, it's essential that we balance the festivals' successful delivery with the needs of local residents and businesses, and the scorecard helps us to understand the impact these events have. 'The scorecard and associated action plan focuses on a range of themes, including sustainability and the economy. As part of this we are constantly reviewing public safety measures, working with partners like Police Scotland on contingency planning and delivering initiatives like Summertime Streets, to make sure people can enjoy the summer's events safely.'
Edinburgh Reporter
06-06-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Counter-terror planning underway for festivals
Counter-terror and public safety plans for Edinburgh's festivals will continue to be reviewed, councillors have been assured, after a tragic event in Liverpool saw a car driven into crowds. More than 40 people were injured, some seriously, after after a car ploughed into the crowd at Liverpool FC's Premier League title victory parade. Temporary barriers to stop 'hostile vehicles' are to be included in plans for securing the festivals, while closing Cowgate to eastbound traffic and reopening the northern footway on North Bridge are being considered. SNP councillor Finlay McFarlane asked officers at Thursday's meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee: 'The tragic incident in Liverpool is at the top of my mind as we approach the busy festival. 'I'm wondering if we are revisiting and making sure we have robust traffic management policies in place for our busy season which is approaching.' Claire Miller, a public safety officer for the council, said: 'We actually reviewed a recent event in Edinburgh as a result of that as well. 'It's constantly ongoing in terms of reviewing and making sure we're following police guidance and making sure that the appropriate streets are closed, and that we have rated equipment where we need it. 'We're working with our partners to make sure appropriate equipment is placed throughout the city.' Council officers laid out a range of proposed actions during the meeting, all aimed at keeping the city running smoothly during the festivals. Officers will now explore opening the northern footway on North Bridge to help with the high levels of pedestrian traffic expected on the route during the summer festivals. In addition, they will explore closing Cowgate to eastbound car traffic during the festivals to open more space for pedestrians. This was considered for the festivals last summer, but discounted by officers. Officers will also aim to have contingency plans for terror attacks at the summer festivals completed by the end of this month. Permanent anti-vehicle barriers exist in parts of the Old Town, but the council has also contracted a company to provide temporary ones at other sites in the city, as well as purchasing their own temporary barriers. The report to councillors that contained the action plan also had data about how the summer festivals went last year. According to the report, 3.91 million people attended the festivals last year, up from 3.45 million in 2023. It also showed that the number of entertainment noise complaints had gone down, from 39 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. Foot traffic on Princes Street in August increased by 100,000 from 2023, reaching 1.67 million in 2024. Some 30,000 more people used the trams in August in 2024 than in 2023, for a total of 1.18 million riders last year. However, the number of bus users went down, dropping from 370,000 per week in 2023 to 329,000 in 2024. Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities committee, said: 'Edinburgh's summer festivals deliver significant benefits to the city, drawing millions of visitors, boosting the local economy and enriching the cultural scene. 'However, it's essential that we balance the festivals' successful delivery with the needs of local residents and businesses, and the scorecard helps us to understand the impact these events have. 'The scorecard and associated action plan focuses on a range of themes, including sustainability and the economy. As part of this we are constantly reviewing public safety measures, working with partners like Police Scotland on contingency planning and delivering initiatives like Summertime Streets, to make sure people can enjoy the summer's events safely.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
06-06-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Safety of Edinburgh Festival crowds raised after Liverpool parade tragedy
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Counter-terror and public safety plans for Edinburgh's festivals will continue to be reviewed, councillors have been assured, after a tragic event in Liverpool saw a car driven into crowds. More than 40 people were injured, some seriously, after after a car ploughed into the crowd at Liverpool FC's Premier League title victory parade. Temporary barriers to stop 'hostile vehicles' are to be included in plans for securing the festivals, while closing Cowgate to eastbound traffic and reopening the northern footway on North Bridge are being considered. SNP councillor Finlay McFarlane asked officers at Thursday's meeting of the Culture and Communities Committee: 'The tragic incident in Liverpool is at the top of my mind as we approach the busy festival. 'I'm wondering if we are revisiting and making sure we have robust traffic management policies in place for our busy season which is approaching.' Claire Miller, a public safety officer for the council, said: 'We actually reviewed a recent event in Edinburgh as a result of that as well. 'It's constantly ongoing in terms of reviewing and making sure we're following police guidance and making sure that the appropriate streets are closed, and that we have rated equipment where we need it. 'We're working with our partners to make sure appropriate equipment is placed throughout the city.' Council officers laid out a range of proposed actions during the meeting, all aimed at keeping the city running smoothly during the festivals. Officers will now explore opening the northern footway on North Bridge to help with the high levels of pedestrian traffic expected on the route during the summer festivals. In addition, they will explore closing Cowgate to eastbound car traffic during the festivals to open more space for pedestrians. This was considered for the festivals last summer, but discounted by officers. Officers will also aim to have contingency plans for terror attacks at the summer festivals completed by the end of this month. Permanent anti-vehicle barriers exist in parts of the Old Town, but the council has also contracted a company to provide temporary ones at other sites in the city, as well as purchasing their own temporary barriers. The report to councillors that contained the action plan also had data about how the summer festivals went last year. According to the report, 3.91 million people attended the festivals last year, up from 3.45 million in 2023. It also showed that the number of entertainment noise complaints had gone down, from 39 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. Foot traffic on Princes Street in August increased by 100,000 from 2023, reaching 1.67 million in 2024. Some 30,000 more people used the trams in August in 2024 than in 2023, for a total of 1.18 million riders last year. However, the number of bus users went down, dropping from 370,000 per week in 2023 to 329,000 in 2024. Labour councillor Margaret Graham, convener of the Culture and Communities Committee, said: 'Summer festivals have a huge impact on the city financially, the economy is driven to a significant degree by it. 'So we need to manage them, and I believe that Claire manages them [well]. I have one little gripe about the South Bridge, and I have some concerns about public safety there. 'But apart from that, I am happy to move the report.'
Edinburgh Reporter
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Sufficient number of nominees for new Old Town Community Council
At least eight valid nominations for community councillors have been received as new members of Old Town Community Council. In addition a Local Interest Group Representative has also put themselves forward for membership. The minimum number of elected representatives for a new version of the Old Town Community Council after the recent elections was six. Old Town Community Council was one of eight community councils which failed to reach the minimum number of nominations in the first round of elections. It would have collapsed if not for a second round of nominations organised by The City of Edinburgh Council, and nominations closed just last week. Cllr Finlay McFarlane who has been the Returning Officer for the Old Town Community Council Election is delighted. He said: 'I am over the moon that the oldest residential community in the city has rallied to save their Community Council. The Old Town Community Council is an incredibly important voice whose absence would have been a tragic consequence of the councils failure to listen and properly respond to city centre communities. 'Without their campaigning, we may have not secured controls over Short-Term Lets (STLs) from The Scottish Government – a policy already beginning to show green shoots of renewal in one of the most hollowed out areas of the city with residents reporting long-term neighbours returning to their stairs as STLs revert to residential use. 'To say the process for residents wanting to step forward as a community councillor was convoluted would be an understatement. The Crannie Community Hub has been an invaluable help to me in attempting to make the process as easy as possible and acting as a hub for co-ordinating efforts to resurrect the community council and I would like to extend my thanks to them for all their support. 'I look forward to calling the AGM of the new community council term and would encourage the wider community to engage with their work, as I will promise to do everything I can as a city councillor for the Old Town to help secure real change to improve the lives of residents living there.' Fellow Old Town councillor, Margaret Graham has called for a review of the community council election procedure, saying that she wants 'to give community councils more power and impact within the local community'. The Old Town is the centre of the Festival Fringe PHOTO Alan Simpson 7/8/2024 Like this: Like Related
