ViewPoint by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

A failed vision

Princes Street is unique. There is no doubt about that. Other European cities might have castles, parks and shops but nowhere are the three brought together in such a dramatic setting. It is a street which has attracted visitors to our capital for years and rightly makes Edinburgh residents proud of their city.

But I don’t think anyone can deny that our premier street has seen better days. It’s been something which has happened slowly over the years with longstanding businesses moving out and being replaced by amusement arcades and shops blaring out tinny pipe music. Hardly a recipe for long-term success at a time when the city faces tough competition from Glasgow as a shopping destination.
Fortunately the Council is now getting to grips with the issue. The ‘String of Pearls’ development plan will see the street revived and not before time. It will require major investment and many years before the transition is complete but there is no denying that it is long overdue.

So it’s disappointing to say the least to see a public agency putting this vision under threat. Historic Scotland has floated the idea that the Princes Street BHS store should be considered for listed building status. If successful it would join a star studded list including Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument not to mention large swathes of the Old and New Town.
Such a decision has significant implications for the redevelopment of Princes Street. It will make it more difficult for a developer to demolish or refurbish the building. It will inevitably push up the costs of any redevelopment. It will put investors off getting involved in that section of the street and for what? So we can keep an example a failed 1960s vision of a ‘walkway in the sky’.
The council and Scottish Government are already forking out more money to refurbish the Commonwealth Pool than it would have costed to demolish the building and start again. Why? Because it’s a listed building of course. Coincidently the pool was also designed by the same architects as those who did the BHS building, RMJM. Yes that’s right the same people that worked on the Scottish Parliament.

At the same time Historic Scotland has backed the demolition of other listed buildings just off the Royal Mile as part of the controversial Caltongate development. Their reasoning was simple – Edinburgh has similar buildings designed by the same Victorian architects. Thank goodness we only have one castle then if that’s the defence they are going to put on behalf of our built heritage.
But let’s be clear, this is not an argument about traditional architecture good, modern architecture bad. I am not saying that we should freeze Edinburgh in some sort of time capsule, never allowing innovative architecture. Although tourists flock to our fair city to admire the history and our past achievements they also want to experience a vibrant and modern Edinburgh. I just don’t think that folk are flocking here to see the BHS building or the Commonwealth Pool for that matter.

My stance will be unpopular with some, particularly those in architectural circles who view BHS as one of the best examples of a 1960s building on Princes Street. That may be so but that’s not a reason to hold up the redevelopment of our premier shopping thoroughfare.
There were many architectural mistakes made in the 60s. From tearing down tenements to building tower blocks in our cities to demolishing large sections of Princes Street, it is unlikely it will go down as architectures best decade. Let’s not compound that error in this decade by hanging onto unwanted buildings just because they are the best of a bad bunch.

In The City by Karen Murray

When is an airline not an airline?

Those of you who are regular readers of this column are probably aware that every now and then I have to purge myself with a rant to cleanse my system of whatever it is that has angered or upset me.

Well dear readers, this month it is low cost airlines. Actually I used to be an advocate of the low cost airline and stood up for them – you get what you pay for as they say. However, I am rapidly changing my mind, although my anger is aimed specifically at Ryanair.
Edinburgh is supposed to be celebrating as the company has now increased its routes from the city to include a wide range of new destinations such as Alicante, Berlin, Warsaw, Marseille, Bratislava, Pisa and Stockholm. This sounds like good news, but if you have suffered under the hands of Ryanair as I have, it simply means nothing.

Ryanair’s director of scheduled revenue, Sean Coyle, said: “Our 19 routes will deliver significant economic benefits for Edinburgh by capitalising on Scotland’s huge tourism potential and making it cheaper and easier than ever before to get here.”
That of course is if anyone actually does get here on Ryanair or can ever leave again! Having family in Ireland, we go there on a fairly regular basis. In the past, we have taken the ferry but as Ryanair got cheaper and cheaper we were enticed to fly and hire a car. The first time it was great and we were full of praise, but things rapidly went downhill. The allowable baggage dwindled and when you are taking three kids for a fortnight’s holiday in unpredictable weather, you need luggage.

The rules changed two days before we flew and as I had not checked the small print since I booked the flights, we were made to open the suitcase, take out items and have them unceremoniously shoved into a plastic bag before being allowed to check them on the plane. This made us bad tempered, late and caused much tutting from those in the line before us. The staff were rude and unhelpful and so began my dislike for this low cost airline.

Cut to last month and a death in the family caused a mad dash to Dublin with next to no notice. Funerals are organised immediately in Ireland and you have to catch the next plane and go. This we did and were booked on a 4.00pm flight which gave us time to make the wake, say our goodbyes and be there for the funeral the next day. However, the flight became indefinitely delayed and to cut a very long and painful story short, we arrived at our destination at 3am, physically and emotionally worn out! A flight to Dublin had however left at 10pm practically empty but no amount of pleading from everyone on the delayed flight on our behalf would persuade them to put us on that flight. Technical problems happen, I accept that, but what I don’t accept is the inability to be flexible in such a situation.
Michael O’Leary, head honcho at Ryanair, had only been quoted the week before saying: “Hard-pressed funeral goers are Ryanair’s most profitable customers…They book late because they don’t tend to have much notice, and they tend to be price insensitive because they have to travel.”

It is no wonder that Ryanair have unveiled record annual profits of €481m!
We paid a fortune for the flights but I don’t even begrudge that – I begrudge being treated abominably and when finally on a flight at after midnight with three small children, the staff onboard were just plain rude. “We are sorry for the seven hour delay and hope you will fly Ryanair again!” came the sing-song voice. “I don’t think so,” chorused a loud reply from the majority of people on board.
Unfortunately I do have to fly back to Ireland on Ryanair on flights already booked but when I considered my holiday to Spain I instantly avoided Ryanair’s new route from Edinburgh – any other airline has to be better!

My boycott campaign begins here. We do want people to come to Edinburgh of course, but they can get here by other means and we don’t need to leave. We have a lovely city. Let’s just stay put and if we have to travel, use any other way out!
Just to cover myself, I do of course have to say that this rant has been my own personal opinion. You are all free to make your own judgement!

The cost of alcohol misuse

Latest figures released by the Scottish Government show the annual cost of alcohol misuse to Criminal Justice and Fire Services in Scotland is £385 million.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service are pressing the dangers of mixing alcohol consumption with fire. Figures show that of the 61 people who died in Scotland last year as a result of fire, excessive alcohol consumption contributed to 24 of these tragic deaths.
All it takes is one mistake. A person may have a few drinks and get peckish, put the chips on and fall asleep. Or they may have a cigarette in bed before drifting off to sleep, only to be woken by a firefighter dealing with the result.

Whatever the mistake - the message is clear, if a fire breaks out when you have been drinking alcohol, the devastation can be much, much worse for you and for your family.

Alcohol and fire safety
• Don’t smoke whilst sitting on a chair or couch if you’ve been drinking or you’re feeling tired.
• If you need to smoke after a drink, do it outside.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Do not cook if you have been drinking alcohol.
• Even if you are not a smoker or drinker, tell others to follow these rules.

Mike Bridgman, Convener of the Lothian and Borders Fire Board says, “Many people associate the dangers of alcohol to damage it can do to your body and the people you are closest too over time. Unfortunately, the damage can be an instant, tragic event when it is mixed with fire.

“Alcohol puts individuals and their families at a high risk of becoming fire casualties, as once asleep, people who have had too much to drink will be hard to waken and may not even hear a smoke alarm sounding.”

The Fire Investigation Unit of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service visits homes and premises after the devastation of a fire, to establish the cause and to collect information to prevent similar incidents in the future.