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Caltongate 'a threat to world heritage status'



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AN architectural historian who has demanded a European investigation into the £300 million Caltongate scheme has warned that losing the city's world heritage status is a "very real prospect".
David Black has contacted the European Commission with allegations that the city council broke competition laws over the sale of land for the massive project.

Mr Black has raised a number of concerns over the council's handling of the scheme.

As a result, campaigners have vowed to lobby Unesco's heritage arm in a bid to place the Capital on an "endangered" list.

The international council on monuments and sites has also said it is "appropriate" for Unesco to examine the scheme.

But developer Mountgrange has insisted there is no justification for an investigation, and has called the threat of losing status a "wild suggestion".







The full article contains 140 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 13 March 2008 10:54 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Caltongate development
 
1

Buttress,

13/03/2008 12:01:37
Mountgrange needs to think again. It is certainly a threat to the WHS - and many of us are asking UNESCO to add it to the In Danger list. The demolition of listed buildings, a facade scheme, and inapproproiate and out of scale architecture - this is on top of concerns that UNESCO has already raised about the city.

It seems that Moutgrange additionally forgot to consult UNESCO on the plans - a requirement for World Heritage Sites...



see

www.ew8.org.uk

and the blog link for regular updates - the sort of news this paper doesn't like to print...

2

Wee Jas,

13/03/2008 12:01:38
I said this MONTHS ago, this is a major issue. 'Wild suggestion'? I think not.
3

Cappo Del Monte,

13/03/2008 12:37:51
Yes the council continue to defy the status of world heritage site, it should be withdrawn as obviously the cooncil dont give 2 f**ks
4

Buttress,

13/03/2008 12:39:42
Ultimately, I believe responsibility for WHS lies with the UK government, not the local cooncil.

Time some action was taken...
5

Buttress,

13/03/2008 13:12:08
'Thousands demonstrate against planned Dresden bridge that jeopardizes UNESCO listing
The Associated Press Published: March 9, 2008

BERLIN: Some 15,000 people marched through Dresden on Sunday to protest the construction of a bridge that could cost the city its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2006, UNESCO warned that the 2,085-foot-long span would mar the skyline and landscape of the eastern German city.

The plans also have raised the ire of environmentalists, who say the bridge would encroach on the habitat of the rare lesser horseshoe bat.

A court ruled in November that construction could proceed despite the threat to the bat, but ordered a strict nighttime speed limit of 19 mph to limit disruptions to the bat's habitat.

On Sunday, the protesters rallied in favor of a tunnel under the Elbe River instead of the bridge — a solution UNESCO endorsed Friday.'


So how about taking to the streets of Edinburgh?





6

Mallory,

Edinburgh 13/03/2008 13:25:25
Good idea Buttress - when?
7

Mr Meadowbank,

@home 13/03/2008 13:34:06
the council would loose out on too many back handers if this dosent go through - 'it will'
8

Buttress,

13/03/2008 13:43:15
It's out of the hands of the council now and in the hands of Ministers.

When?

How about contacting SOOT

www.ew8.org.uk


Let's see if there is to be an inquiry ...

9

the good doctor,

crisps 13/03/2008 14:23:13
I don't fancy doing a protest march on those old cobbles and run down streets in the caltongate, might injure myself. Best wait until they build our nice shiny new square so we can march in comfort with lattes in hand.
10

Free Edinburgh,

13/03/2008 14:30:22
What a load of rubbish! People don't visit Edinburgh because of it's WHS status. What do you think would have happened back in the 16th and 17th centuries if the buildings that are now so admired had not been built because it would have "..marred the skyline." Stop living in the past. The people who built Edinburgh in the first place had their sights firmly fixed on the future.
11

Buggalugs,

13/03/2008 14:35:30
Caltongate, the Waterfront, leisure facilities, wanton disregard for Common Good land and assets, parks and open spaces. Why dont all the groups get together and have a "Reclaim our City for the Citizens" movement? I'd join.
12

Buggalugs,

13/03/2008 14:41:46
#10 You are missing the point. It's not about being against progress. For a lot of people its about the way in which our city fathers are allowing profiteers to pillage our heritage at will. I live in the Canongate - the views will be lost, not just by the tourists ( though I suppose the wealthy ones can "buy" a nice vantage point from their hotel room). One of the greatest things about living there is the feeling of wellbeing it gives us residents when we catch glimpses of our magnificent city as we go about our day. Not all opf us are wealthy, but the environment, and the feeling of being connected to such a beautiful place are riches beyond count.
13

Free Edinburgh,

13/03/2008 14:49:12
#12. If your argument stood up we would have to demolish most of the historic buildings in the city to restore some magnificent views. How selfish are you that housing, commerce and other amenities have to be sacrificed to save your view.
14

Buttress,

13/03/2008 14:52:01
No-one is objecting to development - just it would be good to have development which retains the listed and other historic buildings, and new build which is world class - which the Caltongate development is certainly not. It's nasty clone town 'flavour of the month' stuff. It's there for profit not people. Nor does it pay any regard to the surrounding area or the WHS status.

I do think people visit because of WHS status - very much so.

15

Buttress,

13/03/2008 14:52:40
10 and 13 - you are really a total Philistine then?

16

Free Edinburgh,

13/03/2008 15:00:49
#15 A Philistine is a member of a people who settled in ancient Philistia in southern Palestine around the early 12th century. Did you mean "philistine"?
17

Free Edinburgh,

13/03/2008 15:02:09
Before anyone else says it. Early 12rth century BC. i MAY AFTER ALL BE A PHILISTINE.
18

Buttress,

13/03/2008 15:06:40
I mean a Philistine or a philistine - or indeed a pedantic person who seems to have views which chime with Allan Murray's.

Philistine - a person who is hostile towards culture, the arts etc.

Boorishly uncultured. (Sometimes not cap.)

Collins dictionary. Capital P.

19

awfyvexed,

CANONGATE 13/03/2008 16:57:20
It's not Mountgrange we should be annoyed with it's the council who approved their plans and the Scottish ministers who will uphold that decision.
Mountgrange are a commercial enterprise and as such want as much of a return on their investment as possible.
Cram 'em in an'build 'em high!!
And they've got away with it.
We, the Scots have yet again been betrayed by our own and it's on them we need to vent oor spleen.
Parcel o' rogues??
In one....council!!
20

Think Tank,

13/03/2008 21:04:05
#5 Buttress

Too easy: "So how about taking to the streets of Edinburgh?"

I believe you already tried that one and (by your own generous estimations) about "50 folk" turned up.

Could it possibly be that there's something worth campaigning against in Dresden, but that most Edinburgh residents welcome the development of a rundown part of the city, bringing jobs and different shopping/cultural opportunities?

Surely not.
21

Buttress,

13/03/2008 21:38:35
I didn't try anything dear - you got the wrong person. And the wrong numbers I gather.

Remember this though? From another story:

'just to make it interesting, how about running a wee sweep to be won by whoever identifies which PPS mercenary is guising as the septic tank?'



Different shopping and cultural opportunities?

Yeah right!

Clone town anyplace chain shops and a bunch of flats? Yet another conference centre? A dismal 'square' in shadow most of the year?

And that ghastly Sofitel hotel.

Yawn.








22

grantcat,

Old Town 13/03/2008 21:45:49
#20 - your patter stinks. If the Canongate is "run down" why did the Scottish Parliament and the Council choose to build their head quarters there. The Canongate is not run down it has a prime site that needs developing, that's all. And many of us think that the Mountgrange scheme is not fit for the site not that we are against developing the site and areas around it.

The Canongate Community Forum have a shop at 8 St MAry's Street - it's having it's launch on Sunday 16th March from 12.30 to 5. Come along with ideas about what action we can take etc in return you can enjoy some soup and a roll or a cup of tea. Come meet the residents of the Canongate who are proud of their community, activists from SOOT and other bodies and people who might just pop in to say hello.

We'll see if James Black is correct or not. If he isn't it was well worth a try and if he is then the Cooncil will have awfy red faces.

www.eh8.org.uk
www.independentrepublicofthecanongate.blogspot.com
23

Buttress,

13/03/2008 23:08:24
I was on TV tonight - very brief glimpse, the One Show.

The Grosvenor Square demos 1968.

Not afraid to do it again...
24

Buttress,

08/05/2008 13:27:12
Land Securities' Stratford plan dealt blow by EU ruling
Ben Cook, Regen.net, 28 April 2008
Developer Land Securities' hopes of signing an agreement with Newham Council to extend a shopping centre in the borough have been dealt a blow by a European Union ruling.
The property company has, over the last four years, been developing plans for a mixed-use extension to its 350,000 square foot Stratford Centre in east London. The extension would have involved the development of land owned by Newham Council.

But an EU ruling on a case in France means Newham Council has been forced to put the contract out to full tender.The ruling - which related to a case involving Roanne town council - has established the principle that public development agreements are bound by EU procurement rules. Previously, such development agreements were not considered to be work contracts falling under EU procurement legislation.

Land Securities says it was close to signing a deal with Newham Council and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation to work on the project, but now the contract has been put out to tender via the Official Journal of the European Union.

The Stratford Island Regeneration Project will consist of an extension to the shopping centre as well as educational facilities for the University of London.

A spokesman for Land Securities, which owns the shopping centre, said the company was "disappointed" with the ruling.

He added: "The Stratford centre has development potential and we will take a view on what is the best way forward."

 

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