By Makhno, submitted on Thu, 07/02/2008 - 14:00
The hotly contested 'Caltongate' gentrification plan has been approved by city councillors on Wednesday, in meeting that lasted over 10 hours. The two listed buildings will be demolished. Save Our Old Town protesters were present inside the meeting, and there was a demonstration outside the City Chambers all day. Campaigners vow to continue the struggle against this development, and plan to provoke a public enquiry.
The demolition of the two listed buildings has been voted through by councillors on Wednesday to make way for the developer Mountgranges' plans for a new five-star hotel, conference centre, luxury flats, swanky offices. The proposal to demolish all but the facade of the Canongate tenements has been put on hold, pending a request from councillors for more information. The developers have been told to look at ways of keeping the buildings for social housing.
Due to the large numbers of objections, around 2000, the project will have to be considered by Scottish Ministers who will then make the final decision.
A large number of protesters were present in the meeting and regularly heckled the proponents of the 'Caltongate' development. There was also a static demonstration with many banners and a sound system outside the city chambers all day, attended initially by large numbers of people in the morning, dwindling toward the end of the day.
Catriona Grant, a spokesperson for SOOT said: "There is no question that there has to be a public inquiry. The council has ignored a huge number of objections in favour of the £300 million investment they have been promised, without any justification for the loss of these listed buildings. The developers own a huge gap site on New Street which could have easily accommodated a five star hotel and conference centre."
Campaigners stated that the meeting was rushed, that there was not enough time for debate, and that it was fundamentally undemocratic: placing the interests of rich developers ahead of those of local communities. Campaigners also stated that the whole 'Caltongate' process breaches competition laws, due to the fact that no other developers or the Canongate community were allowed to bid for the development contract.
The demolition of the two listed buildings has been voted through by councillors on Wednesday to make way for the developer Mountgranges' plans for a new five-star hotel, conference centre, luxury flats, swanky offices. The proposal to demolish all but the facade of the Canongate tenements has been put on hold, pending a request from councillors for more information. The developers have been told to look at ways of keeping the buildings for social housing.
Due to the large numbers of objections, around 2000, the project will have to be considered by Scottish Ministers who will then make the final decision.
A large number of protesters were present in the meeting and regularly heckled the proponents of the 'Caltongate' development. There was also a static demonstration with many banners and a sound system outside the city chambers all day, attended initially by large numbers of people in the morning, dwindling toward the end of the day.
Catriona Grant, a spokesperson for SOOT said: "There is no question that there has to be a public inquiry. The council has ignored a huge number of objections in favour of the £300 million investment they have been promised, without any justification for the loss of these listed buildings. The developers own a huge gap site on New Street which could have easily accommodated a five star hotel and conference centre."
Campaigners stated that the meeting was rushed, that there was not enough time for debate, and that it was fundamentally undemocratic: placing the interests of rich developers ahead of those of local communities. Campaigners also stated that the whole 'Caltongate' process breaches competition laws, due to the fact that no other developers or the Canongate community were allowed to bid for the development contract.Related
Re: Demolitions to go ahead: gentrification approved.