Caltongate=Fail
This recession/depression is having many different effects most of them bad. Occassionally however there is a silver lining. Yesterday property developers Mountgrange were declared insolvent. This means that their plan to redevelop parts of Edinburgh's old town is almost certainly dead. The plan meant social housing being removed to make way for 5-star hotels and retail opportunities. Yeah, luxury shopping just what we always needed.
So goodbye Caltongate and congratulations to the Save Our Old Town campaign.Labels: SOOT
:: | 9:51 am |Save This Page | |
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:: Monday, May 05, 2008 ::
Saving Our Old Town on Mayday
Labels: SOOT
:: | 2:49 pm |
:: Thursday, February 07, 2008 ::
Sold Down the Royal Mile
Protestors in Edinburgh's historic old town, the area around the Canongate at the foot of the Royal Mile vowed to continue their opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the area despite the decision of the council yesterday to go ahead. Spineless councillors showed no interest in the views of local people despite 1800 lodged objections. Only councillors Burgess of the Greens and Keir of the SNP spoke out against the proposals with others openly laughing at those objecting. The reality is that the council can't see past the money on offer regardless of the views of residents who want a real community and not a bland corporate Disneyland.
Save Our Old TownLabels: SOOT
:: | 1:35 pm |
:: Friday, February 01, 2008 ::
Blue Blistering Carbuncles
An unlikely ally for those in the Caltongate of Edinburgh who are standing up to the fat cat developers. HRH Prince Chuck!
Speaking in London yesterday he said:
"Corporate and residential towers are being proposed across London, and overshadowing World Heritage sites from Edinburgh to Bath – this audience will not need reminding of the fact that the World Heritage status of sites such as Edinburgh’s old city, the Tower of London and Westminster have all been challenged by U.N.E.S.C.O. due to new construction in recent years. And so they should be, as there is no point at all in having a World Heritage site unless it retains its unique integrity. There are, after all, other areas where such tall buildings could be accommodated within their own context."
Of course aesthetics are only one side of the story. The other is the fact that community resources and housing for working class people is being replaced by 'luxury' apartments and hotels for the wealthy.
Thanks to the Independent Republic of the Caltongate and Save Our Old Town.Labels: SOOT
:: | 3:39 pm |
:: Thursday, January 10, 2008 ::
Back to the Old Town
Those dogged campaigners to save Edinburgh's old town from the developers have started a new blog to counter the propaganda of their big business opponents.
Get your passports ready for a visit to the Independent Republic of the Canongate.Labels: SOOT
:: | 9:59 am |
:: Friday, June 22, 2007 ::
Hands off our cock!
The plans to 'redevelop' the old town, i.e. tear down community resources and social housing and build 5 star hotels, seemed to have suffered a welcome setback when the New Labour council were ousted from Edinburgh last month. But you can't keep evil down for long, like Dracula in a cheesy Hammer sequel they just keep coming back and back.
And this time they are after our cock.
"Yesterday, Tuesday the of 19th June 2007 criminal damage was committed to a Listed Victorian Building in Edinburgh`s Old Town.
The Victorian bell tower and weather vein were removed from The Canongate Venture building which is earmarked for demolition by Caltongate Developers, Mountgrange Plc. They insist it be demolished to make way for their planned 5 star hotel and conference centre."The whereabouts of the weather vein, affectionately called “Jock the Weathercock” are not known, the wooden bell tower was found in pieces in a skip.
Unplanned work on a Listed building is a criminal offence, the Planning Department is directly opposite the Canongate Venture.
SOOT (Save Our Old Town) campaigners believe that the council are removing architectural features in order to get a smooth decision to demolish the building.
Questions need to be asked about whether the council are doing the dirty work for the developers in order to demolish a building that is in good order and still in use."
Good luck to the Save our Old Town campaigners!
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:: | 3:39 pm |