Yesterday, we printed reader Keith Cowan’s letter in which he asked who in the Council had made the decision to close Calton Hill on Hogmanay (Letters, 27.12.15).
Today, we reprint a reply to a similar query Cowan addressed to CEC’s Chief Executive, Andrew Kerr, just before Christmas.
Cowan wanted to know where he could find ‘the appropriate Council Committee agenda and minutes that relate to the decision making on this matter, and provide the risk assessment for this decision, and advise on the powers used to restrict public assembly in this case’.
Swift (but incomplete) CEC response
The next day (Christmas Eve), he received the following reply from a Senior Events Officer which we reproduce in full and unedited (except for redaction of the official’s name).
Dear Mr Cowan,
Thank you for your email to Andrew Kerr. I have requested some further information from colleagues in Parks around your final point on restriction of public access and will respond to you as soon as I possibly can. Please be aware that this is unlikely to be before 29th December because of staff absence.
While Calton Hill has been used as a viewing point for the Hogmanay fireworks for a number of years, it is not an official viewing area for the celebrations, and is used as a firing site for the midnight fireworks. Stewards are provided to secure the fireworks site, but the hill is unlit, is not an official viewing area and no facilities are in place to accommodate any audience (e.g. sufficient steward numbers, toilets, first aid, etc. Legislation and best practice require these measures at organised public events.). The budget challenges facing the Council mean there is no funding to make this an official site. In addition, assessments of current prevailing wind speed and direction indicate a very large area of the hill acting as a fall out zone for fireworks debris for Hogmanay.
Over recent years the number of people gathering on Calton Hill has substantially increased. Estimates now put this at a few thousand. As a viewing area, Calton Hill is a specific concern because of its topography, the presence of fireworks (both firing and debris) and the growing number of people on the hill. Given it is Hogmanay, alcohol consumption must also be a consideration.
Opening the hill will put additional burden on Police Scotland resources and require additional first aid provision on a night that already sees the emergency services highly pressured. If the weather is particularly cold or wet then risks increase further.
Taking all of the above into account, and the continuous assessment procedures in place to ensure crowd management and safety, the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Core Group (comprising representatives from Council Public Safety, Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Unique Events) reviewed the site risks and arrived at the decision to close the Hill to the public.
There are other areas within the city centre from which to view the fireworks, including North Bridge where safety arrangements are put in place for the public. While the Street Party provides safe and managed city centre celebrations, North Bridge is also stewarded and has first aid provision to accommodate the public. The Meadows and Inverleith Park remain safe and popular sites for the public to view the fireworks.
I will send you a response to your other points as soon as I receive information from colleagues.
More questions to answer
Our reader Keith Cowan is unpersuaded by the response, considering it rather ‘confused and defensive’.
He notes that it does not address the question of who – if anyone – asked for Calton Hill to be an official site, why it needs to be an official site, and why Edinburgh Council think they have any liability to people who want to go up it at night.
The reply to him says that opening the hill would put a burden on Police Scotland and require additional first-aid provision. Again, he wonders, if it’s not an official viewing area … why?
And what does the statement about Calton Hill’s ‘topography’ mean for the CEC approach to other events such as Beltane, The Torch Lit Procession or the Festival Fireworks etc.?
In conclusion, Cowan remarks that ‘It would be interesting, as a matter of public record, to know what the authority is of the “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Core Group” in terms of making decisions about prohibiting and restricting public movement, access and assembly, the democratic consultation process for such decisions, and what other groups exist that can make such decisions’.
These are all good questions. We’ll report the Council’s answers if and when we receive them.
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
[More on this topic: 'Time to reclaim our public spaces', 29.12.15 and 'View to a thrill on Calton Hill', 30.12.15]
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Lynn Henni I have some sympathy given budget pressures - someone would have to pay for the police whether an official site or not. That said, decision making doesn't feel to be that well thought through.
Jamie Gray I'm glad you are pursuing this story. It's an example of the authorities over-reaching their remit and powers, even if the intention is to protect public safety, rather than commercialising the city. It should be a fundamental right of people to use public space and this type of decision erodes this right further. Think of how much of the city centre is already restricted at this time of year unless you are paying to use it.
Paul Burgess Well we now know they want it as yet another official ie admission charging site even if they don't currently have the budget.... Keep pursuing this you're more tenacious than the placid evening snooze. I don't understand why they can't just post a few signs warning people they use Calton hill at their own risk.
Steven Magee another example of the nanny state
Callum Duff No intention of going anywhere near the town this Hogmanay. The council ripoff street parties do nothing for me.
Lorraine Moore Maybe Carlton Hill will end up being walled and locked up at night?!?
reggie tricker @reggietricker
So presumably next year's Dusherra and Beltane will also not happen on Calton Hill, as occur in similar conditions?
@theSpurtle @KenWilson84 I think though, that in order to actually enforce this temp suspend of Access rights they need LRA Section 11 order
@reggietricker @theSpurtle folks already pay to attend Beltane. Cooncil can suspend access but there is a procedure thats not been followed
Swivel Eyed Broon @Mr_Mark_Brown
This Calton Hill Hogmanay reveller ban by the Council seems terribly devoid of joined-up thinking.
Fergus Smith "assessments of current prevailing wind speed and direction indicate a very large area of the hill acting as a fall out zone for fireworks debris for Hogmanay"
So, unlike the Met Office, CEC knows what the weather will be like on Hogmanay? Or maybe. as usual, they're just making it up as they go along.
Petition to @Edinburgh_CC to Open Calton Hill for Hogmanay https://www.change.org/p/city-of-edinburgh-council-open-calton-hill-for-hogmanay-2016 … @theSpurtle @KenWilson84