Princes Street on a weekend is a restless hubbub of shoppers, students, stag and hen dos, runners, drinkers, diners, traffic. Head down there and find yourself bobbing and weaving between the masses before having to abruptly halt as someone inevitably careers into your path. Make it summer and the city centre resembles less a tourist hotspot and more the first day of the Somme, as the festival swings into town and you’re accosted on a street corner by an actor juggling prosecco bottles dressed as Sue Gray or something like that. Their show’s on at The Pleasance, if you’re interested.
The City of Edinburgh council has deemed these scenes a profitable resource, with a 5 per cent tourist levy coming into force from 1 October. The funds raised will go to projects across the city, including restoring Leith Theatre and renovating Portobello Promenade.
A lot of these projects are fairly admirable, but they are not exhaustive. So, here are some other ideas.
First, housing. £5m of the money raised has been earmarked to build 472 new homes, with around 360 being affordable. Given Edinburgh’s present housing situation – around 7,000 people live in temporary accommodation and average Edinburgh rents are about £400 above the Scottish average – it’s a welcome start. But more needs to be done. And 472 homes throughout the city is not going to alleviate the stranglehold tourism has on the city centre. A city’s culture is dependent on the people who populate it, and the rapacious out-pricing of locals from Edinburgh’s liveliest areas does nothing for its vibrance. Build and build in the city centre, populate it with affordable housing: make Nicholson Street charismatic again.
Second, pedestrianisation. The council promises to improve road safety on Cowgate. What about putting up some bollards and getting rid of cars altogether? And, while we’re at it, do the same to the spine of the New Town, George Street. In these areas, cars are impediments and little more: it’s difficult to drive these streets, and there are easy routes around them. Imagine restaurants expanding outside all over George Street, and street events on Cowgate. Plus, if the council is so concerned about road safety, banning cars would eliminate any risk of an accident.
Third, a cut for pubs’ business rates. I’m tired of staring at the grotty carpet of a Wetherspoons because it’s the only place you can get a drink without a credit check. Given all the talk of a loneliness epidemic, a cheaper night out compared to drinking at home can only be a social good. And forget the health consequences. The bigger problem is drinking to excess, and a £10 twelve-pack is surely its chief encouragement.
A tourist tax gives the council a very hefty wallet; let’s hope they spend it wisely. Soon we’ll have a rejuvenated city for visitors and locals alike. As soon as North Bridge is finished.
Photo by Max Brown for The Student.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
The Edinburgh Tourist Tax: Spend It Wisely
Princes Street on a weekend is a restless hubbub of shoppers, students, stag and hen dos, runners, drinkers, diners, traffic. Head down there and find yourself bobbing and weaving between the masses before having to abruptly halt as someone inevitably careers into your path. Make it summer and the city centre resembles less a tourist hotspot and more the first day of the Somme, as the festival swings into town and you’re accosted on a street corner by an actor juggling prosecco bottles dressed as Sue Gray or something like that. Their show’s on at The Pleasance, if you’re interested.
The City of Edinburgh council has deemed these scenes a profitable resource, with a 5 per cent tourist levy coming into force from 1 October. The funds raised will go to projects across the city, including restoring Leith Theatre and renovating Portobello Promenade.
A lot of these projects are fairly admirable, but they are not exhaustive. So, here are some other ideas.
First, housing. £5m of the money raised has been earmarked to build 472 new homes, with around 360 being affordable. Given Edinburgh’s present housing situation – around 7,000 people live in temporary accommodation and average Edinburgh rents are about £400 above the Scottish average – it’s a welcome start. But more needs to be done. And 472 homes throughout the city is not going to alleviate the stranglehold tourism has on the city centre. A city’s culture is dependent on the people who populate it, and the rapacious out-pricing of locals from Edinburgh’s liveliest areas does nothing for its vibrance. Build and build in the city centre, populate it with affordable housing: make Nicholson Street charismatic again.
Second, pedestrianisation. The council promises to improve road safety on Cowgate. What about putting up some bollards and getting rid of cars altogether? And, while we’re at it, do the same to the spine of the New Town, George Street. In these areas, cars are impediments and little more: it’s difficult to drive these streets, and there are easy routes around them. Imagine restaurants expanding outside all over George Street, and street events on Cowgate. Plus, if the council is so concerned about road safety, banning cars would eliminate any risk of an accident.
Third, a cut for pubs’ business rates. I’m tired of staring at the grotty carpet of a Wetherspoons because it’s the only place you can get a drink without a credit check. Given all the talk of a loneliness epidemic, a cheaper night out compared to drinking at home can only be a social good. And forget the health consequences. The bigger problem is drinking to excess, and a £10 twelve-pack is surely its chief encouragement.
A tourist tax gives the council a very hefty wallet; let’s hope they spend it wisely. Soon we’ll have a rejuvenated city for visitors and locals alike. As soon as North Bridge is finished.
Photo by Max Brown for The Student.
Share this:
Like this:
Related