Essential Edinburgh’s controversial application to extend the coffee pavilion in St Andrew Square Gardens has been withdrawn (Ref. 14/04840/FUL).
As first reported this time last year (‘Death by a thousand pees’), EE applied to upgrade:
internal areas of the coffee pavilion and to house 2 additional toilets for their customers. The extension would also create an additional storage area enabling more seating inside the pavilion allowing more people to enjoy the gardens throughout the year. The design will of course be in keeping with the existing structure.
Objectors suggested that the proposed bin storage would still be insufficient for the business’s purposes, and that the principal concern was to provide toilets. These in turn would allow the operator to run the business with a licence to serve alcohol.
Proliferating pavilions and business presence
The extension, said one critic, ‘would outscale the gardens and dilute a historic space. The character of the gardens seems to be increasingly sacrificed in favour of an enhanced commercial environment’.
The Cockburn Association objected to the proposal’s ‘poor design’. If granted permission, it said, ‘it is only a matter of time before further proposals come forward to increase the number of pavilions’.
The New Town & Broughton Community Council commented that, although the surrounding area is not publicly owned, the City of Edinburgh Council has leased it and ‘we would maintain that these gardens are public in the wider sense and therefore should be administered for the benefit of the community rather than specific commercial enterprises’.
NTBCC saw any extension as part of a wider pattern of Essential Edinburgh’s increased activity and business presence in the gardens. It too was unimpressed by the fact that only 25 per cent of the addition floor area would be used for storage (the rest for toilets).
Harking back to early aspirations for developing the gardens (05/04237/FUL), NTBCC concluded that the space ‘should be maintained as far as possible as “an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city”’.
When Spurtle visited the pavilion at lunchtime today, we were surprised to find that a large refrigerated trailer, temporary fencing and collapsing bamboo screens had appeared beside it. Overspilling bins graced the north-east gate, although whether or not these were associated with the café was unclear.
Getting back to the future
Spurtle welcomes withdrawal of the application. We would also welcome far more robust leadership from City of Edinburgh Council in returning St Andrew Square Gardens to something like the dignified refuge that was originally advanced.
Bear in mind that the Development Quality Sub-committee report which informed the decision to grant consent concluded that plans for the gardens would 'enhance the setting of the A listed Melville Monument and be compatible with the character and appearance of the conservation area and World Heritage Site'.
Such bland assurances seem laughable now. Less funny is the fact that concerns raised in 2005 about the application's lack of detail on 'management, mainenance or operation' seem so shockingly prescient today.
We think the current rash of temporary structures and activities – which do not require planning permission – are an unsightly mess and a cacophonous nuisance.
Sooner or later, their presence here should cease altogether or be drastically reduced.
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
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Paul Burgess I couldn't agree more with everything you've said. It's just being ruined.
Jennifer Mitchell Well done!
Mike Finnie St Andrews Square is squalid for much of the year now. It looks like George Street is heading the same way.
Broughton Spurtle Or maybe we've missed something?
Good news. The "oasis of tranquility" now hucksters' delight. More likely to avoid the square than tarry these days
Nicole Roberts "Ocean of Tranquility" hahahahahahaa... Maybe they should open up Charlotte Sq to the public and start again?
@theSpurtle Would love to see all winter market and rides moved to Castle + George Sts with associated festival of light in our green spaces
Broughton Spurtle @theSpurtle
Enhances setting of Melville Monument & compatible with character/appearance conservation area & WHS? @thecockburn
@theSpurtle deffo not. Nor enhances the greenspace that is supposed to be a park. @thecockburn
Pamela Dobbie Well said.
@theSpurtle @theAHSS That pointless old pillar is ruining that bar area. Should get the Udderbelly & Fred Dibnah in to sort it.
@theSpurtle I'm not sure our Cases Panel would agree with that......though I'm sure a suitably festive, heritage enhancing look is possible!
Michael MacLeod That picture of the beer company logo below the Melville Monument says it all. Edinburgh will drop its pants for you if you have the cash.
@theSpurtle @theAHSS it's complete pants
@theSpurtle @thecockburn is that an outside khasi?
Colin Tate I just can't believe they are getting away with ruining the square and the council is doing nothing to preserve its original character and purpose ... as a park.
@theSpurtle @theAHSS I ain't Scrooge but Edinburgh's 'winterval' has reached a new low in cheap tackiness of the neon'n'Portakabins variety!
To be honest: looks shitty in St Andrew Square. Shanty town, decking, overflowing rubbish, mud, generic Xmas pop. Where's heritage/ambition?
@theSpurtle Any thoughts on what would be better?
@MrJonesTalks Less can be more. Modest lighting of Princes St Gardens in mid-1990s(?) was enchanting. Added rather than distracted.
@theSpurtle I suppose there needs to be broad appeal. Edgy shows, kids stuff, touristy appeal. Hard to please everyone and its very popular.
@theSpurtle Off to to see 'Circa: Beyond' at St Andrew Sq soon. The shows on offer tend to be very good.
@MrJonesTalks Why outglitter Las Vegas? Outplunge Alton Towers? Our USP is fun & constraint. Sounds bit 50 Shades but serious proposition.
@theSpurtle Couldn't agree more. I have never understood the appeal! But I've always been called a grump/grinch/scrooge. :P
Rhona Stewart Cameron I'm glad I remember Edinburgh from the 50's before the planners or rather planners with no aesthetic vision seem to have been given free reign over our city.
