Edinburgh’s Old Town and Castle, viewed from Princes Street, provides one of the great urban panoramas of all Europe. John Ruskin compared it to the sight of Constantinople. World Heritage UK says the harmonious juxtaposition of the Old and New Towns across Princes Street Gardens gives Scotland’s capital its unique character. At this time of year, with Edinburgh’s festival in full swing, tens of thousands of new visitors find their way to Princes Street to enjoy this noble cityscape.
Or rather – correction – they did so until the organisers of the Summer Sessions concerts in the Ross bandstand in Princes Street Gardens erected a monstrous 10-foot high black barrier along Princes Street to prevent visitors from catching a free view of their concerts from above. It would be hard to think of a more egregious interference with the public’s rights to enjoy its city than this.
Happily, and after protests, Edinburgh city council has rightly ordered the barriers to be removed, so that pedestrians can see once more into the public gardens and enjoy the famous vista. But it beggars belief that they were ever blocked off in the first place.
