Edinburgh outdoor breakfast plans spark noise concerns
Edinburgh's heritage watchdog has raised concerns after city councillors approved plans for food businesses to serve customers outdoors from 07:30.Currently businesses can only serve customers at outdoor tables and chairs from 09:00 until 21:00.But a new year-long trial could see outdoor eating and drinking areas open an hour-and-a-half earlier from the start of July.However, heritage watchdog the Cockburn Association said the new opening times must be policed by council officials to prevent early morning noise for nearby residents.
The rules for the Grassmarket, where businesses can only use outdoor furniture from midday until 21:00, will remain the same.
Tony Crolla, chairman of Vittoria Group - which includes Vittoria, Divino, Bertie's and a Taste of Italy - was behind the campaign for the longer operating hours.He successfully argued that visitors to the city should be able to sit outside for breakfast when they paid a tourist tax - which starts in summer 2026.The council report said: "This will allow businesses with permits more flexibility in terms of their operating hours and has the potential to increase footfall and boost the local economy in both the city and town centres."
But Terry Levinthal, director of the Cockburn Association, told BBC Scotland News that he had concerns around how the trial would be policed.He warned that the noise impact on nearby homes would need to be closely monitored.He said he wanted the council to add conditions to its licensing which would protect people living in densely populated areas of the city.Mr Levinthal also raised issue with the "steady creep of commercialisation of public space" which could eventually put people off living in the city centre."Very frequently the people who are making these decisions don't have skin in the game when it comes to that direct impact on residential amenity," he added.Stephen Jenkinson, City of Edinburgh Council's transport and environment convener, said: "This is an example of us listening, acting to support our business community while maintaining robust management."We're also clear that accessibility for pedestrians is a priority, with strict conditions to maintain appropriate widths for pedestrian access."We'll continually monitor the scheme and address any concerns regarding noise, compliance or any other issues with businesses and other key stakeholders as appropriate."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
19 minutes ago
- The Independent
New Rangers boss makes bold claims following return to Ibrox
Rangers have appointed Russell Martin, formerly of MK Dons, Swansea, and Southampton, as their new head coach on a three-year contract. Martin will be accompanied by assistant head coach Matt Gill and performance coach Rhys Owen. He aims to restore Rangers' success and challenge Celtic 's dominance in the Scottish Premiership, following his dismissal from Southampton in December. Martin, who briefly played for the club in 2018, expressed his determination to bring success back to Rangers, emphasising the importance of winning matches and trophies. The appointment is part of significant changes at Rangers, including a new majority shareholding led by Andrew Cavenagh and the arrival of sporting director Kevin Thelwell.
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
Let us tax visitors on overnight stays in England, mayors say
A coalition of mayors has called for powers to be given to local authorities to create visitor levies across England, in an attempt to boost tourist infrastructure and regional growth. The group of mayors from around the country, led by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, is calling on the government to grant devolved powers to allow regions to create a visitor levy, which could see a small charge added to overnight stays. Mr Rotheram said the overnight charges are 'the kind most of us wouldn't think twice about when travelling abroad' and 'would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special'. Other mayors have echoed his sentiment. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: 'A modest overnight accommodation levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London's reputation as a global tourism and business destination.' A similar law is already in place in Scotland, passed in 2024, which allows councils to tax overnight accommodation if they wish to do so. Edinburgh has already made headway with this power, voting in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. A bill has also been proposed by Welsh lawmakers to introduce a small visitor levy that could see visitors to the country paying up to £1.25 per night by 2027. The mayors say England is 'at risk of falling behind' as Scotland and Wales move ahead with their own tourism levies, so are calling for rapid action from the central government. The mayors have argued that the powers to create a visitor levy would unlock 'vital' funding for tourism and cultural infrastructure and drive regional growth, as well as reduce dependence on funding from the central government. English legislation does not allow cities to create a visitor levy; however, using legal workarounds has meant Liverpool and Manchester have introduced a form of tourism levy. The city councils both introduced a tourism-based Business Improvement District (BID), using existing legal power to establish a form of tourist tax that allows hoteliers to charge £1 (in Manchester) or £2 (in Liverpool) per night as part of a 'city visitor charge'. The mayors said that the BID visitor levy in Liverpool has received strong backing, while in Manchester, a recent survey revealed 70 per cent of tourists are willing to pay a small charge if it is used to visibly enhance tourism services. However, the local authorities are hoping to see devolved powers to create visitor levies written into law. The campaign is backed by the mayors of the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, London, the North East, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire. 'These regions collectively attract hundreds of millions of visitors annually and contribute billions to the UK economy,' the group said. 'Yet none currently benefit from a dedicated funding stream to reinvest in tourism resilience and growth.' The Liverpool City Region predicts that a visitor levy could raise nearly £11 million per year for the area from the over 60 million visitors it receives annually. Greater Manchester says that a £1 to £5 overnight tax could raise between £8 million and £40 million per year, which could help fund key infrastructures such as the regeneration of Old Trafford or airport development. Over in the capital, the group said tourism accounts for one in seven jobs and nearly 12 per cent of London's economy, whereas visitor economies stand at £6.1 billion in the North East and £16.3 billion in Birmingham.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Worst appointment possible' or 'potential to be very good'?
Here are some more of your comments on Rangers appointing Russell Martin as their new head I hope Russell is capable of changing tactics during a game and not just a one-trick pony. He'll need to be a strong personality on the touchline and ensure everyone is following instructions to the letter. Good luck to him and his At just 39, he's still a young manager with plenty of room to grow and develop. I believe he has the potential to be a very good appointment.J: With this appointment the new owners have proven they know nothing about Scottish football. Thelwell and Purdy? Laurel and Hardy more like. This manager has the credentials of a Hibs or Motherwell manager and is so far from the level of a club like Rangers, even if he is up to it, the sheer disbelief, disappointment and anger of the fans at the cheapest option being taken once again means he's on the back foot before he's even stepped through the A tad underwhelming and I'm slightly concerned as to who he can attract. But I'm happy to support him and I'd love to be proven wrong. Good luck Ancelotti would have been the better choice. Martin's style of play not suited to Scottish football. Ancelotti would have attracted players who otherwise would not have considered Scottish Worst appointment possible. Unproven with little real track record, last time out he was relegation material at Southampton. I fear for the club I love that we will stay also rans. Another Beale I 49rs' first mistake is Martin, he had only one way of playing and can't change or adapt to other styles. I predict he will be sacked within six months.
