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Edinburgh Reporter
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Questions raised over whether pro-Palestine protest should be banned on safety grounds
Questions have been raised over whether a pro-Palestine protest in Edinburgh should be banned on public safety grounds. A Support Palestine rally has been scheduled for 19 July, but officers have said past events run by the same organiser have had inadequate stewarding and management. The council's public safety department objected to the procession going ahead, with an officer saying: 'The reason for our objection is based on recent experience with this applicant, with serious concerns about the applicant's ability to deliver a safe and controlled procession of this scale in the city centre. The officer said the organiser of the planned demonstration was also behind demonstrations on 29 March and 5 April, which saw 'serious public safety risks'. He continued: 'On the 29th of March, the procession caused severe congestion at the junctions of Princes Street, Hanover Street and the Mound. 'This resulted in large groups of pedestrians and vehicles competing for space. Police Scotland had to intervene to expedite the parade's movement across the junction, which was necessary to avoid the deterioration of public safety conditions. 'On the fifth of April, participants in the procession entered the tram route. This created an uncontrolled crowd environment and introduced serious hazards to life and safety. 'Despite assurances from the organisers in advance, no effective stewarding or containment was in place to prevent this. 'Bus and tram services had to be turned around, and participants and the public were placed at considerable risk.' The officer said that the council's public safety department had concerns over whether the organiser could handle the estimated 2,000 attendees safely, given that the previous demonstrations had been smaller. A Police Scotland representative followed up to say: 'This is a very difficult event to police continually. There's a public safety risk that concerns us. 'While ad hoc it is manageable, it is becoming a regular occurrence which is becoming logistically challenging for us.' Earlier in the meeting, SNP councillor Norman Work said: 'I just wondered if there would be concerns about safety? 'I think it should be a rare or special vein for [a procession across Princes Street to occur.] It can cause a lot of disruption.' Later on, Conservative councillor Neil Cuthbert also questioned what could be done about the parade, saying: 'The applicant for this has also applied on other dates, but they've been withdrawn. Is there anything we should draw from that? 'And is it possible to say, great, it can go ahead, but in a different location?' Council officer Andrew Mitchell explained to councillors the legal test required for a protest to be banned, saying that it would require the event to 'place an excessive burden on police'. Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat asked the Police Scotland representative if the bar for a ban had been reached. She said: 'In your opinion, were the issues caused by the previous protests, did that place an unreasonable burden on the police?' The police officer replied: 'We've had to invoke our emergency powers in order to manage traffic, which we shouldn't have to routinely do. 'But as we look at the burden of the police, we'll ultimately just stop traffic, we will absolutely stop everything in order to maintain public safety. Ultimately, we have the police officers to do that.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh safety fears over pro-Palestine protest planned for city centre
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Questions have been raised over whether a pro-Palestine protest in Edinburgh should be banned on public safety grounds. A Support Palestine rally has been scheduled for 19 July, but officers have said past events run by the same organiser have had inadequate stewarding and management. The council's public safety department objected to the procession going ahead, with an officer saying: 'The reason for our objection is based on recent experience with this applicant, with serious concerns about the applicant's ability to deliver a safe and controlled procession of this scale in the city centre. The officer said the organiser of the planned demonstration was also behind demonstrations on 29 March and 5 April, which saw 'serious public safety risks'. He continued: 'On the 29th of March, the procession caused severe congestion at the junctions of Princes Street, Hanover Street and the Mound. 'This resulted in large groups of pedestrians and vehicles competing for space. Police Scotland had to intervene to expedite the parade's movement across the junction, which was necessary to avoid the deterioration of public safety conditions. 'On the fifth of April, participants in the procession entered the tram route. This created an uncontrolled crowd environment and introduced serious hazards to life and safety. 'Despite assurances from the organisers in advance, no effective stewarding or containment was in place to prevent this. 'Bus and tram services had to be turned around, and participants and the public were placed at considerable risk.' The officer said that the council's public safety department had concerns over whether the organiser could handle the estimated 2,000 attendees safely, given that the previous demonstrations had been smaller. A Police Scotland representative followed up to say: 'This is a very difficult event to police continually. There's a public safety risk that concerns us. 'While ad hoc it is manageable, it is becoming a regular occurrence which is becoming logistically challenging for us.' Earlier in the meeting, SNP councillor Norman Work said: 'I just wondered if there would be concerns about safety? 'I think it should be a rare or special vein for [a procession across Princes Street to occur.] It can cause a lot of disruption.' Later on, Conservative councillor Neil Cuthbert also questioned what could be done about the parade, saying: 'The applicant for this has also applied on other dates, but they've been withdrawn. Is there anything we should draw from that? 'And is it possible to say, great, it can go ahead, but in a different location?' Council officer Andrew Mitchell explained to councillors the legal test required for a protest to be banned, saying that it would require the event to 'place an excessive burden on police'. Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat asked the Police Scotland representative if the bar for a ban had been reached. She said: 'In your opinion, were the issues caused by the previous protests, did that place an unreasonable burden on the police?' The police officer replied: 'We've had to invoke our emergency powers in order to manage traffic, which we shouldn't have to routinely do. 'But as we look at the burden of the police, we'll ultimately just stop traffic, we will absolutely stop everything in order to maintain public safety. Ultimately, we have the police officers to do that.' A decision on the protest was delayed to the next Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, set to take place on Tuesday, 17 June, which can be viewed here.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh cab drivers given one-year reprieve from needing to sell off old vehicles
Cab drivers in Edinburgh have been given a one-year reprieve from possibly needing to sell off their old vehicles. Councillors voted on Monday to approve a waiver to the city's hire vehicle age and emissions policy, meaning cabs older than a decade are still allowed to travel on city streets. Under the city's hire car regulations, as of 2021, any petrol cabs or private hires need to be 10 years old or less, and either comply with Euro 6 emissions standards or be Euro 5 and retrofitted to meet council requirements. However, every year since 2020, the council has approved a four year extension to this time period, meaning the maximum age of a cab or private hire car on city streets is 14 years. Every six months after a vehicle passes ten years old, it needs to go through an inspection to make sure it is still in compliance with the city's regulations. A report by officers to councillors said that some members of the taxi trade had found difficulty in finding vehicles that meet the city's current age and emissions standards. SNP councillor Norman Work asked council officer Andrew Mitchell: 'Was there any sort of timescale for this? There have been these extensions. Was there any idea how long it would go on for?' Mr Mitchell said: 'The initial target was 2021. The pandemic intervened, and the committee quite rightly gave an adjustment to the timeline. 'So the final timeline for Euro 6 then became 2023. The vast majority of the fleet has been compliant for quite some time. 'A smaller number [of drivers] have struggled, either for financial reasons or various other reasons.' Regulatory Committee convener, Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross, asked: 'Over two thirds [of vehicles over ten years old] have failed their first presentation for testing. 'I know there have been efforts made to encourage compliance with these older vehicles, but I'm wondering if there's anything else that could be done to incentivise better presentations?' He said: 'You're in the territory of, if you repeatedly fail, then you bring the operators to committee. 'It's not something we've done except in fairly extreme examples. But if you're testing them twice a year, and they're still turning up for their annual tests and failing, I struggle to see [what can be done].' Another council officer, Catherine Scanlin, added: 'What we're finding on testing is that it's wear and tear of the rest of the vehicle. And with the best will in the world, it's very very difficult, and very expensive in the main, to keep on top of that. 'So when they're coming for tests, even when the vehicles are prepped, they can't forsee some of the issues. 'Historically, older vehicles were passed down the line to new people coming into the trade. That's not possible with these vehicles. 'Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that vehicle is fit for public service. It is a challenge, and it's difficult. Even the best maintained vehicles – it's a challenge for them as well.' The report also said that a report would come to the committee in the near future updating on the council's progress towards a 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh taxi drivers granted extra extension on age and emissions limits
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Cab drivers in Edinburgh have been given a one-year reprieve from possibly needing to sell off their old vehicles. Councillors voted on Monday to approve a waiver to the city's hire vehicle age and emissions policy, meaning cabs older than a decade are still allowed to travel on city streets. Under the city's hire car regulations, as of 2021, any petrol cabs or private hires need to be 10 years old or less, and either comply with Euro 6 emissions standards or be Euro 5 and retrofitted to meet council requirements. However, every year since 2020, the council has approved a four year extension to this time period, meaning the maximum age of a cab or private hire car on city streets is 14 years. Every six months after a vehicle passes ten years old, it needs to go through an inspection to make sure it is still in compliance with the city's regulations. A report by officers to councillors said that some members of the taxi trade had found difficulty in finding vehicles that meet the city's current age and emissions standards. SNP councillor Norman Work asked council officer Andrew Mitchell: 'Was there any sort of timescale for this? There have been these extensions. Was there any idea how long it would go on for?' Mr Mitchell said: 'The initial target was 2021. The pandemic intervened, and the committee quite rightly gave an adjustment to the timeline. 'So the final timeline for Euro 6 then became 2023. The vast majority of the fleet has been compliant for quite some time. 'A smaller number [of drivers] have struggled, either for financial reasons or various other reasons.' Regulatory Committee convener, Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross, asked: 'Over two thirds [of vehicles over ten years old] have failed their first presentation for testing. 'I know there have been efforts made to encourage compliance with these older vehicles, but I'm wondering if there's anything else that could be done to incentivise better presentations?' He said: 'You're in the territory of, if you repeatedly fail, then you bring the operators to committee. 'It's not something we've done except in fairly extreme examples. But if you're testing them twice a year, and they're still turning up for their annual tests and failing, I struggle to see [what can be done].' Another council officer, Catherine Scanlin, added: 'What we're finding on testing is that it's wear and tear of the rest of the vehicle. And with the best will in the world, it's very very difficult, and very expensive in the main, to keep on top of that. 'So when they're coming for tests, even when the vehicles are prepped, they can't forsee some of the issues. 'Historically, older vehicles were passed down the line to new people coming into the trade. That's not possible with these vehicles. 'Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the operator to ensure that vehicle is fit for public service. It is a challenge, and it's difficult. Even the best maintained vehicles – it's a challenge for them as well.' The report also said that a report would come to the committee in the near future updating on the council's progress towards a 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet.
