The Edinburgh Reporter December 2023

2 NEWS

Editorial

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Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Felipe Perez

Photos: Martin P McAdam

IT HAS ALREADY been the festive season

for a few weeks, with lights, markets, the

twinkly Christmas Wheel and loud screams

from the Star Flyer. Spreading the festivities

out to George Street has allowed for a more

sedate pace there, with skaters at one end

and Santa telling stories at the other.

Hogmanay is just round the corner and

on pages 12-13 there is a handy guide to

what will be happening and when. I

particularly recommend First Footin’ on

New Year’s Day when a range of free music

is on offer in the city centre. It is certainly a

gentler start than the Hogmanay fireworks.

Christmas is traditionally the season of

giving, and if you have a little to spare then

this is the time to help others. Anyone who

runs a charity or social enterprise is invited

to tell us about their biggest story of the last

year, and also outline their plans for 2024.

We will publish as many stories as possible

in our next edition and also online, hoping

that will help to promote the best of the

good causes in the capital. Charities are, and

will remain, a central part of many people’s

lives while government and local

government bodies struggle to find cash to

cope. A recent report by The Celtic

Academies Alliance provoked by discussion

at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)

warns that Scotland’s and the UK’s public

finances are “unsustainable”.

One way to pay for some of the impact

which tourists have on the capital is the

Visitor Levy or tourist tax. The council says

it is a major opportunity to general millions

to “support, sustain and develop” the city.

There has been as you would expect in

Edinburgh a great deal of discussion about

how to spend the income and the city

council invites everyone to contribute to

that ongoing debate.

Next year is the city’s 900th anniversary

as a royal burgh but I am still waiting to hear

about any civic plans to celebrate. If you

know then do get in touch about this or any

other stories.

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Christmas

and a prosperous New Year.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

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Planning News

AN IMPORTANT development in West

Edinburgh is planned by the international

entertainment group AEG which runs the O

Arena in London. The proposal is to build an

8,500 seater arena designed by American

architects HOK near to public transport links.

The scheme includes restaurants and cafés,

public realm, landscaping, parking and

infrastructure. Until now Edinburgh has not

had a large scale indoor venue like this, despite

talk of a similar plan out at Straiton at one time

in the dim and distant past.

Alex Hill, President and CEO of AEG Europe

said: “AEG is thrilled to announce this

spectacular new arena for Edinburgh.

“It’s a location with immense potential,

amplified by Parabola’s transformative

development and regeneration of

Edinburgh Park.

“The much needed 8,500-capacity arena will

bring world-class live music and entertainment

to Edinburgh, further cementing its reputation

as a destination for culture and global tourism.

“We look forward to this development

becoming an integral part of the local

community and complementing one of the

best cities in the world for the arts and live

entertainment.”

There will be planning events at 1 New Park

Visualisation of

Edinburgh Arena

New W Edinburgh wows

Square - the Parabola building next to the tram

stop at Edinburgh Park Central - on 4

December and 9 January when outline plans

will be displayed and the developers will be on

hand to answer questions.

The application relates to plots EE1 and EE1b

for which there is an existing consent for office

space, an aparthotel, retain and a cinema.

The site is “bounded by a railway line and

the Edinburgh Park Rail and Tram Station to

the south, a hotel to the west, scrubland to the

north and an electricity substation to the east”.

Corstorphine Community Council, Ratho &

District Community Council, Sighthill

Broomhouse and Parkhead Community

Council and Currie Community Council will all

be consulted on the proposals.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Great

to see plans for an Edinburgh Arena at

Edinburgh Park. Great opportunity for

Edinburgh. Looking forward to the

consultation and plans being submitted.”

Parabola the company which is creating a

cultural quarter here in Edinburgh is headed

by Peter Millican, OBE. He said: said: “This

investment will complement all that is on offer

at Edinburgh Park and ensure that the arts and

culture has an outstanding live performance

facility. The new Edinburgh Arena will put

west Edinburgh on the map as a new

cultural destination.”

Parabola has already created the bones of a

“new urban quarter, a cultural destination and

creative campus for Edinburgh” and Mr Millican

has described it as one of Edinburgh’s most

important masterplans. As well as homes for

sale and rent there is also a plan for a 150 seat

conference space.

http://www.edinburgharena.com will have more

information when it goes live.

SCOTLAND’S FIRST W Hotel – W Edinburgh – with its 244 guest

rooms, a SushiSamba restaurant on the 10th floor, the W Lounge at

the centre of the hotel with 360 degree views of the city, João’s

Place, a speakeasy with a Brazilian twist, is open at St James Quarter.