Winter Festivals and Summer Sessions
POSTED ON May 27, 2020
The Cockburn Association has submitted comments and observations to the Policy & Sustainability Committee ahead of its meeting on 28 May 2020.
In supporting the proposed public consultation on the future of the Winter Festivals, the Cockburn advocated that it should also cover this year’s Festivals, if they are able to operate at all, given the likely continuation of Covid-19 social distancing protocols for an extended period of time. It also called for an independent analysis of the economic benefits of the Chirstmas Market.
The Association also highlighted its continued concerns with the commercialisation of Edinburgh’s public spaces. It asked for an assessment of whether planning consent was needed for the Summer Sessions concert programme given the scale and time needed to erect and dismantle the infrastructure required. In also asking for an proper evaluation of benefit to the city, noting that the pop-up bars and food outlets compete directly with Edinburgh businesses who may struggle to operate in the current economic climate against such unfair competition.
