As an ex-patriate Scot, a “Canogotian”, born at 2 Chessels Court, Canongate, in 1944, we are lodging a strong protest against the CALTONGATE Planning Application Number 07/04400/FUL. 

Our objections are based on the following, which reveals that the City of Edinburgh apparently does not follow their own Local Plans, and appear ready to approve this plan against the protests, input and objections of Edinburgh’s citizens/voters, historians, World Heritage Site and Conservation Areas, and even expatriates!   We believe that those who love Edinburgh as we do, in all her historical glory, will be outraged if the City of Edinburgh approves this Planning travesty known as the CALTONGATE.  If history is important in Scotland, especially the Capital City, Edinburgh, then the City Development Department should be reminded of its own destructive and fatal planning errors in the past, e.g., St James Centre, Princes Street and other boondoggles visited on Edinburgh by “Planners”.  We believe that old and new buildings can co-exist, but not to the detriment of the Royal Mile’s aesthetics, especially the Canongate. 

For insight into Edinburgh’s heritage and planning fiasco’s we refer you to Ian Nimmo’s book, “Edinburgh the New Town” (1991).    Mr Nimmo was former Editor of the Evening News, Editor of The Scotsman and worked for the BBC, “Tonight”. programme.  To quote from his book: “Close to home, among other matters, that environment agenda also includes the conservation and sensitive development of beautiful, historical city centres like the Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh”