Home

Jock The Weathercock Disappears

Latest News 29th June 2007
City Councillor Charles Dundas SLD received this interesting reply from the council.
it is interesting to note that Anna Grant the Planning Officer who dealt with Mountgranges Masterplan, who also attended their Champagne Reception (which Planning Convenor Trevor Davies attended and stuck his middle finger up at SOOT campaigners) is now listed building officer.  So they are safe in her hands....
News on The Belltower and Weathercock 23rd June 2007
An email from Local councillor in reply to Chair of Canongate Community Forum, asking what had happened?
Ms Grant,
After speaking to Grainne Lennon, the planning officer you refer to in your e-mail, it seems that the weathercock is being stored safely within the Canongate Venture itself.  Thankfully it has not been damaged and will not need any restorative work, however the timber that supported it has been damaged and steps are being taken to piece it back together.  Unfortunately I have not been able to get in touch with Robert Douglas but will speak to him on Monday and try to arrange a meeting so any questions you have on recent events can be answered.  Coincidentally, it seems that it was contracted scaffolders that removed the weather vane, not City of Edinburgh council workers.
Councillor David Beckett (SNP)
Ward 11 - City Centre
Jock The Weathercock Disappears
Yesterday, Tuesday the of  19th June 2007 criminal damage was committed to a Listed Victorian Building in Edinburgh`s Old Town.
The Victorian bell tower and weather vein were removed from The Canongate Venture building which is earmarked for demolition by  Caltongate Developers, Mountgrange Plc.   They insist it be demolished to make way for their planned 5 star hotel and conference centre.
The whereabouts of the  weather vein, affectionately called “Jock the Weathercock” are not known, the wooden bell tower was found  in pieces in a skip.
Unplanned work on a Listed building is a criminal offence, the Planning Department is directly opposite the Canongate Venture.
SOOT (Save Our Old Town) campaigners believe that the council are removing architectural features in order to get a smooth decision to demolish the building. 
Questions need to be asked about whether the council are doing the dirty work for the developers in order to demolish a building that is in good order and still in use. 
  
Julie Logan (A Town Planner) and planning advisor to SOOT had previously been advised by Robert Douglas of  CEC building services that the scaffolding erected a month or so ago was purely 'protective' for health and safety and to allow for further survey work. No works were to be carried out. She said " We fully expect a retrospective planning application in, as the council will panic because the community has caught them out, this is a corrupt way to circumvent their responsibilities to listed buildings. This is criminal damage and unless it is repaired we will be pursuing this in the justice system”.
The planning enforcement officers and conservation officer arrived at the scene after Ms Logan had alerted them. They seemed very concerned that this had all been done with NO notification to their department.
"Is this what we are to expect for the future of buildings which developers wish to buy from the council in order to redevelop the land? Have the council completely given up their responsibility to follow properr procedures. The council officer responsible for authorising the work knew he needed planning consent , even if it were to be removed and replaced and had made the decision not to repair or resore this feature. Although the wood from the structure is chopped up, it is clearly NOT rotted in any way." Said Ms Logan 
"Listed buildings are listed to protect them from unscrupulous developers.  We have notified Historic Scotland and we want the bell tower replaced and want Jock the Cock to be replaced.”   See IMAGE gallery for photos of the damage
See a slightly inaccurate report on it by Evening News 21st June 2007
Clock tower riddle solved after outcry
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=972372007