Fears are raised over Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens Christmas market platform, about whether or not it can cope with the crowds of festive market-goers.
A councillor has called for reassurances that a controversial platform being built in Princes Street Gardens will actually be able to put up with the hundreds and thousands of Christmas market visitors - as well as the stalls and goods on top of this. The company behind these controversial plans for the Christmas market has replied, moving to dispel fears that the public has, stating that a constructed platform will, in fact, be able to cope with the hundreds of thousands of festive revellers, set to enjoy the event. Underbelly has taken scrutiny by some residents, with the company going as far as to label it "not representative of the vast majority of people", as a result of its plans for this year's Edinburgh Christmas market.
Planning permission has still not been granted for the temporary development, but despite this, the market is still set to open up on 16 November. An investigation has also been launched by the Edinburgh City Council, into whether the correct processes were followed by both the councillors and officials when they handed Underbelly a two-year extension to their contract.
The platform has been built across the gardens, in order to "protect new landscaping" for renovation work on the Scottish National Gallery - though worries persist on whether it will actually be able to take the weight of more than 100,000 people daily, as well as the 163 planned market stalls and bars, and all the included goods. It is likely that this figure of 100,000 per day will be hit, with the highest attendance of last year hitting 124,000, causing great worry for the steel scaffolding and wooden platforms. Officials have stated that "ongoing discussions" are taking place between the council, the Underbelly, and other partners "over how best to ensure public safety whilst minimising disruption".
The Labour Councillor, Gordon Munro questioned the integrity of the scaffolding, saying, "I would like assurances that this work, that has obviously been rigorous, in taking four months to be undertaken, also takes into account the figures that are being talked about - up to 124,000 people accessing the Christmas market. Is that structure able to cope with that load-bearing should these numbers be replicated? Does it take into account the weight of the goods that will be there as well?"
Starting in June, to quell worries and doubts, Council engineers have begun assessing the platform structure in order to "double-check the calculations and proposals made by Underbelly's own engineers", as well as looking to "ensure that the structure was safe". These checks were completed on 12 October. Working further, Underbelly has also moved to reassure the public that the necessary steps are going to be taken in order to ensure the market structure is first safe before it is then opened to the public.
A spokesperson mentioned, "The installation has been signed off and certified by Underbelly's engineers, Edinburgh company Will Rudd Davidson, who have issued an SER certificate, and the design has been agreed by the Council's engineers. It has been designed in accordance with the appropriate codes to comfortably accommodate the capacities expected by Edinburgh's Christmas through its busiest periods and in all weathers."
The installation is also subject to a building warrant, and so, therefore, it must be compliant with the Building (Scotland) Regulations SR 2004/406.
