This is the last week to respond to the consultation on the George Street proposals.
Despite overwhelming public support & the Council's obligations on climate change & tree-planting, the street trees from previous proposals have been inexplicably removed.
Why?
Despite overwhelming public support & the Council's obligations on climate change & tree-planting, the street trees from previous proposals have been inexplicably removed.
Why?
The technical challenge of excavating tree pits in an historic city centre site shouldn't be underestimated but, as other cities have repeatedly demonstrated, the problem is definitely surmountable.
The only real obstacle is the opposition of 'stakeholders' such as Edinburgh World Heritage & the Cockburn Association. They argue that street trees were not part of James Craig's original vision for the First New Town and, of course, that's perfectly true.
But it's worth noting that this argument conveniently ignores that Craig's original plan was also for his central street to terminate in two open squares devoid of vegetation - inspired by Inigo Jones' Covent Garden & Italian piazzas. 
The gardens of St Andrew & Charlotte Squares were not part of Craig's vision and even those initial Georgian pleasure gardens were far removed from the urban forests of today, whose sycamores and plane trees now stand taller than the surrounding buildings.
The introduction of trees has irrevocably altered the original views and settings of the squares, and yet would even the most hardcore heritage campaigner want to see them ripped out? Of course not.
So what else was not part of the original 1768 Craig plan?
• The statues of George IV, Pitt, Chalmers on the key junctions (& much later addition of Maxwell), which all significantly altered the primary views along and across George Street.
• The statues of George IV, Pitt, Chalmers on the key junctions (& much later addition of Maxwell), which all significantly altered the primary views along and across George Street.
• The congested & overcrowded car park George Street has been for the last 70 years, along with the panoply of modern streetscape & traffic clutter.
• Pretty much everything in the current proposals too - cycling infrastructure, bench seating, children's play areas, as well as the half-hearted soft landscape proposals.
From a design perspective the proposed shrubs in raised in planters & clipped ornamental hedges are ridiculously under-sized for the widest and grandest street in the city centre and far more incongruous & inappropriate than street trees.
A simple and formal arrangement of street trees would only enhance the beauty, symmetry & rhythm of the street and frame, rather than obscure, key views.
A final thought. Imagine the Council's 1902 plan (strongly encouraged by the Cockburn Association) to line George Street with trees had not been scuppered at the last minute? It would be glorious & unquestionably one of Europe's most loved & photographed streetscapes.
The city's heritage bodies - who currently fight to prevent the introduction of street trees - would instead fight for their preservation.
So why should future generations be denied that gift, and all the many benefits, environmental and otherwise, that street trees will bring?
So why should future generations be denied that gift, and all the many benefits, environmental and otherwise, that street trees will bring?
If you want to see street trees on George Street then contribute to the consultation (Question 5 is the only place to highlight the issue) - consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/d76708f1/.
Or maybe even (very politely) let your councillor know how you feel?
#GeorgeStreetTrees
Or maybe even (very politely) let your councillor know how you feel?
#GeorgeStreetTrees
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