Driving shoppers home for Christmas is truly misguided – Kevin Buckle

Council must seize chance to show what a fantastic city this is, even in such difficult times, writes Kevin Buckle

There will be no Christmas market in Edinburgh this year

I feared the worst when I saw the latest PR announcement from Underbelly masquerading as a financial report lifting the lid on their finances.

It appeared to be paving the way for the council supporting their Christmas activities, which many think to be unnecessary even in the best of times and certainly totally inappropriate for the current situation we all find ourselves in.

However just days later the council announced that all their Christmas plans were cancelled in the face of growing concern over large crowds flocking to market stalls and fairground rides. This was described as a huge blow to city centre businesses, though I suspect many might disagree.

What I am sure of is no city centre business will be happy with the statement that followed – and I quote from this very paper. An official announcement from the local authority said it had become clear that “the best place to experience Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay will be from home”.

Bizarrely that was immediately followed by a promise from council leader Adam McVey that the city would be running an online campaign to support businesses which are open over the festive season. No doubt it will include a hashtag!

Clearly there is no need for people to experience Christmas by staying at home and indeed they should be being encouraged to go Christmas shopping. While there have been problems in several areas I’ve yet to hear of a cluster of infections caused by shoppers at Primark or indeed any other shop or shopping centre that has regular footfall.

I really can’t imagine what is meant by the council’s statement and won’t be surprised at all if they use different wording in the future. What is clear is that whatever restrictions are in place it is very unlikely shops will be told to close again and if that is the case there cannot be restrictions that mean shops are open but without customers.

On this basis the council can confidently go ahead encouraging people to support their local businesses without needing to do so online. Quite what travel restrictions will be in place in December is impossible to say but shops will need to rely on locals and those living close by. If Edinburgh does have visitors then that will be a bonus.

Having said this, the hotel industry in Edinburgh will be devastated if there are no visitors so I’m sure they will have valid arguments for restrictions that are sensible but not too restrictive.

Looking forward there is no reason in future years why celebrating the New Year can’t break even simply by charging a more realistic ticket price and while that clearly leaves the Christmas festivities making a healthy profit we won’t really know how much is made until the accounts are genuinely transparent.

Saying the amount given to the council who represent Edinburgh residents can’t be revealed to Edinburgh residents simply doesn’t wash. Generally there is no detail to the figures and there are a dozen ways these very basic figures could have been manipulated.

For now though the council should see this year as an opportunity to show what a fantastic city Edinburgh is even in these most difficult of times and I’m sure city centre businesses will play their part, given the chance, to show Edinburgh’s Christmas at least can be experienced safely outside the home.