Comment: What future for Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations?

Fireworks light up the sky during the Hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edinburgh.

Well we might have just discovered someone or more accurately a pair of business partners who do. After putting Edinburgh’s Hogmanay on the map, it is easy to understand why Unique Events are smarting after being dumped by the city. No fools, their warnings about a risk to the quality - and, more seriously, the safety - of the celebrations cannot be simply shrugged off. They might be angry, it doesn’t mean they are necessarily wrong.

Their successors as organisers of the Street Party are of course no strangers to Edinburgh.

Underbelly have an impressive track record for innovation. The Street of Light, the Star Flyer and a string of Fringe shows are proof of their ability to take a tried and tested formula and move it to another level.

Their management of the Capital’s Christmas festivities has not been without its controversies, however, particularly around concerns of families being priced out.

Aside from the entertainment on offer, our Hogmanay celebrations are important to the city, helping support thousands of jobs.

Let’s hope that their future is in safe hands. Good luck Charlie and Ed.