Plans to transform Tron Kirk into Harry Potter store met with strong opposition

Now the Tron Kirk could also become a blockbuster with film buffs under plans to transform the landmark into a shop selling merchandise from the likes of Harry Potter and James Bond.

It is understood the new proposals would see the London Film Museum based in Covent Garden open a shop on Scotland’s most famous thoroughfare.

Rick Senat – a movie executive known who worked on the likes of Batman Begins and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – is behind the ambitious plans.

Disgruntled stall-holders at the Tron. Picture: Scott Louden

He was keen to stress that the idea is at a “very early stage”.

However, the idea of taking over the Tron has already been met with strong opposition from local traders.

Mr Senat is chairman of the film museum which is home to Bond in Motion, the official exhibition of James Bond vehicles and the largest display of its kind ever staged in the city.

He said in a statement: “The London Film Museum would welcome any opportunities that might be made available to open a retail shop in the iconic Tron Kirk to sell officially licensed film-related product from a range of iconic brands.” The Tron Kirk is now home to a Victorian Scottish market with 12 stall-holders and is also used as a Fringe venue.

But the lease expires at the end of the month and the group is determined to fight the takeover bid to safeguard more than 50 jobs.

Stall-holders have also sought legal advice in a bid to challenge the move and are seeking to make a deputation to the council’s finance and resources committee when it meets on Thursday, August 18.

The Tron’s lease-holder, David Coutts, has even written to JK Rowling asking her to intervene in the scheme. However, the author has no connection to the plan. It was originally rumoured that the plans included a Harry Potter Shop similar to the one in Kings Cross Station but a Warner Brothers spokeswoman has denied this.

Mr Senat is a partner in the literary agency that represents the billionaire writer, a director of Pottermore Ltd and a former boss at Warner Brothers.

He has acted as a consultant on Alfie, Sahara, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Nanny McPhee and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The producer has also worked on an adaptation of JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy which was co-produced with the BBC.

Mr Coutts has a rolling lease with the city council pending the agrement of a long-term deal with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust for its redevelopment as a “visitor attraction”.

He added: “The London Film Museum should be selling its wares in London and should leave Edinburgh traders to get on with their business in what is the only indoor market in the city.”

A council spokesman said a report considering the options would be considered on August 18.