Spending Edinburgh's tourist tax: Plan to use Visitor Levy to fund George Street revamp looks set to be backed by councillors
Plans to use Edinburgh's new tourist tax to fund the £31 million revamp of George Street look set to be approved by the city’s transport committee.
The long-awaited project would see the parking down the centre of the street removed, vehicles banned for most of the day and priority given to pedestrians and cyclists. Trees, planters and benches would also be included.
Up until now it had been unclear how the revamp would be paid for, but the scheme is included in a list of 21 projects put forward for funding via the Visitor Levy, which comes into effect in July. Revenue from the levy would be used to borrow the finance needed for George Street.
Most of the political groups on the council are expected to back the plan when it goes to the transport and environment committee for approval on Thursday before a final decision is taken at the council's budget-setting meeting in February.
Committee convener Stephen Jenkinson has hailed it as "a great chance to transform George Street" and "an investment in the future of Edinburgh".
Liberal Democrat Kevin Lang said his group would back the proposal, but insisted there would have to be the "strictest" cost controls on the project. And he wants guarantees that other schemes will not suffer if the George Street costs overrun.
He said: "I'm still concerned about the fact that this will take up a significant amount of Visitor Levy money. We need full transparency on the costs of this project because if those costs are wrong, then we cannot have a situation where other projects get squeezed out because of that. I think that's going to be an important principle to agree on Thursday.
"But we do recognise that if we get certainty now on moving ahead with this project then they can get the contracts in place, which means you do get early certainty around cost.
"This is going to be one of the biggest and most high profile projects for the city going forward."
Greens welcomed the plan to use Visitor Levy money for George Street, but still criticised the minority Labour administration.
Green City Centre councillor Claire Miller said: "The George Street project has been in the works for over a decade and during that time everyone has engaged to develop designs that we can all get behind.
"It was disheartening last year that the council was looking at ways to cut costs, which would have threatened important elements of the designs like green space, safety bollards and seating.
"While it's helpful to hear that visitor levy money can be used to pay for the project, I'm pretty disappointed that it has taken this additional income – achieved after years of fighting by Green councillors and MSPs – to finally get the Labour administration to prioritise the things we know people really want to see.
"Safer routes for walking and wheeling, better cycle infrastructure, and natural solutions to flood management can make George Street a more green, pleasant and welcoming place, and that’s what I hope to see coming forward in plans should this funding be approved.”
SNP transport spokesman Neil Gardiner said: “The SNP Group welcomes the implementation of the Visitor Levy and recognises the positive role it can play in supporting the city. Decisions on how the levy is allocated must be considered alongside transport and cultural proposals once all relevant information is published.
"Individual projects, such as George Street, will be subject to further technical and financial scrutiny, with final decisions taken as part of the overall budget setting process at future meetings next month."
But the Conservatives have opposed the George Street scheme and are expected to vote against spending Visitor Levy money to carry it out.
Transport spokesman Neil Cuthbert said: "The proposal is that one-third of the money should go to George Street. The advisory forum was clear that while they were supportive of Visitor Levy funding being utilised to fund a specific aspect of the George Street project, e.g. public realm and planting, they were opposed to it funding the George Street project in its entirety.
"If you don't fund George Street you can fund a lot of other things."