AN ANNOUNCEMENT by Edinburgh Hogmanay organisers urging people to avoid the city centre after calling off the main outdoor events amid a yellow weather warning has been labelled “outrageous and absurd”.
Organisers at Edinburgh Hogmanay released a statement just hours before the bells on Tuesday night urging revellers to stay away from the capital's city centre following the cancellation of major outdoor events, including the castle fireworks and the street party.
Unique Assembly, who runs Edinburgh Hogmanay on behalf of the local authority, made the “public safety announcement” amid a yellow weather warning for wind and heavy rain across Scotland.
However, the warning which told revellers to avoid the city centre unless they were attending indoor events as pubs and clubs would be ticketed has been branded “crazy” by Irvine Welsh.
The Scottish author wasn’t the only one to criticise the announcement as one SNP Councillor, Finlay McFarlane, questioned “on what authority” do the event organisers have to issue the statement.
“What an outrageous and absurd thing to say,” he said.
McFarlane added: “FWIW I do support a formally organised Hogmanay.
“There are many reasons for this. But this projected idea of ‘ownership’ of public realm from an operator - that they even feel empowered to issue a message like that asking folk to stay away from City Centre - is an outrage.”
Tens of thousands of revellers were expected to attend the city's world-famous celebrations with the street party having a 45,000-capacity alone.
Texas was due to headline an open-air concert along with the famous fireworks display at Edinburgh castle but were both cancelled more than 24 hours before gates were due to open.
Organisers said that strong winds had impacted erecting the infrastructure for the outdoor events and citied safety concerns over the forecasted weather conditions for the evening.
Welsh (above) has now called for the streets to be given back to the people in Edinburgh following the “public safety announcement”.
He also stated that previous celebrations were held outside the Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile before Edinburgh launched a Hogmanay festival in 1993.
“When you think if the mad ones we had at the Tron with not a corporate buck in sight, this is crazy from those fleecing bedwetters,” he said.
“Please - get the f**** out and give the streets back to the people.”
Edinburgh’s city centre streets were accessible to the public on Hogmanay after plans to close roads were abandoned when the outdoor events were cancelled.
Writer, activist and Old Town tour guide Jim Slaven posted: “The vast majority of working class people in Edinburgh agree with Irvine.
“After cancelling the state sanctioned-funded event, they’re now terrified people gather on a dry, mild Edinburgh Hogmanay.
“I’m looking forward to hearing what Edinburgh politicians make of this.
“Citizens being told not to go into our own city centre on Hogmanay. As we have for generations. Because a corporation can’t profit from what they can’t control.”
An Edinburgh’s Hogmanay spokesperson said: “Our intention was to advise people not to travel into the city centre and gather for a fireworks display that was not happening, to avoid further disappointment.
“This was part of a wider announcement to public about keeping warm and planning travel routes in and around the city for other celebrations they may have been attending.”
