Location Map:
 http://streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=330332&y=671543&z=1&sv=330250,671750&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

------------------------------------------

COUNCIL INFO RELEASES:

08 June 2005

CAMPSITE DETAILS CONFIRMED

The City of Edinburgh Council has created a camping facility at Hunter's Hall Park for those coming to Edinburgh, without accommodation, to support the Make Poverty History agenda.

The Niddrie site, which will cater for up to 15,000 campers, will run from Friday 1 July to Friday 8 July. Prior to last week’s announcement of a Live8 event planned in Edinburgh for July 6, the site had originally been planned for 1-3 July.

A mesh wire fence will be erected around the camping area where there are no natural
barriers to delineate the campsite and to assist with security, as well as
defining routes in and out of the camping area. There will be 24 hour stewarding of the site.

There will be a booking procedure but any charge has yet to be confirmed.

Toilets which will be serviced daily, drinking water and temporary lights will be provided on site and we intend to appoint a contractor experienced in running large camp sites. The Council is currently looking at how we can provide catering facilities on site.

Transport to and from the site has yet to be finalised but the Council has had positive discussions transport providers over providing additional transport.

The Council is also in discussion with the community over the role the Jack Kane Centre can play in within this campsite.

Council Leader, Donald Anderson said: “The city welcomes playing its part in this defining moment in history. It is an enormous challenge and we are working around the clock to make sure we deliver.

“We intend to ensure that events in the run up to the G8 Summit pass off successfully and safely. Everyone wants to see a successful outcome for Africa from the G8 and we aim to ensure the debate remains focussed on the real issue.

“While we are doing what we can to ensure the safety of all visitors and residents in Edinburgh, we reiterate our call to everyone who comes to Edinburgh to make sure they have transport and accommodation before they set out.”

The public can get further general information on G8 related events in the city on 0131-200-2343 or on www.edinburgh.gov.uk/g8summit.

Media contact: Shona Cameron 0131 529 4452
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/g8summit

--------------------------------------------------


16 June 2005

RESPONSE TO CAMPSITE COMPLAINTS/QUERIES

Thank you for contacting us about setting up a G8 temporary campsite in Hunter's Hall Park behind the Jack Kane Centre. As I am sure you are aware, the camping facility is being set up to support the Make Poverty History march in the lead up to the G8 summit.

Firstly we would like to apologise for any distress or inconvenience the announcement of these plans may have caused you. We would like to assure you that all concerns surrounding this matter are being dealt with as a matter of priority.

At this important time, we have a duty to ensure the safety of all residents and their property while planning for visitor transport and accommodation needs.

Before deciding on the Hunter’s Hall Park location for the temporary campsite, the City of Edinburgh Council reviewed a number of sites against a range of criteria compiled using the Event Safety Guide produced by the Health & Safety Executive.

To have appropriate control of the situation, we needed to find a site owned by the Council. The limited number of sites available across the city in Council ownership were assessed against this list, with Hunters Hall Park coming out as the most appropriate venue and meeting the majority of requirements set for a campsite. Hunter's Hall Park can be cordoned off and can provide the facilities needed for a campsite.

The temporary campsite will be open from 1 to 8 July. No camping will be allowed in the area between Niddrie Mains Road and the centre. A secure perimeter fence will be set up around the site to restrict the campsite to the designated area only. The campsite will be dismantled after 8 July and the park will be reinstated to its current state.

Capacity
The campsite will be able to hold up to 15,000 people.

Security
There will be 24 hour stewarding and CCTV at the site and the only access will be via the main entrance to the Jack Kane centre off Niddrie Mains Road.

Facilities
To avoid pressure on existing facilities in the Craigmillar area, we have set up fresh water, toilets and rubbish bins in the campsite.

-----------------------------------

LATEST PRESS COVERAGE:

Vandalism at campsite sparks G8 clash fears
LAURA VARNEY
Wed 22nd June
 http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=687162005

SECURITY guards have been drafted into Edinburgh's G8 campsite more than a week before protesters arrive after fencing was ripped down by vandals.

The controversial Craigmillar site has been coming under repeated attack at night, with large chunks of the 600 metre wire fence pulled down.

It has heightened fears of a confrontation between local youths and the G8 protesters when they arrive for the massive Make Poverty History march on July 2, with one community leader saying angry clashes were "inevitable".

Security guards from top security firm Rock Steady are now stationed at the site round-the-clock as work continues to ready it for an expected 15,000 campers.

Local residents claim council officials have dismissed disturbances on the site at the Jack Kane Centre and Hunter's Hall Park as "routine vandalism".

The residents fear the site, which will be open from July 1-8, will be unable to cope with demand, leading to trouble.

One resident, who lives near the site but asked not to be named, said: "It's like Legoland here, the council put a fence up one day and it's ripped down the next.

"I've seen local youngsters ripping the fences down at night and I can see it really kicking off once the protesters arrive. I've seen security guards drafted in already to deal with the problem. The security guards have been on 24 hours a day to try and stop this kind of trouble.

There are going to be around 7500 tents here, so I think there will be angry clashes with locals out to make trouble

"The council told us if anything happens, it will just be routine vandalism. But what is routine vandalism? You can't define this.

"I've got nothing against these people protesting but it just seems that the council has put them here because we are already a deprived area and they are not bothered.

"There are going to be around 7500 tents here, so I think there will be angry clashes with locals out to make trouble and the protesters.

"The council are also wasting taxpayers' money with this campsite - one minute they are putting fences up and the next thing youngsters are taking them down again.

"I think some major issues are getting hushed up here - it's probably going to turn into a big mess when the protesters do finally get here."

Allan Amos, of Niddrie Marischal Grove, who has been distributing leaflets against protesters using the campsite, said there was mounting concern in the community.

"The residents are a bit worried about the campsite being there in the first place.

"To organise a campsite for 15,000 people - that is a lot of people to accommodate.

"I've not heard anything about locals pulling fences down, but I'm not surprised, to be honest.

"I don't think locals are ever going to accept the fact that this area is being used for a G8 campsite."

The site has proved hugely controversial, with residents even considering legal action against the council.

They claimed the park was gifted to the people by owners of the Wauchope Estate, not to the council.

Paul Nolan, chairman of the Jack Kane Centre management committee, said that he was not surprised youngsters were getting annoyed at the campsite on "what is normally their football field".

"Even at this late stage we are raising a motion against the campsite. We think the council's decision to hold the campsite here is disgraceful.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there were huge disturbances. I hope there won't be any clashes between locals, youngsters and the protesters, but I think it is inevitable."

Work at the site at the moment includes installing portable toilets and digging a trench for an electricity supply to the camp.

A spokesman for Edinburgh City Council said security at the site was part of "routine procedures".

"We had a report about fences being blown over in the wind but we cannot confirm if they were knocked down by locals. We are aware of the local people's concerns and taking their queries on board.

"Security is in place there as a normal procedure."

A spokeswomen for Lothian and Borders Police said: "There is a significant security presence there at the moment. They will be there 24 hours a day until the G8 summit is over.

"Police will be liaising with security staff over that period, and are on standby to respond to any calls regarding disturbances."

More than 100,000 protesters are expected to join the Make Poverty History rally on July 2, while, on Wednesday, July 6, a Live 8 concert and rally will be staged at Murrayfield. Sir Bob Geldof has urged one million people to converge on Edinburgh.

Hundreds of portable toilets, from a total of 1,750 being shipped in to the city, will be installed at the campsite, along with water and lighting. The nearby Jack Kane Centre will be used to provide showers and refreshments.

It emerged last week that a second campsite is being lined up in Edinburgh to cope with overspill from Craigmillar.

It is understood sites in Saughton, Sighthill and Silverknowes have been identified as suitable back-ups.