Edinburgh: City out to sweep the boards as Old Town street clutter blitz is extended

[Paul Clerkin]

City out to sweep the boards as Old Town street clutter blitz is extended

A BLITZ on street clutter is to be extended across the city centre after a pilot scheme in the Old Town was hailed a success.

Hundreds of shops were targeted during a crackdown around the Royal Mile aimed at getting rid of signs that are larger than the regulation one metre tall and 0.75 metres wide.

City leaders said their blitz had helped to improve the appearance of the historic streets.

And now they want to extend this "decluttering" campaign to other parts of the city.

The first area to be targeted will be the West End and Haymarket next month, while shops in Tollcross will be visited in early summer.

The Old Town will be checked again just before the Festival starts, and officials hope to take their blitz to the New Town before the end of the year.

Environmental wardens will be authorised to remove any obstructive boards if the owners refuse to take them off the pavement.

The move comes on the day shopkeeper Joe Hussain faces having his fruit and veg display moved from outside his West End Store on Melville Place by police, in a separate council bid to clear street clutter ahead of the tram work diversions.


http://news.scotsman.com/edinburghplanningissues/City-out-to-sweep-the.3811363.jp