Edinburgh residents and businesses are being asked for their views on how the Council’s public open spaces are used for events and filming.

Development of a Management Plan is underway which would see a single set of processes, criteria and procedures applied when any application to film or hold an event in the city is received. Going forward the management of the Council’s public open spaces will be co-ordinated and simplified, transparent processes will be in place to support the use of these spaces.

Almost 50 stakeholders, including event and filming organisers, community councils, resident groups, business groups, friends’ groups, Council officers and interested individuals, have collaboratively engaged over a period of several months to develop a series of recommended key principles for events and filming. The views of Edinburgh’s citizens are now being sought on these principles.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Donald Wilson, said:

Edinburgh welcomes exciting events and filming activities year-round and we expect to continue to do so. With its rich history and stunning architecture, Edinburgh is home to a lot of public open spaces which are great as locations for filming and hosting events. It became apparent that, on occasion, the co-ordination of these activities was not as ‘joined up’ as it could be.

We established a Working Group of almost 50 event and filming stakeholders and have jointly developed recommended key principles for the use of the Council’s public open space for events and filming. Through this consultation we want to give residents and businesses of Edinburgh an opportunity to understand and influence these key principles.

Culture and Communities Vice Convener, Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, said:

Edinburgh’s public open spaces play host to a wide variety of events and filming each year and we are acutely aware that there is a fine balance to be struck between those who wish to host events, those wanting to enjoy them and those whose everyday lives are affected by them.

I’d urge as many local residents as possible to have their say in this consultation so we can develop and finalise principles and guidelines for events and filming going forward.

Following the public consultation and analysis of the responses, finalised principles and associated guidelines will be submitted to Committee for approval by Summer 2022.