The Organiser of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Underbelly, has come under fire for imposing restrictions on residents that police say are not legally enforceable
The Organiser of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has come under fire for imposing restrictions on residents that police say are not legally enforceable.
Events specialist, Underbelly, which has organized New Year’s celebrations in Edinburgh for a number of years, has been criticized for telling residents who live on streets traditionally closed for the Hogmanay street party, that they will need to wear wristbands to come and go from their own homes.
Some residents say this is also spoiling private party plans, claiming they are limited to a certain number of guests and that passes are restricted to six per property unless they’d applied for special permission for more.
Outraged locals took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.
Angus Duncan started a thread claiming that Underbelly are ‘making Edinburgh residents apply for permission to access their own homes …’
‘Got a big family? Tough luck. Underbelly will only grant six passes per property. Time to pick which kids/grandparents you love the most,’ said Mr Duncan on Twitter.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event, which attracts around 70,000 visitors over four days, is now proving a security headache as there is no legal requirement for those seeking to bypass security to attend house parties to give details of their destinations.
Residents claim they are limited to a certain number of guests and that passes are restricted to six per property unless they’d applied for special permission for more. (Revellers carry lighted torches during Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh)
Angus Duncan started a thread on Twitter claiming that Underbelly are ‘making Edinburgh residents apply for permission to access their own homes
Underbelly hasn’t provided exact details of how it intends to deal with people seeking access to private residences only saying it would ‘strive to provide a safe and secure solution’.
However, Police Scotland said restrictions imposed on residents are not legally enforceable. ‘We are aware of the plans for wristband access to the Hogmanay street party, following an expansion of the event arena. This is not a policing decision,’ Superintendent Stevie Dolan said.
However, in a statement, Underbelly denied it was seeking to restrict private party plans.
‘We would never prevent residents and their guests from accessing their homes,’ a spokesperson said.
However, in a statement, Underbelly denied it was seeking to restrict private party plans. ‘We would never prevent residents and their guests from accessing their homes,’ a spokesperson said
‘The arena area needs to be secure, which is why, for many years, there has been a system in place for residents to get access passes which ensure them quick and easy access past security to their homes. We are sorry if this has been misunderstood, but we want to be clear that our intention was never to prevent access.’
The furore comes after it emerged last month that Underbelly did not have planning permission to operate the Christmas market held in Princes Street Gardens. The company also failed to apply for permission for last year’s event. Edinburgh City Council did not realise that was the case.
Senior Labour Councillor Councillor Mandy Watt has called for Underbelly to be stripped of its Edinburgh Hogmanay contract, saying it should be brought ‘back in house’ and that the company ‘aren’t fit’ to run the event.
The furore comes after it emerged last month that Underbelly did not have planning permission to operate the Christmas market held in Princes Street Gardens. (Fireworks light up the sky in Edinburgh during the Hogmanay New Year celebrations)
‘Underbelly has deliberately miscommunicated the situation by saying on their website that they are empowered to restrict numbers. Once again, Underbelly has brought the council into disrepute,’ Watt said on social media.
She added that local traders and communities should be allowed to run Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations.
Underbelly, along with the council, have said the arrangements are the same as previous years when it comes to residents’ access during the street party.
Meanwhile this year event’s is confusingly called Hogmanay 19, despite it getting the exact same title last year.
Meanwhile this year event’s is confusingly called Hogmanay 19, despite it getting the exact same title last year
A spokeswoman for Underbelly told the Daily Record : ‘We inherited the event being numbered with the incoming year.
‘But as the event is Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, and the 31st is the focal moment in Scotland, we wanted to reflect the location of this event and call each celebration after the year on which Hogmanay is.
‘So yes, last year and this year are Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 19 while we transfer over.
Next year’s celebration will be ‘Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 20’, she added.
A spokeswoman for Underbelly told the Daily Record: ‘…last year and this year are Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 19 while we transfer over. Next year’s celebration will be ‘Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 20′, she added’