Thu 2 Jun 2005
EveningNews
A SINGLE campsite is being set up to cope with the massive invasion of G8 protesters expected in Edinburgh because the council cannot get their hands on enough portable toilets.
Protest organisers today demanded all the city's major parks are turned into campsites to house tens of thousands of people who are likely to have no accommodation booked.
But the council said today it will struggle to set up any more sites unless an international search for portable loos bears fruit.
The council's plans have been "blown out of the water" by the appeal from Bob Geldof and Midge Ure for a million people to converge on the city for a massive G8 rally on July 6.
City leader Donald Anderson said the council had been forced to start planning again from scratch after the appeal yesterday.
The fact that T in the Park is being held a few days after Geldof's planned concert and rally has fuelled problems finding more portable toilets. That means only one camp site, with space for just 8000 protesters, with possibly an overspill area is likely to be set up.
New fears were raised today that impromptu campsites will spring up all over the city because tens of thousands of people will have nowhere to stay.
The city's development director Andrew Holmes said: " There are no public toilets available anywhere in the UK and Ireland for this period and we are now trying to source some from elsewhere around Europe.
"We hope to be able to announce plans for one campsite on the outskirts of the city in the next couple of days. There is also the possibility of an overspill."
But Frances Curran, MSP, representing the group G8 Alternatives earlier told councillors that camping facilities would be needed from Friday, July 1, through to Thursday, July 7, along with free transport between the sites and the city centre.
She said the council was facing a "recipe for disaster" unless a string of camp sites were organised as soon as possible.
She said: "This is urgent, we have to make announcements on what kind of camping and other facilities are going to be available for protestors so people can make their plans. We've been speaking to the council about this for months but still nothing has been announced."
Susan Agnew, secretary of Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council, said: "I think the Meadows will be a prime target for protestors. It's simply disgraceful if the authorities are going to stand by and watch this unfolding without providing facilities."
The council has earmarked the Jack Kane Centre as a campsite, although it would not confirm today whether it had settled on the spot as the final location.
The Evening News understands arrangements have been made for shuttle buses to take protesters from the city centre to the Niddrie sports centre.
Plans are also in hand to raise a "ring of steel", involving 8ft high fencing, is to be erected round the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Representatives of Midge Ure and Bob Geldof were holding a crisis meeting with police and the city council today to thrash out further details of how Edinburgh would try to cope.
G8 latest
The Jack Kane centre in Niddrie has been earmarked as a campsite for protesters. Shuttle buses are being planned from the city centre. Scaffolding and roadworks are to be cleared from the city centre to stop protesters using them as weapons.
