Context 146 - September 2016

C O N T E X T 1 4 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 21 city of Edinburgh. This quirky style of presentation relied on the presenters’ humour, depth of knowledge and experience, as they considered the impact of the ‘problems’ of tourism, elitism and expertise in turn. Discussing the impact of tourism allowed for neat comparisons and contrasts between Edinburgh and other cities of world heritage site status, such as Barcelona and Venice. Both of these, it was argued, could be in danger of becoming theme parks for cruise passengers who flowed in and out, merely ticking attractions off their lists. The speakers highlighted the very real danger that a city which catered for tourists or other non-permanent residents (such as students) in such numbers could become unattractive to residents and local businesses, and communities suffered as a result. The breakdown or loss of communities within world heritage site centres, coupled with a prominent economic-political agenda, could put severe pressure on historic assets, while removing the people power that could fight for their survival. Turning to the issue of elitism, the discussion touched on issues that would be echoed later in the day, of ‘alternative’ communities. The speakers questioned the inclusiveness of mainstream conserva- tion values. Leitch suggested that, within the heritage community, ‘established values are professionalised… I don’t know if it allows alternative stories and narratives to be told.’ However, he agreed that ‘the whole of the city deserves to be understood.’ The theme of elitism led smoothly into an insightful discussion around the definition of ‘expert’ and ‘exper- tise.’ In some ways opposing the arguments posited by later speakers at the school, Simpson and Leitch were reluctant to broaden the definition of ‘expert’, wishing to safeguard the term for professionals with acknowl- edged competence and experience. This definition, and its interrelationship with the concept of elitism, prompted much debate within the audience, which was a highlight of the talk. The speakers’ themes included a lack of politi- cal influence, disengaged communities, and distrust of ‘the expert’, which provided timely connections between the heritage community and wider society. Simpson and Leitch reminded us of the real issues that heritage faces in challenging times, but their talk sought to reiterate the benefits that a cherished historic environment can bring to local, national and international communities. Indeed, Leitch concluded that ‘our answers are the answers to other problems’. Sheila Stones James Simpson and Euan Leitch are two stalwarts of the Edinburgh conservation scene. Leitch took the role of Michael Parkinson (sort of). They structured their discussion around three case studies related to Edinburgh’s world heritage site, each of which sparked off a discussion of a different aspect of the relationship between conservation professionals and the wider public. The first topic was the proposed new hotel at the St James’ Centre (Leitch’s nickname for it may be unprintable in Context , but is very apt), which threat- ens key vistas in the New Town, as well as making a significant dent in the city’s skyline. A key driver for this development was the council’s 2012 tourist strategy, which aimed to increase hotel visits by a third (in a city which already hosted the largest arts festival in the world). Simpson and Leitch lamented the failure of the conservation lobby to register this as a threat at the time, only waking up to the physical pressure of hotel development when strategic decisions had already been made. The Royal High School: the planning application provoked the greatest outcry from the public in Edinburgh in recent times. (Photo: Colin McLean) James Simpson and Euan Leitch: a pub chat