Wasted vistas

The view of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town from Princes Street is one of the greatest cityscapes in the world. In any other self-respecting city tourists and residents would be able to enjoy such a south-facing view by sitting in pavement cafés.

Instead, Edinburgh Council has created what must be the longest bus station in the world, with the view partially blocked by supersize bus shelters and semi-permanent walls of buses queuing up to reach and leave the bus stop.

Now we hear that the tram cables will be 20 feet high, thus spoiling the view for almost the whole length of Princes Street.

The council must be delighted at achieving its goal of deterring pedestrians on the north side of the street from dawdling or stopping to admire the view.

Its intention must be that those walking will avert their gaze from the visual nightmare to the south and concentrate on shopping, which is all that matters in Edinburgh.

At least we are world-class in something – lack of vision.

IAN CAMPBELL

Professor of Architectural History and Theory

Edinburgh College of Art

Edinburgh