CAMPAIGNERS today urged councillors to ditch the £300 million Caltongate scheme at next week's crucial planning meeting.

City council officials have already recommended approval for one of Edinburgh's most contentious developments in recent years.

The fate of the project – which includes a five-star hotel and new public square – rests with the planning committee on February 6th.

The Save Our Old Town campaign group has now arranged a public meeting in Old Saint Paul's church hall on Jeffrey Street at 7.30pm on Wednesday 30th January.

Campaigner Catriona Grant said: "We hope the new planning committee will listen to real arguments from people who know and understand the true value of the area both culturally and financially, and value the many hundreds of objections each of the 12 applications have received."

Meanwhile, city planning leader Jim Lowrie is facing an investigation from Scotland's public standards watchdog over comments he made regarding the Caltongate plans.

In an Evening News article last October, Councillor Lowrie said: "We have to get big developments like Caltongate up and running as soon as we can."

The complainant, thought to be a protester, is understood to have reported Cllr Lowrie for speaking before the planning application is heard by the council.

Evening News article by Brian Ferguson  October 11th, 2007
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