Hotel group’s last desperate act at RHS - your views

Hotel group’s last desperate act at RHS

The letter from Urbanist Hotels on the Old Royal High, (January 13) ignores what has happened over the past 10 years. I think many people will, like us, feel frustrated that the developers continue to choose to disregard the overwhelming support for the music school.

Urbanist has wasted £5m promoting their failed hotel scheme, but not a penny of this has gone on the building. No wonder they are desperate to keep some kind of hold on the site to try to recover this wasted investment. It is their failure to deliver on their promises which has led to the building being held hostage to increasing decay.

In terms of the RHSPT's funding, they know perfectly well that the funding is in place in the form of a cash deposit held by Dunard Fund. By contrast, the city has no such guarantees from the hotel developers, whose original partner, Rosewood, has walked away. So, they offer nothing other than vague promises.

The Idea that their proposal was better for the building Is risible. The RHSPT scheme had the support of every major heritage stakeholder, Including Historic Environment Scotland, the Cock-burn Association, the Scottish Civic Trust, the New Town and Broughton Community Council and the City's own planning and listed building department. It was unanimously granted consent by the planning committee.

The fact is, if asked to proceed, we have everything in place to create a new cultural asset for the city and its residents, with public gardens and concert facilities, at no public cost.

This latest desperate attempt to maintain a hold on a building against a back-drop of nearly ten years of failure would be laughable if It wasn't so predictable.

William Gray Muir, Royal High School Preservation Trust.

Damage being done to Old High School

I read with much amusement in that the ministers involved in the planning application for the Old Royal High School said the hotel plans "would result in considerable damage to the setting of one of the most important neo-classical buildings in the city". If the building is of such importance, why has it been left empty for over 50 years?

Sylvia Wilson, Maxwell Street, Edinburgh.

Music plays a vital part in all our lives

As we move into 2021 and parents, teachers and pupils find themselves facing additional challenges to deliver and attain a full and rounded education, it is worthwhile remembering the role that music can play in improving our lives.

First, music will help support and sustain our young people through the coming months. For children and adults the creative arts play a vital role in promoting wellbeing and positive mental health, providing both a means of expression during the isolation of lockdown and a practical as well as enjoyable pastime.

Just as important, playing an instrument is complementary to academic subjects and has been shown to improve wider educational success.

In the challenge of the return to home schooling, those parents whose children can mix domestic timetables with musical lessons will understand the release and stimulation playing an instrument can deliver.

So whether you’re at the start of a musical journey or are well advanced in music-making let's keep singing, keep dancing and keep music lessons flowing, particularly while the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic keep us apart in our own homes.

Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher, St Mary’s Music School, Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh.