Labour backs ‘greens’ call to end ‘unnecessary’ Edinburgh Tattoo flypasts

For years the Royal Military Tattoo RAF flypasts have added a spectacular final flourish to one of Britain’s most popular celebrations of military tradition, but now Edinburgh’s Labour council is considering calling for an end to them

The aerial displays have come under attack over claims they cause ‘environmental damage’ and inflict ’emotional harm’ on residents.

Scottish ‘Greens’ have won cross-party support to scrap the flypasts over Edinburgh Castle, with Cammy Day, the Labour council leader, writing to military chiefs to express “concerns” over hitting ‘net zero’ targets, and some are now calling for this year’s flypast to be the last.

Dan Heap, a ‘Green’ councillor, said:

“A lot of residents I have spoken to want the Tattoo to reduce or end the number of flypasts.

They are totally unnecessary and cause completely avoidable pollution and disturbance for residents while impacting a lot of vulnerable people across our city, such as those who have experienced conflict.

I urge Edinburgh city council and the Tattoo to listen to resident concerns and make this the last year that we have to put up with these flyovers in our capital.”

The number of flypasts has been reduced from seven last year to five this year, with the first set to take place on Wednesday. The jets are heard across the city given the Tattoo’s prominent city centre venue.

Opponents of the flypasts have also claimed that they can cause distress to military veterans who may be suffering from mental turmoil as a result of serving in conflict zones.

A motion proposed by Mr Heap was passed by Edinburgh council’s culture committee in May, expressing “regret” at the “environmental damage and emotional harm” caused by the displays.

However, veterans charities have refused to support demands for a ban on the displays, which usually take place at 9.30pm.

Phil Hoggart, a Scottish Tory councillor who was one of only two to vote against the move to condemn the flypasts, lambasted “cowardly” Labour and the LibDems representatives for backing attacks on the tradition:

“These Marxists masquerading as environmentalists are hell-bent on obliterating the heritage of the UK, especially when it comes to the military,” he said.

They are attempting to push their extreme views on Scotland’s capital under the cloak of environmentalism.

Edinburgh is a military city. If people choose to live in a military city it is perfectly reasonable to expect residents to respect the consequences of that.”

He added:

“I don’t expect anything from the SNP, but it is cowardly of Labour and the LibDems not to support us on maintaining the flypasts, which have been a popular feature of the festival for years.

Instead, they have fallen in behind these extremists.”

This year’s run of Tattoo shows, which take place against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle and raise significant sums for military charities, began on Saturday.

Performances celebrate “nautical themes” with the Royal Navy, this year’s lead service.

While Edinburgh council has limited powers to ban the flypasts, it said “discussions will continue” over how organisers could contribute to a target of making the city ‘net zero’ by the end of this decade.

Val Walker, the council’s culture and communities convener, said:

“The council leader wrote to both the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Royal Air Force last year on this issue and we welcome the reduction in flypasts in this year’s programme.

The council, along with all our partners, strive to improve festivals and events year on year and discussions will continue with all event organisers as to how they can contribute to meeting our city’s ambitious ‘net zero’ by 2030 target.

I’m sure we can find a solution which is mutually beneficial and continues to showcase the Tattoo as the stunning and exhilarating spectacle it is, which lights up the city every year.”

Jason Barrett, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo chief executive, said:

“We always take the environmental and social impacts of the Tattoo seriously and work very closely with our stakeholders across the city as well as our colleagues at the MoD to ensure our event is safe and enjoyable.

The flypasts are a showcase of our military heritage and precision which the Tattoo is famed for.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is proud to be part of the festival infrastructure in Edinburgh that contributes millions of pounds annually to the Scottish economy and we remain vigilant in our planning and execution of all elements of our event.”

The first public military tattoo took place in 1949 and was awarded the “royal” title by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 to mark its sixth decade.

See more here telegraph.co.uk