Crowd barriers installed in the High Street for the duration of the Edinburgh Festival

Council leaders have acted over claims major events are affecting the quality of life of city centre residents and clogging up parts of the Capital.

An all-party group will act as a go-between to ensure the views of people living in the Old and New Towns are given a proper voice in new tourism and festival strategies.

Late-night noise, waste collection, road closures and the growing number of properties being let out to festivalgoers are all likely to be examined.

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Crowd barriers installed in the High Street for the duration of the Edinburgh Festival

The body is also expected to address key “bottlenecks” during the summer and winter festivals, and the impact they have on roads, pavements and public transport.

Senior officers in the transport, environment, culture, public safety and economic development departments are expected to join councillors on the taskforce. It is expected to meet with community groups and representatives of the festivals, the tourism industry and the heritage sector.

Councillors agreed to create the taskforce days after the publication of reports responding to growing anecdotal evidence and commentary on the difficulties of moving around the city and “getting on with normal life.”

The Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, the main industry body, has already admitted there is a need to address the “increasing density of visitors” in the Old and New Towns.

Crowd barriers installed in the High Street for the duration of the Edinburgh Festival

Conservative Cllr Jo Mowat, who proposed the taskforce, said: “If Edinburgh is to continue to be a great place to visit, it is our responsibility to manage things so we can preserve what it so special about it - a living city centre with a secure residential population.

“We have a really fragile community. I’m really concerned we may kill the goose that lays the golden egg in this city and that people will say: ‘It’s unpleasant and I don’t want to come back.’”

Cllr Donald Wilson, the city council’s culture leader, said: “We need to continue working closely with the tourism industry, while also ensuring the voice and needs of our citizens remain heard.”

Julia Amour, director of Festivals Edinburgh, said: “We are working in active partnership with colleagues across the city to support Edinburgh’s enviable position as an internationally renowned cultural and tourism destination year-round. The question of defining a balance of interests between residents, businesses and visitors is of central importance to us and our city partners.