FOUR years after the Theatre Royal was so badly damaged by fire that it had to be closed for public performances, Edinburgh Town Council have consented to the reinstatement of the premises on the present site for a limited period of 30 years.
The decision, made yesterday by 36 votes to 13, will enable the proprietors, Edinburgh Varieties Ltd, to take further steps to secure the reopening of the theatre. It also means a decision of the Town Council refusing consent, was made in 1947 and the subject of unsuccessful appeals to the Secretary of State for Scotland, has been rescinded. During discussion, Lord Provost Sir Andrew Murray, who moved that consent be given, recalled that the theatre had originally been included in the St James’ Square development scheme under the Advisory Town Plan, which suggested that it should be erected on an adjacent site. The present recommendation was that it should be excluded.
• archive.scotsman.com