Sprucing up the city centre for a clean image

The City Centre Neighbourhood Team is launching a dedicated appearance strategy for the city centre.

Not telling you how to dress – like the TV fashion duo Trinny and Susannah – but as a direct response to the number one concern from the community about the cleanliness and standards of our streets.

Current levels of street cleaning will be improved on a street by street approach to visually improve the look of the whole area.

Over the summer a successful pilot was carried out at Waverley Bridge/Market Street – including cleaning of graffiti, repairing broken paving, painting railings and installing of planters and hanging baskets.

The end result was a more visually attractive and welcoming environment.

Over the next few weeks the plan is to identify further areas across the city centre and give them a complete makeover.

Icelandic teenagers Lilja Gcorysd (17) and Arnar Gcorysd (16) did some early Christmas shopping in the capital and are already planning to come back for another holiday.

"Edinburgh is such a beautiful city and it deserves to be looked after. People are so lucky to live here,” said Lilja.

“We can't wait to come back next year for the summer," added Arnar.