Edinburgh children's taxi outing to go ahead on original route after police U-turn

An annual Edinburgh taxi charity outing is expected to go ahead after a meeting between organisers and police.

The event, which sees black cab drivers take children with special needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses for a day out in East Lothian, was facing cancellation due to a police policy change.

Just weeks before the June 9 event, organisers said it would not go ahead due to the change, which would mean officers were unable to escort the cabs.

However, on Wednesday, Police Scotland said the event will now go ahead on its original route, as planned, with support from officers, following “constructive discussions”.

“Our focus throughout has been to support the Edinburgh Taxi Outing as we have done for many years”, superintendent Neil Wilson said.

“We have held constructive discussions today with the event organiser and have agreed an outline plan which allows the event to run safely on its original route.

“Further discussions will take place in the coming days to finalise the police operation to support the event and ensure the children enjoy their day.”

The event, a staple of the Edinburgh calendar for almost 80 years, sees passengers in cabs equipped with water guns, which they use to spray water at the many people lining the route of the outing.

Officers had previously offered to support the event in a few key places.

However, taxi outing chief secretary Keith Bell said the taxis would need to sit in general traffic for the rest of the route, stopping at red lights, junctions, and in general congestion within Edinburgh, frustrating the children.

Mr Bell confirmed a “workable solution” was found during the meetings with Police Scotland.

“A short while ago, I had a meeting with assistant chief constable Waddell and other officers with responsibility for policing within Edinburgh”, he said on Wednesday.

“We had an open and frank discussion about the recent events regarding this year‘s Edinburgh Taxi Outing.

“I’m pleased to say that we appear to have found a workable solution to allow this year‘s event to go ahead.

“We are having another planning meeting on Thursday, and I am hopeful that following that meeting, we will be able to finalise a plan that allows the event to take place on June 9, which will be great news for the children and families involved.

“I would like to thank everyone who contacted the Police, their MP, their MSPs and others and the Outing Committee is deeply humbled by the love and support that has been shown by so many towards the Outing.”

Edinburgh councillors called an emergency meeting on Wednesday to allow the annual outing to go ahead.

Council leader Jane Meagher said she was on the phone in the late hours of the evening with Edinburgh’s top officer and the council’s head exec working to find a solution.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “I’m overjoyed and relieved that the Edinburgh Taxi Outing can go ahead as planned this year. I want to pay particular tribute to our colleagues in the Council’s transport and roads teams for finding a way to make this work. They really have gone above and beyond.

“I know how valued and important this event is to families across the city and look forward to seeing the wonderful sight of brightly decorated taxis on our streets once again – in what I’m sure will be another fun-filled and memorable day out.”

Alana Wilson, whose nine-year-old son, George, has non-verbal autism, ADHD, and complex learning disabilities, had pleaded for the event to go ahead.

“I think if anybody has got it in their heart, if there is anything you can do to change it, change it. It’s not even a whole day; it’s a few hours”, she told STV News.

“We’re not asking for much; we’re asking for our kids to continue to have this. It’s been going for years. It’s something that’s been here in Edinburgh, you can’t just take that away.”