The Exchange Business District
ECCM manage and maintain the Exchange district in Edinburgh City Centre, which comprises of two main areas: Festival and Conference Squares. ECCM manages all event enquiries for the Exchange as well as a dedicated environmental management team – the Wardens.
Wardens
In October 2001 ECCM piloted an informal Business Improvement District in the Exchange area of the City Centre. The initiative was formalised in April 2003 with a contract between five key stakeholders within the Exchange area and ECCM. ECCM’s Wardens manage and maintain the Festival and Conference Square areas, with the most recent contract running until 31st March 2008.
ECCM currently have three Wardens: Joe Huckle, Charles Laurie-Magyar, and John Devlin. They are a multi-skilled team who work tirelessly to ensure that the public areas in the Exchange are maintained to ‘Grade A’ standard (an area with no litter or refuse is known as Grade A) at all times during their working hours.
The Wardens work from Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm in the summer months and 7am – 3pm during winter. Some of the tasks they regularly undertake include: de-littering the public spaces (including the fountain in Festival Square and the flower beds); emptying and cleaning of the litter bins; treatment of chewing gum, graffiti and fly posters; weeding; cleaning and washing of footpaths, stonework and furniture; painting and hedge trimming and gritting in winter months.
In addition, the Wardens maintain a visible, high profile presence to deter potential security problems, while keeping an open ‘hotline’ to the police to report incidents and to encourage a rapid response to deal with ‘nuisance issues’.
The Wardens try to enhance the public areas by planting flowers and maintain the flowerbeds. They are also very friendly and helpful and freely offer information and help principally to visitors, such as hotel guests and conference delegates.
Since the Wardens service formally began in the Exchange in 2003 the feedback from members of the public has been very positive. The numerous compliments regarding how very clean and tidy the area is kept, from stakeholders and general public alike, are warmly received by the team.
If you would like more information about the City Centre Wardens service please contact Richard Darke