Edinburgh council slammed for ‘removing’ rough sleepers to make way for Taylor Swift fans-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

Taylor Swift fans are flocking to Edinburgh next week (Picture: Michael Campanella/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

The huge influx of Taylor Swift fans heading to Edinburgh next week has resulted in rough sleepers being denied accommodation.

Hotels quickly sold out in the wake of the Eras Tour UK leg being announced but this has meant there are no rooms left for homeless people living in the city.

Shelter Scotland has claimed those living on the streets are being sent away to Aberdeen and Glasgow for the week, even as far as Newcastle.

They said it was ‘a blatant injustice’ for rough sleepers who are now ‘in direct competition’ with the mass of Swifties heading to the city.

Edinburgh City Council said it was searching for ‘appropriate, alternative accommodation’ for affected people.

The Tortured Poets Department hitmaker will take to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium for three nights next week (June 7, 8, and 9).

This has put them in ‘direct competition’ with rough sleepers (Picture: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

Homeless people in the city are being offered accommodation as far as Newcastle due to a shortage (Picture: Ken Jack/Getty Images)

Murrayfield Stadium has a capacity of 67,144 seats, with the gigs believed to be sold out across the weekend.

Competition to find accommodation has been tough among fans, many of whom are travelling from outside of Edinburgh as this is her only Scottish gig.

The BBC reports that those declared homeless, who legally must be offered temporary accommodation by the council, are being sent out of the city due to the shortage.

It’s not thought that those who have already secured temporary housing are being removed to make way for fans.

In November, Edinburgh declared a housing emergency due to spiralling property costs and a shortage of social housing, forcing hotels to be used for rough sleepers.

Murrayfield Stadium has capacity for over 67,000 fans each night (Picture: Shutterstock / Lukassek)

Shelter Scotland director Alison Watson told the BBC: ‘In Edinburgh that emergency now places people experiencing homelessness in direct competition with tourists; a blatant injustice.’

She said families are already being told their only option is to leave the city if they need a temporary bed, despite the gigs being a week away.

The charity director pointed out the blame is not at the tourists feet but at the Scottish government for not proving a robust solution.

The same upheaval to rough sleepers will likely reoccur in August when the city plays host to the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

Edinburgh City Council refuted the report to Metro.co.uk, stating it was ‘absolutely not’ removing homeless people to make way for Swifties.

Hotels are booked only for one week at a time for people facing homelessness and it is used as a ‘last resort’ and only a short term fix.

Hotels are reportedly used as a ‘last resort’ for housing homeless people (Picture: Xavi Torrent/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

Even more affordable hotels like Premier Inn had immediately inflated their room prices for the Eras Tour, with some on the city outskirts now sitting at over £300 per night.

In a statement, housing, homelessness and fair work convener, Councillor Jane Meagher, said: ‘It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households.

‘We know it won’t be available year-round, particularly over the busy summer months, so we use it reluctantly as a last resort. We’re aware of the situation and are working with the affected households to find appropriate, alternative accommodation.’

She added that they are working with affected households to find a solution but nobody would be handed a sleeping bag.

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