Story Highlight
The protesters want to know if the council has the right to evict them from public land and if they would be in breach of the European Convention on the right to protest and that eviction was disproportionate.
Anti-capitalist protesters, who ended their occupation of St Andrew Square Gardens just over a week ago, are now facing eviction from their new camp on The Meadows.
Edinburgh Council has begun legal action and the case was heard at the capital's sheriff court this morning.
Solicitor Fiona Reid, appearing for the local authority, asked Sheriff Kathrine Mackie to grant an order evicting the "occupiers" from the popular park.
Representing Occupy Edinburgh, William Black, asked for the case to be adjourned to allow them time to obtain legal advice.
He told Sheriff Mackie that a meeting had been arranged with a lawyer next Tuesday.
The protesters, he said, wanted to know if the Council had the right to evict them from public land and if they would be in breach of the European Convention on the right to protest and that eviction was disproportionate.
He claimed that at a meeting in November an offer had been made that if the protesters left St Andrew Square they could go to The Meadows.
Ms Reid denied any offer had been made.
Sheriff Mackie commented: "It is difficult to resist the application for time to obtain legal advice about a matter which is not necessarily straight-forward.
"I think the best thing I can do is to continue this to next Friday, that will allow you (Occupy Edinburgh) time to get advice".
