MORE than 1,400 people have signed a petition demanding that Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey resign over the impact of tourism on local residents.

Residents have raised concerns in the past fortnight about the “Disneyfication” of the city, with events company Underbelly accused of policing residents’ entry to their homes during Hogmanay.

Ahead of the city’s annual celebrations, residents questioned why they were told to register with Underbelly for access to their own homes, with limits suggested for how many visitors could go to each residence within the event perimeter.

This year’s Princes Street event welcomed 75,000 tourists from more than 80 countries, with musician and DJ Mark Ronson headlining the main event.

Underbelly claims that fewer than 10 complaints were raised by residents, but others say they feel they have been let down — with an investigation set to take place into the company’s contracts for events in the city.

There have been warnings such large-scale nights could be a thing of the past, with the council blasting “negativity” surrounding the late-night concert.

A petition has now been launched calling for the resignation of council leader Mr McVey, though he has reiterated that he has no intention of standing down.

Those who wrote the petition say the agreements in place at the moment are designed to maximise profit for Underbelly and bring in tourists to the city at the expense of its residents.

The Hogmanay organisers are also under fire following the removal of a traditional Nativity scene and the city’s Norwegian Christmas tree to make way for a whisky sponsor’s branding.

And the traditional Loony Dook, also organised by Underbelly, where hundreds of locals travel to South Queensferry to wild swim in the Firth of Forth on January 1, had a charge of £12 per participant.

Underbelly co-director Ed Bartlam said: “Balance is the key word. You’ve got to find the balance of viewpoints.

“There’s a view of some people in the city that there’s too many events related to tourism.

“But there’s a huge majority, I think, that just love these events, love Hogmanay.”

The Edinburgh City Council leader was approached for comment.