Petition against Edinburgh's Covid-crisis parking restrictions in local town centres gathers 2,500 signatures

Businesses could be ruined, resident claims

Rob Swinney says the pavement at Morningside Road is wide enough without taking over part of the carriageway

ALMOST 2,500 people have signed a petition against parking restrictions on high streets across the Capital, claiming businesses risk being ruined.

Many parking spaces have been suspended as part of Covid-19 crisis measures introduced in local town centres in Edinburgh over recent months to make social distancing easier.

Morningside resident Rob Swinney launched the petition while the measures, including widened pavements, temporary cycle lanes and removing street clutter, were being discussed.

But he said the surge in support came when the changes began to be implemented.

"It was once the bollards went in and people could see what a circus it's turning into," he said.He argued elderly people often needed dropped at the hairdresser's or elsewhere and picked up later.

And he claimed a ban on parking could help "kill off" the high street.

The petitions urges people: "Please take this opportunity to support local business and those in need of easy access to the doctors, chemist, dentist, vets and a quick stop at any of the local cafes, food outlets or charity shops."

It claims "Short-sighted council leaders" are grabbing the opportunity to prohibit parking on nine city high streets.

"This action will ruin many small businesses, critically affect older residents, infirm people and flood side streets with local shoppers/delivery vehicles. This is clearly a move in the midst of CV19 which will suddenly be propositioned as the norm and what people want."

But the petition asks: “If there is a strong desire from these changes from the public then why have we not heard?”

Mr Swinney said some measures were being ignored. “I've seen cars inside the bollards, I've seen bollards moved, cyclists cycling down within the bollards. I've seen people move the cones to put a truck in to unload because otherwise they stop outside the cones and block the traffic."

And he highlighted particular areas of concern in his own part of the city: "If you're going up the hill past Waitrose on your right and there's two or three charity shops and clothes shop, the pavement there is about three metres wide, yet they still put bollards on the road. Why do you need four metres? It's like Covid has come along and it's a good excuse to have another hammer at cars.”

But he said: “Stockbridge is going through exactly the same issues, I know Dalry is and Bruntsfield is.”

He is not convinced there is a problem with social distancing. “I've been shielding until recently, so I was going out for walks later in the evening or first thing in the morning when there's not many people around, but now I'm not shielding I see very little evidence of people coming into conflict on the path.”

And he says some of the measures make things worse.

“Where Balcarres Street comes into Comiston Road, cyclists are used to being able to turn left there. When they turn left now they're faced with bollards that push them straight into the flow of the traffic.

And he said the measures were also making it more difficult for fire engines and ambulances. "Effectively they are making it a two-lane highway, they've closed Braid Road which has increased traffic already and there's standing traffic in Morningside which isn't great.

"It seems ill-conceived and being forced through throughout the city.”

Mr Swinney said he has a small car. But he said: "I'm not a petrolhead, I'm just a concerned resident.

"I just feel so disappointed this can be railroaded through - it feels like any excuse to get rid of cars."

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