Rugby star Andy Nicol backs calls to re-open Edinburgh's Braid Road

Petition to end Covid road closure

Braid Road has been closed to traffic since May

FORMER Scotland rugby captain Andy Nicol is backing calls for the reopening of a key city route which the council closed to aid physical distancing.

Braid Road in Morningside has been shut to traffic since May in a bid to create more space for cyclists and pedestrians. But critics claim the move has caused major traffic delays on nearby Comiston Road.

Nicol, who won 23 caps for Scotland, posted on Twitter, urging people to sign a petition to reopen the road.

He added: “The traffic this morning on Pentland Terrace/Comiston Rd was horrendous now that schools are back. Please @Edinburgh_CC re-open Braid Rd immediately!”

His call came as Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs and Morningside councillor Nick Cook launched a campaign for Braid Road to be reopened. They said their petition had gained 300 signatures in the first 24 hours.

Mr Briggs said the closure had been rushed through by the council without any substantial consultation with residents or local councillors.

“There may have been a case, during the early phases of lockdown, for a strict time limited closure of Braid Road to aid social distancing. However, it is clear that with many restrictions eased and children back at school, the road needs re-opened immediately to reduce inconvenience for residents and re-route the traffic that the closure has displaced to nearby streets.”

Cllr Cook took a swipe at other councillors for failing to oppose the closure. He said: “In contrast to my Morningside ward colleagues who either dithered or waved their lycra aloft in support of the Braid Road closure, I have voiced robust concerns at the council’s bungled closure of Braid Road from the outset.

“The inconvenience to drivers, coupled with displaced traffic being funnelled outside South Morningside Primary School demands the council finally listen to the public and reopen Braid Road immediately.”

However Morningside Green councillor Melanie Main said community opinion on the closure had been mixed and there were still good reasons for the road to be shut to traffic.

“I appreciate the traffic is worse on Comiston Road and I understand people’s frustration but there are things like realigning the traffic lights at Braidburn Crescent and allowing a right turn which we know from modelling will vastly improve the flow of traffic. We need to try these things before we start opening Braid Road.”

Transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes said: the closure of Braid Road was one of the first measures to be implemented under the Spaces for People programme to help people to move around safely.

“Since then I’ve heard from lots of community members about the positive effects of this scheme in creating a peaceful route to nearby open spaces, while also addressing rat-running traffic in the area.

“Of course we recognise there have been concerns around a resulting displacement of traffic, and our officers are closely monitoring the impact on surrounding streets. Covid is by no means over and changes such as these are still needed. However, the temporary nature of the schemes means we can tweak them where necessary.”

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