Edinburgh council paints double yellow lines on road closed to traffic

Residents have been left scratching their heads after double yellow lines were painted on a stretch of road where traffic is banned.

Braid Road has been closed to traffic for months

The closure of Braid Road in Morningside has been at the centre of a well-publicised controversy for months.

And locals assumed putting yellow lines on a road where vehicles are not allowed was a mistake.

But the council insists it is all part of the Spaces for People measures designed to make it easier for people to walk and cycle during the pandemic.

Paul Bailey, who lives in Braid Road, said: "I thought it must be a mistake - another example of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing,"

Although the closure is temporary, repeated pleas to reopen it have been rejected and Mr Bailey said he had no expectation of the road reopening any time soon.

When Tory councillor Jason Rust raised the issue of the double yellow lines with officials he was told: "As part of the Spaces for People measures a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order was raised to restrict vehicle access to Braid Road and introduce parking restrictions.

"Braid Road is fully closed at the south end but the north end (adjacent to the roundabout) is only a half road closure to allow access to the Hermitage of Braid by Natural Heritage, for road sweeping by Waste & Cleansing and for gritting by Road Operations. The parking restrictions on Braid Road are to stop general parking but allow blue badge holders to park so they can visit the Hermitage of Braid and the coffee shop."

Mr Bailey said the explanation was ridiculous. "No-one has ever told the public the road is only half-closed - I think they are just making it up."

And Cllr Rust said blue badge holders would have to drive past a "Road Closed" sign to go and park at Hermitage of Braid. "I don't know how many of them know they can do that."

He said: “It seems madness that months after the closure of a stretch of the road, double yellow lines have been painted. I do not see what emergency is actually being addressed and think council resources could be far better targeted.

"Given the continued high profile opposition of administration Labour and SNP councillors to any prospect of the reopening of Braid Road it is bizarre that this line painting has taken place and that beyond road closed signage.

"In terms of gully cleaning or waste vehicle access there are many problem areas in Edinburgh and it beggars belief that this is a reason. It also seems curious that double yellow lines would be set out for blue badge holders to park."

A council spokeswoman said the double yellow lines had been part of the original plans under the Spaces for People initiative in Braid Road and cones had been used to mark out the no-parking area while a review into the road closure was being carried out. But when it was decided not to lift the closure the lines were painted to deter parking by anyone other than blue badge holders.

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