Edinburgh parking: Portobello residents step up campaign against Controlled Parking Zone
Residents in Portobello have stepped up their campaign against Edinburgh council’s plan to introduce a controlled parking zone in their area.
With just five weeks to go before councillors vote on whether the CPZ should go ahead, posters opposing the plan can now be seen in shops, cafes and homes around Portobello, the campaigners have launched a new website and are collecting more signatures on their petition.
And they are urging residents to attend the meeting of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) sub-committee on December 16, even though they will not be allowed to speak.
The council proposal would see a CPZ stretching from King's Road to Joppa, operating from 8.30am to 5.30pm seven days a week. Residents would pay for parking permits to be able to park in or near their street and others would have to use pay and display machines.
But feelings on the issue run high. At an angry public meeting in Portobello town hall in May, council officials were shouted down and transport convener Stephen Jenkinson struggled to control the event.
The campaigners have highlighted an informal consultation carried out by the council in 2021, in which 59 per cent of respondents said there were no parking issues in their area and 57 per cent opposed the CPZ.
They accuse the council of failing to “meaningfully consult” local communities and respond to a formal legal warning and joint objection submitted in July. The submission raised serious concerns over the “legality, democratic process and economic impact” of the proposed CPZ.
They say the response from TRO sub-committee convener Margaret Graham was received months later and failed to address the key issues.
The Portobello and Joppa Residents & Businesses Against CPZ campaign is a coalition of residents, traders and community groups, which is calling on councillors to reject the controversial plans.
Campaign organiser Nikki Middleton said: “We wrote in good faith, providing clear evidence of legal, democratic and economic flaws in this plan.
“Instead, we’ve had silence for months and then a carefully worded non-response. It’s not good enough. This isn’t due process, it’s damage control.
“The council’s behaviour shows utter contempt for the people it claims to serve. This isn’t just about parking. It’s about democracy. When local voices are ignored, people lose faith in the system.”
Local traders have also raised alarms over the “potentially devastating” impact the parking restrictions could have on the local economy.
Jane Grant, chair of the Portobello Traders Association, which represents more than 50 local businesses, said: “We are business owners, residents, workers, and voters. Our petition has already reached over 1,600 signatures and we invite any councillor involved in this decision to visit our area, talk to local people, and see firsthand how strongly this community feels.”
And Warren Noble, of Nobles Amusements, said: "There’s been no economic impact study whatsoever. A seven-day parking restriction would devastate our small businesses.
“Portobello is a welcoming seaside community, people come here to shop locally, visit family and enjoy the beach. We don’t have year-round parking problems that justify these draconian measures. These plans would punish residents and deter visitors for no good reason.”