Edinburgh roads: 'Lives at risk' when cars and children share space in new housing estates

Liberal Democrat Kevin Lang won unanimous backing at the city’s transport committee on Thursday for a review of so-called “shared surfaces”, where streets are designed with no distinction between the road and pavement and pedestrians are forced to walk in the same space as where vehicles are being driven.

Cllr Lang said shared spaces had been approved in a number of new housing developments in Edinburgh over recent years, including the Cammo Meadows estate still under construction at Barnton.

Kevin Lang and the 'shared surface' streets at Cammo Meadows | supplied

He said concerns there had been heightened because of the opening of a new local nursery as part of the development.

Other concerns have been raised in the Dalmeny Park estate in Queensferry, which includes shared surfaces, and where residents brought a road safety petition to the council last month.

Now council officers will produce a report to consider whether they should be allowed in future.

Cllr Lang said: “It is clear to me that the use of shared surfaces in housing estates is dangerous and risking people’s lives.

“With such a big focus on road safety, it is incredible that streets are being designed and built in a way that forces pedestrians to walk on the very surface where cars, vans and trucks are driving around.

“In parts of the new Cammo Meadows development in my ward, children getting to and from the new nursery have no choice but to walk right next to moving traffic.

“The idea was always that shared surfaces would encourage drivers to slow down and be more responsible. However, I see little if any evidence of this in the areas I represent. Instead, it’s people who are being put at risk.

“With so many new housing developments now being planned across the city, we need to build in proper pedestrian safety from the very start. I hope the review will ultimately lead to the Council ending the practice of approving shared surfaces in future.”