Edinburgh by-election is chance to send council a message about traffic chaos – John McLellan

Voters in Edinburgh’s Craigentinny & Duddingston ward can let the ruling SNP-Labour coalition what they think about the Spaces for People traffic restrictions.

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, the SNP councillor for Liberton/Gilmerton and the city's Transport and Environment Convener, has shown little sign of compromise over the Spaces for People plans, says John McLellan

Morningside and Bruntsfield traders are reporting revenue losses of around 20 per cent following the introduction of Spaces for People traffic restrictions, yet are still being told it’s actually good for business.

Last week’s council meeting heard the fallacy that as studies of pedestrianisation had shown benefits for retailers, it must follow that all traffic limitations must, by definition, benefit all businesses. Similar logic led to women suspected of witchcraft being thrown in ponds. It is true some traders benefitted from some traffic schemes, but not those introduced on a whim without listening to the views of those affected. Shop tills don’t tell lies or score political points.

The unhappiness with the SNP-Labour coalition’s dogmatic approach was shown by the refusal of two Labour councillors to vote with their party last week, because the only concession was to offer a meeting for ward councillors to be chaired by the transport convener Lesley Macinnes who has shown no sign of a desire to compromise.

The abstentions must be seen as a vote of no confidence in the coalition’s willingness to listen and if those who see it from the inside say it’s a problem, it’s a problem. A by-election is due on November 12 and the voters of Craigentinny & Duddingston have a chance to send a signal, not about Indyref2, Brexit, or how well Nicola Sturgeon runs press conferences, but of this administration’s prioritisation of its dogma over the interests of residents.

John McLellan is a Conservative councillor for Craigentinny & Duddingston

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