Edinburgh Council has united pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in outrage – Miles Briggs MSP

The Spaces for People project was well-intentioned but the disruption to Edinburgh’s transport system is just too much, writes Miles Briggs MSP.

A 'floating' bus stop introduced as part of Edinburgh's Spaces for People scheme (Picture: Councillor Scott Arthur)

It is starting to feel like the city is literally grinding to a halt. From the tram works on Leith Walk displacing traffic across Leith, to gas and road works popping up across the city, to the confusing and unworkable Spaces for People measures put in place.

City of Edinburgh Council has managed to do the unimaginable and unite pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, taxi drivers, residents and businesses against the changes they are imposing on local communities across the Capital.

At the beginning of lockdown the City of Edinburgh Council launched their Spaces for People initiative, which was intended to be a set of temporary measures to provide pedestrians with more space.

No one doubts that the original purpose of the Spaces for People measures were well intentioned and designed to keep people safe.

We are now in a position where the lines between these interim measures and the long-term objectives of City of Edinburgh Council have become blurred.

It is clear that local residents and businesses have simply not been consulted and that many of the measures are not achieving what the council suggests are the merits behind them.

In many cases residents believe these disruptive changes are being implemented under the guise of protecting people from Covid-19, but have resulted in a negative impact on the lives of local residents, as well as creating a number of safety hazards for road users and pedestrians.

The creation of more cycle lanes has led to disabled parking bays being put in the middle of busy main roads, such as the one at Pentland Terrace in Comiston. This ridiculous move is an accident waiting to happen and a prime example of a policy being rushed through by City of Edinburgh Council.

Floating bus stops are a real risk for people using the bus who have to cross a cycle path to get from the bus to the pavement, another major hazard risk due to the Spaces for People initiative.

The closure of roads has meant that traffic has had to be diverted, leading to increased congestion in other areas, as well as bus delays. Pupils returning to schools across the Capital last month have inevitably meant that traffic and congestion, caused by these road closures, has become even greater.

In the south of the city, the closure of Braid Road has led to congestion along Comiston Road, prompting concerns from parents about high levels of pollution outside South Morningside Primary school.

This has led to my colleague and local councillor Nick Cook submitting a motion at council calling for the immediate reopening of Braid Road.

What is even more disturbing is the fact that decisions on road closures and when they are to be reopened are currently being taken by Edinburgh Council officials, taking the democratic process out of local government.

The council are currently deciding on whether to keep Braid Road closed permanently, reopen it in one direction or return the road to both way traffic, as it was before lockdown.

We all want to see improvements to local infrastructure to make Edinburgh a better connected, modern, integrated transport system.

It’s time to get the Capital moving and for both City of Edinburgh Council and the SNP ministers to understand the needs and views of local communities and not try to impose a one-size-fits-all approach.

Above all we need a sustainable and sensible way forward – one which listens to local residents and businesses and ultimately that delivers a better connected city which is safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Miles Briggs is a Conservative MSP for Lothian region

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