Edinburgh Council looks set to cause more grief for private motorists as controlled parking zones expand – John McLellan

As if Spaces for People isn’t causing Edinburgh Council enough grief, the onward march of controlled parking zones is also causing great concern, but at least that process is not being conducted by stealth.

With Edinburgh Council intent on banning cars from the city centre, the problem of parking in nearby areas will only increase, says John McLellan (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

The issue is dealing with problems where they are known to exist without creating more problems where they don’t, and this is being most keenly felt now in Willowbrae where some terraced streets face losing half their parking capacity.

Residents in nearby Abbeyhill have been calling for controls for years because of commuter parking and now they are coming in, the problem will shift to Willowbrae if something isn’t done.

With the administration intent on banning cars from the city centre, the problem will only get worse, with shoppers avoiding the highly priced Castle Terrace or new St James car parks, so controls are inevitable.

Proposals have been publicised, but because of rules about parking space widths, some residents are being told they will only be able to park on one side despite being able to use both for years without difficulty.

The imposition of yellow lines means space is being slashed and residents face parking streets away, even if they pay for a permit, with friends and visiting family having to do the same.

It is bureaucratic madness to create problems where none previously existed purely because of regulations, and some flexibility is needed so there is no unreasonable loss of amenity.

But isn’t making life as difficult as possible for private motorists what the SNP-Labour administration is all about?

John McLellan is a Conservative councillor for Craigentinny/Duddingston

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