Edinburgh Spaces for People: We're about to find out something interesting about controversial traffic scheme – Steve Cardownie

A glance at the city council agenda for tomorrow’s meeting can leave the reader with the impression that Leo Tolstoy must have been the inspiration behind the drafting of some of the motions for discussion, as they are highly unlikely to be held up as an example of brevity.
The Spaces for People scheme has seen a number of changes to road layouts across the cityThe Spaces for People scheme has seen a number of changes to road layouts across the city
The Spaces for People scheme has seen a number of changes to road layouts across the city

However what is evident from the agenda is that opposition councillors show little sign of abandoning their criticism of many aspects of the Spaces for People programme, which, given that the final report on the new “temporary” traffic layouts is on the horizon, is to be expected.

Stung by press reports that the architects of the scheme may never have set foot in Edinburgh, Councillor Jim Campbell has tabled a question to be answered by the Convener of the transport and environment committee, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, in which he asks: “What are the normal office locations of those responsible for designing Edinburgh Spaces for People schemes?”

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He goes on to say: “Did any individuals involved in designing an Edinburgh Spaces for People schemes (sic) that were not based within this council boundary, make site visits to the scheme they were responsible for designing? Please list these schemes.”

At the time of writing Councillor Macinnes’s answers are unknown but should make for interesting reading once they are published, as many citizens, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike are more than a little bemused as to how some of the new traffic plans saw light of day.

As a pedestrian, public transport user and motorist, I am one of them.

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