Edinburgh tram extension: Leith Walk layout is a fiasco – Iain Whyte

There is one last chance to object to Leith Walk tram layout and anyone who cares about pedestrians and local businesses should make their views known, writes Iain Whyte

An artist's impression of a tram on Leith Walk

Last Thursday at committee, the arrogance and tin-eared approach the SNP council takes to transport was again in evidence – this time over trams. Councillors were asked to approve the process to implement traffic regulation orders for the project, but the report didn’t provide any detail. These orders are for important things like changes to parking and loading; designating areas for traffic, pedestrians or cyclists; and closing some roads to traffic.

Two weeks before my Conservative Group got the report pulled from the committee agenda so that more information could be provided. However, the same report was presented with a “map” of the proposals which was simply an outline of the tram line. A separate link to design layout maps didn’t work until the day before the meeting. Shockingly, the officials couldn’t even tell me how many individual traffic regulation orders were involved even when I repeatedly pressed the point.

The approach of the SNP-led administration to all this was that we councillors shouldn’t worry. It was all just implementing the design agreed by them two years ago. So much for councillors doing their job and knowing what they were approving before starting a complex and potentially expensive legal process.

The bottom line is the Leith Walk tram layout is a fiasco. Bus stops up and down the Walk will be separated from the rest of the pavement by a cycle lane. This is something that pedestrian campaign Living Streets has highlighted as a problem – especially for those with mobility issues. At the Foot of the Walk, there are multiple cycle lanes unnecessarily cutting through narrowed pavements. And the tram will have to compete with other traffic, reducing the effectiveness and increasing congestion at this busy junction.

The council is supposed to support a transport hierarchy that puts pedestrians first. Anyone fair-minded who looks at these plans would think they have been designed with only cycling and the young and highly physically mobile in mind.

Despite our concerns, the vote went to press ahead, presumably because any objection to a detail would derail the whole plan.

The layout is based on the results of a consultation two years ago which I believe was largely ignored by anyone who didn’t see the need for trams. However, it was heavily publicised to the “no cars anywhere” lobby that seems to have the ear of the council leader and transport convener. Maybe if they had asked the locals in the Central Bar (other traditional Leith hostelries are available) they might have got a different answer.

This lack of openness and absence of an ability to listen is inimical of this council. Their post-lockdown “Spaces for People” measures are a prime example, with traders up in arms in our local town centres because of the bans on loading and parking. Local comments are often dismissed or ignored. Meanwhile, the actual implementation has been shambolic with even the SNP Lord Provost joining the cycle lobby on Twitter in decrying the hastily dumped cones in Corstorphine. These were labelled bad for pedestrians, cyclists, buses and motorists. In other words, far from helping anyone, everyone is disadvantaged.

This council thinks it knows what you need and will press ahead regardless of what you actually want. The traffic regulation process for trams will allow a final chance to object. I hope that people who care about pedestrian access and Leith Walk businesses will make their views known.

Cllr Iain Whyte is the Conservative group leader at Edinburgh City Council

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