Active travel barriers in Edinburgh being ignored by drivers due to 'temporary look'

Barriers at Warriston Road are being moved or ignored due to people believing the signage has been abandoned, a councillor has said.

Warriston Road, which has been shut as part of the council's active travel measures.

The closure of an Edinburgh road is being ignored by drivers due to the “temporary look” of the barriers that have been put in place by the council, a city councillor has warned.

Edinburgh City Council shut Warriston Road as one of the many schemes designed to improve the amount of space for social distancing for those walking and cycling in the Capital.

However, the barriers have regularly been moved or ignored by drivers due to a lack of clear signage and enforcement, Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler said.

Transport convener Lesley Macinnes said it was “extremely disappointing” that the barriers were being ignored.

Cllr Osler said: “Judging from the increasing number of suggestions been given on the spaces for people tool, there is definitely the appetite in Edinburgh to see a real commitment towards safe secure walking and cycling measures being implemented.

“The problem seems to be the length of time it is taking to get schemes up and running and the very “temporary” look to these schemes once they are in place with little or no enforcement Warriston Road being an example.

“Given that £5m has been awarded to this project I am disappointed at what has come forward so far and hope to see quicker delivery of schemes including those suggested by residents, that are properly resourced that residents can have faith in.

“We are now three months into lockdown if the administration is serious about supporting walking and cycling within the city then it needs to lead and commit to it properly.”

Cllr Macinnes added Warriston Road had been identified to provide a “safe and accessible route” to the North Edinburgh Path Network and the closure designed to reduce the number of cars using the street as a shortcut.

She said: “There’s a very real desire to see changes to facilitate walking, wheeling and cycling and we’re responding by designing and implementing improvements as quickly as possible, where they are most needed and in communication with local communities.

“These are temporary measures, as has been suggested, which is why they can be implemented faster than more permanent solutions.

“It has been extremely disappointing to see that in several places drivers have chosen to remove barriers to suit themselves, rather than allow these sensible, safety focused measures to operate for everyone’s benefit.

“The very significant award of £5m by the Scottish government to help us deliver on the ground reflects the ambition and readiness of Edinburgh to push ahead with these schemes.

“No-one should underestimate the complexity of substantial revisions to our road and footway network in such a short time. There will be another group of schemes coming forward shortly for consultation which will add strength to the changes already made.”

Transport vice convener, Cllr Karen Doran, said: “While this particular road closure is correctly signed and barriered off in compliance with traffic management standards, we are looking into options for wording on advance warnings and options for barriers, in line with the needs of the emergency services.”