Councillors welcome axe of 'universally derided' Summertime Streets initiative

Tories and Lib Dems welcome move, but Greens highlight “desperate need” for social distancing infrastructure.

People taking part in street activities for Open Streets in May, prior to the Royal Mile shutting during August for Summertime Streets.

Opposition councillors have backed Edinburgh City Council’s quiet axing of its Summertime Streets initiative which saw several roads in the city centre shut to traffic and opened up to pedestrians and cyclists.

The scheme, which ran between 28 July and 1 September, shut several streets to private traffic during the day with the council claiming it would help make the city centre safer during the busy festival period.

However, despite plans for a renewal due to be put before councillors in May prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the plans have been quietly dropped after the cancellation of the summer festivals in the Capital.

Victoria Street was shut to traffic last year

Opposition councillors welcomed the decision with both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat transport spokesmen highlighting concerns raised last year by residents who lost access to bus routes and businesses who felt they were hurt by the scheme.

Lib Dem transport spokesman, Cllr Kevin Lang, said: “The Summertime Streets initiative came with the best of intentions. However, there’s no doubt it caused real concern, particularly amongst local traders.

“There’s a big question about how any new plan will fit into the wider city centre transformation and the changes now being introduced to help social distancing.

“More importantly, the Council needs to better engage those running shops and other outlets throughout the city centre. They are critical to Edinburgh’s economic recovery and every effort should be made to help and support them.”

Tory transport spokesman Cllr Susan Webber said the scheme had been “universally derided” and that residents would be glad to see the back of the plans for its return.

She said: “This was a hugely controversial scheme which, given the poor execution, was universally derided by residents and businesses in the area in formal feedback to the Council.

“This was not just over the reduction in visitors to businesses but also the access problems residents faced. Then there was the frankly appalling look of the temporary barriers in the heart of a World Heritage Site. All of these factors contributed to its questionable popularity.”

“I think many will be glad to see the back of this initiative and it would need really careful thought through if any similar scheme were to be brought back in future. The needs of residents and businesses should be paramount.”

Despite plans to shelve the Summertime Streets scheme, the council is set to implement social distancing measures on several of the streets that would have been shut by the scheme.

Both Cockburn Street and Victoria Street are planned to shut to traffic later this year as they would have done if Summertime Streets had gone ahead, while Canongate, George IV Bridge and North Bridge are also subject to changes.

Claire Miller, Green councillor for the City Centre and the party’s transport spokesperson said: “The pandemic has caused festivals and events in Edinburgh to be cancelled this year, and we also don’t anticipate the usual tourist season like those we have experienced in recent years, so thankfully there won’t be any need for last year’s Summertime Streets measures.

“However, there is a desperate need to implement wider pavements and segregated cycling infrastructure throughout the city centre for the residents who need to move around safely and retain a 2m distance from each other. I’ll be stepping up my calls for urgent changes across our streetscape so that we can prevent Covid-19 infection in the city.”

Council Leader, the SNP’s Adam McVey, said: "Summertime Streets won't be running this year following the cancellation of the summer festivals, which usually bring a significant increase in pedestrian numbers during August.

“However, we are working on a range of improvements to make it easier and safer to walk, cycle and spend time in the city centre and across our communities in the coming months.

"Our Spaces for People programme supports travel by foot, bicycle, wheelchair or public transport as lockdown restrictions are eased.

“As part of this we will be delivering schemes to encourage footfall in the heart of the city and other town centres, such as temporary pavement widening or pedestrianisation of some streets."