Roseburn-Leith Walk cycle route row heats up

Business owners fear the cycle route will impact on their profits. File picture: Phil Wilkinson

Businesses fear the loss of parking spaces included in the blueprints will impact on their profits, with a petition against the plans racking up 1500 signatures so far.

Yesterday, shopkeepers from Roseburn to Haymarket put up posters in their windows protesting against the track, while 30 businesses have also put their name to an open letter to the city’s transport leader, Leslie Hinds, calling on her to ditch the scheme.

Local Peter Gregson, who is leading the charge against the proposals, said: “Rather than spending £1 million getting a cycle track on the main road, the cash would be better spent fixing the black spots around the city that cause cyclists to be maimed on a regular basis.”

But supporters of the new cycle path insist it will boost road safety and improve the street environment - and even point to studies which suggest similar plans introduced elsewhere have benefited businesses.

A rival petition supporting the controversial scheme has attracted hundreds of signatures in the last few weeks, as well as backing from key cycling group Spokes.

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