Plans to rationalise Edinburgh's bus stops sparks claims council is using coronavirus as smokescreen for unpopular policy

Council insists it’s all to help with social distancing

COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of trying to use the coronavirus crisis to revive plans to slash the number of bus stops across the city.

Plans to remove stops on the cross-city No 44 route as a pilot scheme for a proposed rationalisation programme were delayed earlier this year to allow more community consultation.

But now bus stop rationalisation citywide has been included on a list of measures to make it easier for people to walk or cycle for their exercise during lockdown.

The list is due to be considered by the council’s policy and sustainability committee tomorrow.

But Lib Dem transport spokesman Kevin Lang wants bus stop rationalisation dropped.

He said: “Coronavirus seems to be a convenient smokescreeen for the administration to bring forward one of its most unpopular policies. This is a programme that was already a shambles and has been pulled twice from committee.

“The bus stop rationalisation programme aimed to reduce the number of bus stops across the whole city. It would be utterly ridiculous to have fewer bus stops with longer queues.”

He described the policy of rationalising bus stops as “deeply flawed”.

“There may be a case for certain localised targeted places where there is clear over-provision of bus stops but this is obviously an extremely sensitive issue and it needs to be done with a maximum levels of consultation and community buy-in.”

Tory transport spokesman Susan Webber said there had been problems over lack of consultation when the pilot scheme on the 44 route was proposed.

“This is a city-wide rationalisation. It seems a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

And she added: “It doesn’t make sense - you’ll have more people waiting at bus stops and social distancing will be a challenge. Imagine if you have a big crowd all queuing two metres apart. It’s counter-intuitive to everything my instinct tells me about how to encourage people to safely use public transport.”

But the council said bus stops would be reviewed on a case by case basis as other measures were rolled out, to ensure stops were located in a way that helped people to be socially distant while waiting for a bus.

And it claimed the proposal was “about realigning rather than rationalising bus stops”.

Depute council leader Cammy Day said: “These suggested measures have been developed specifically to protect the safety and wellbeing of residents. We want to let people exercise and make essential journeys while being able to observe physical distancing and to support walking, cycling and the use of public transport once restrictions begin to be eased.

“These kinds of temporary changes are crucial if we are to limit the impact of coronavirus on our city. Realigning, rather than reducing, bus stops will let people queue for buses with plenty of space, for example.

“Our approach has been supported by the Scottish Government and welcomed by all parties - this is about the health and wellbeing of our residents as critics well know. To suggest this is for any other agenda is just irresponsible and utter nonsense.”