Princes Street car ban ‘will not be lifted’

PRINCES Street will not be opened to cars as a way of alleviating problems caused by the city’s tramworks, the council’s transport leader has said.

Councillor Lesley Hinds said there would be no U-turn on the decision to stop motorists driving on Princes Street while major construction on the tram project was under way at York Place.

Motorists will instead have to use diversions through Abercromby Place, Heriot Row and Albany Street to get from the west end to the east end of the city during the year-long closure .

As revealed in the Evening News yesterday, Princes Street will reopen to buses within days – just before York Place closes to all vehicles except buses from July 14, before being completely shut in September.

York Place will not reopen until the end of 2013, and community groups had suggested allowing cars on to Princes Street to alleviate the problems.