Readers react to plan for monthly traffic-free days in Capital hubs

Readers have been having their say on the possible pedestrianisation in the Capital's eight '˜town centres' - along with the city centre - on the first Sunday of each month.

The council are looking to implement car-free zones in key city hubs. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

Edinburgh City Council will decide today whether to close “key city hubs” under its Open Streets project.

The council’s eight town centres are Corstorphine, Gorgie and Dalry, Leith and Leith Walk, Morningside and Bruntsfield, Nicolson Street and Clerk Street, Portobello, Stockbridge and Tollcross. No plans to close any specific streets have been tabled at this stage, but the proposals would not be constrained to the city centre.

Writing on the Edinburgh Evening News Facebook page, Kyle Oram said: “I have always thought the whole of Princes Street should be fully pedestrianised with cafes and pavement culture it’s full length. What an amazing space and vista to be reduced to a stinky congested street.”

Hugh Oxford added: “On streets, pedestrians and cyclists should have right of way. On roads, motor vehicles should have right of way, with proper accommodation for pedestrians and cyclists. Streets are public, shared spaces. It is totally inappropriate that motor vehicles should have right of way. Cities are homes for people.”

John James wrote: “Businesses receive deliveries every hour of the day. Access for deliveries, which drive the commercial retail, catering and tourist heart of Edinburgh, cannot be pushed into a narrow window of 6 to 8am. It hasn’t been mentioned yet, but it has been before and I’m sure it will again.”

Val McIver said: “The retail customers who wish to buy in store will be discriminated against- again – many of whom cannot walk very far, but are not classed as disabled. I fear the footfall you are talking about are younger people who prefer to shop online!”

Kevin Connolly chimed in saying: “The traffic in Edinburgh would run better if this ridiculous 20mph speed limit was lifted and traffic light sequences worked more efficiently. Too much priority is given to major roads in and out of the city causing side roads to clog up with traffic thus producing more pollution.”

James Saunders wrote: “Such concern for businesses and increased footfall. Just like when they allowed the trams fiasco to roll on unabated while business suffered. Amazing how positions are changed to the goal.”

Kenny Smith added: “No mention of how the disabled would reach areas with a car. No blue badge scheme?”

Neil Robertson simply said: “Dundee City centre has been pedestrianised, need I say more?”

Stuart Andrew D Rankin wrote: “This should have happened years ago, but the council took the soft option & asked for a vote on it, thus taking no responsibility for their non-action leading to the present day chaos.”

Hazel Smith concluded: “We keep being told Scotland has an ageing population. It is already hard enough to get about Edinburgh. If we come to Waverley we cannot now get on.”

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