Recommendations
Public consultation and market research
A report on the future of Spaces for People measures was considered by the Transport and Environment Committee on 17 June where officers recommended the following:
- remove from the east end of Princes Street, George IV Bridge and Forest Road
- remove measures on all local shopping streets with small lengths of widened footways retained where there isn’t adequate space for people to walk, such as Portobello High Street
- remove measures at Links Place, although this will be reconsidered as part of the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood proposals
- re-prioritise school travel plans, with a view to bringing forward new ‘school streets’ measures to replace SfP measures by the end of 2021.
Transport and Environment Committee recommendations
The committee met on the 22 June to consider an officer report on the potential retention of Spaces for People measures. At that meeting Councillors voted to refer the report to Full Council with the following changes:
- remove the scheme at Lanark Road and engage with residents and community representatives to address parking issues, with the 30mph speed limit retained
- improve signage at West Harbour Road/West Shore Road and increase disabled parking bays where the street is closed
- report back to future committees after further engagement or design updates for the following schemes:
- Drum Brae
- Comiston Road
- Braid Road
- Forest Road
- George IV Bridge
- Silverknowes Road South.
Meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council
At the meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council on June 24, it was agreed to move forward with the committee recommendations with one change:
- Retain the scheme at Lanark Road and engage with residents and community representatives to devise a new plan by September.
Where the decision is to remove measures, we may need to keep them on the ground for as long as government guidance on distancing is in place.