More controversy over Edinburgh traffic measures as road closures proposed near primary school

The proposals for the area around Buckstone Primary School include shutting off one road and banning vehicles from another.

But residents say they fear the restrictions could hamper fire engines or ambulances reaching the school in an emergency. They wonder why the measures are being introduced as "urgent" nine months into the pandemic. And they claim the proposals look like a revival of a previous scheme rejected by residents.

Under the plans, Buckstone Loan East will be closed to traffic at Buckstone Close, with access maintained for pedestrians and cyclists. And vehicles will be prohibited on Buckstone Circle, though residents, school deliveries and waste collections will be allowed.

Jason Rust, Conservative councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead, said the proposals appeared rushed since in the council notification Buckstone Circle was wrongly named Circus and the deadline date for comments was given as September 10 instead of December 10.

Cllr Rust said, “I have serious concerns about how this latest iteration of Spaces for People is being rolled out with incorrect deadline, wrong street name and most significantly no real understanding as to what the emergency they are trying to address actually is.

“Again there has been no proper community consultation by the council and I know residents have concerns about possible closures making it difficult for emergency vehicle access, waste collections and delivery drivers."

Norman Tinlin, who lives close to the school and is also secretary of Fairmilehead community council, claimed the proposals were unnecessary. “All that is required is proper enforcement of the existing yellow lines at the appropriate times.”

He said it was not clear whether the restrictions were to apply only during school pick-up and drop-off times, for the whole of the school day or 24/7.

He claimed: “The proposals appear to be a cut-down version of the School Streets proposals of 2014/2015 which were firmly rejected by the local residents at that time and subsequently withdrawn by the council.”

And he asked: “Why is there an urgency to impose these measures considering Covid-19 has been around since the beginning of the year and can no longer be considered to be an emergency? It appears that the pandemic is just being used as an excuse to implement proposals which have been previously rejected.”

The council said the temporary measures were being introduced because there was still a need for physical distancing, including going to and from school.

It confirmed the restrictions would be 24/7 and said the previous School Streets proposals were only for the start and end of the day and would have been permanent.

Transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “The closure on Buckstone Loan East, which follows a request by the local school and was developed in liaison with the parent council, is fundamentally about improving safety for children, parents and residents. By closing the road at one end we will significantly reduce through-traffic, creating more space for walking, cycling and wheeling while physically distancing. Of course, as is the case with any Spaces for People scheme, we have maintained access for emergency services.”

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