Disabled parking bay in middle of busy Edinburgh road is removed after danger warnings

The bay on Pentland Terrace, part of the A702 main route in and out of the Capital, was installed as part of Spaces for People measures designed to make it easier for people to distance while walking and cycling.

But it was positioned several feet into the carriageway, separated from the pavement by a cycle lane, meaning anyone getting out of a car parked there would be stepping into a lane of traffic moving at speeds of up to 40mph or into a cycle lane where they risked colliding with a bike.

The arrangement – highlighted by the Evening News in September – was condemned as “crazy”, “downright dangerous” and an accident waiting to happen.

And the couple who had requested a disabled bay, Bob Cunningham, 73, said his wife Pat, also 73, who has Parkinson's disease, said they would not be able to use the bay at all because she could only walk very slowly.

At the time, the council defended the location of the bay, saying it complied with Edinburgh street design guidance.

But now it has been removed altogether. The council said the decision followed discussions with Mr and Mrs Cunningham.

It is understood one of the traffic “wands” marking the cycle lane has been removed which will allow Mr Cunningham to drop his wife at the kerb.

Jason Rust, Tory councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead, hailed the move as “yet another U-turn with this scheme”.

He said: “The original decision to put the bay where it was was clearly ludicrous. It’s just a shame it has taken weeks and the council being embarrassed before it sees common sense. Hopefully this is a marker for future projects that this will not be repeated.”

Transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “The benefit of temporary Spaces for People schemes is we’re able to amend elements of their design where we can, if it’s appropriate, so that they work as well as possible for everyone.

“In this case, while the disabled parking bay and surrounding parking fully complied with design guidance, we have liaised with the residents who originally requested the bay and have found a more suitable solution for their particular needs.”

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