Edinburgh Council proposes to temporarily ban parking in nine high streets across the city

In order to “facilitate social distancing”, Edinburgh City Council is looking to “suspend all parking places apart from loading bays and disabled persons’ parking places” on main roads in and around Corstorphine, Easter Road and Great Junction Street, Gorgie and Dalry, Minto Street, Morningside and Bruntsfield, Portobello, Queensferry, Stockbridge and Tollcross.

Plans are also in place to “widen footways and remove guardrails and street clutter” in these locations.

If approved, parking bans and other changes to roads will be implemented by the council under emergency delegated decision-making powers using a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order.

Under these powers the council is not required to undertake usual community consultation processes. Furthermore, proposals are not required to be, and have not been, uploaded to the council’s website for residents to view and comment on.

Instead of a community consultation, “key stakeholders” in relevant areas of the city, including councillors, community councils, business representatives, emergency services and travel and equality organisations, have been emailed planning proposals, alongside maps detailing where the parking bans will be enforced. Stakeholders have been given five days, ending Friday this week, to respond with any issues they may have.

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener for Edinburgh City Council, said: “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to our ambitious programme of changes and groups such as Spokes are being extremely supportive.

“These are unprecedented times and we’re working hard to deliver, as part of the bigger initiative, a substantial set of nine town centre plans in two phases as quickly as possible to make it easier to walk, cycle and wheel while maintaining physical distancing. We also need to take account of public transport and businesses operating in each area.”

“Wider clutter-free pavements is one of the top priorities that people have told us about via our online ‘Commonplace’ mapping tool, and these initial interventions will really help in supporting safe physical distancing. We’re also focusing on supporting businesses to reopen by creating welcoming, safe spaces for people to spend time and visit cafes, bars and restaurants, shops and other services.

“We have stated from the start that while full consultation is not possible, due to the emergency nature of these actions, we are consulting with as many groups and organisations as we can and we’ve also been liaising with the Federation of Small Business, Chamber of Commerce and local business associations where possible throughout this process. Their feedback is invaluable is shaping final plans.”

However, the East Scotland branch of the Federation for Small Business has said they have not yet been contacted by the council, and are concerned that for local businesses with customer bases across and outside of the city, “these changes may well be an issue.”

Garry Clark, East of Scotland Development Manager for the Federation, said: “The Federation of Small Business has definitely not been consulted on these specific proposals. For a business that relies very heavily on local people shopping these plans may not be a big issue. But for those businesses that have a wider customer base across or outside of the city, these changes may well be an issue.

“There is also the question of what kind of products local businesses sell. Can products be carried in the hand or is the product something bulkier that you couldn’t even transfer by bike? We’ve said consistently that the council must consult fully with local businesses before making any blanket bans on parking.”

Despite the council’s stated aims, both councillors and residents who have accessed the maps and planning details for parking bans have raised concerns.

The Liberal Democrats transport spokesperson, Cllr Kevin Lang, described them as “vague and vacuous”, and the five-day key stakeholder consultation as “utterly meaningless”.

Conservative Cllr Joanna Mowat said: “It’s really difficult to make changes such as these when you can’t get out and about to talk to different businesses. Businesses are running a business, they’re there to make their daily bread. It’s tough for a lot of them at the moment and I’m uncomfortable with doing anything that will make things more challenging for them or without having been able to go out ask ‘what do you need?’”

Posting on a Facebook forum for Portobello residents, Marc Robertson said: “This is not a good plan. Emphasise personal responsibility for hygiene, mask and distance protocols and that will have a greater impact without killing off the shops.”

Meanwhile, in a forum for Corstophine residents, Smith C Karen said: “Just a joke, there is no need for ANY of this. Folk can socially distance very well with the status quo.”