Businesses need a say in council’s traffic-changing measures – Helen Martin

Many of these decisions are being taken by the SNP ‘ruling’ party and supporters without all locally elected councillors including Tories and independents, being included in discussions, debates, objections, approval or disapproval. Sounds rather like the Tory system in Westminster. It seems consultation with businesses affected by these decisions get very little input into the plan.

I can understand traffic road closures make life simple for cyclists and healthy pedestrians as well as reducing pollution and I can accept parking regulations are important, just two of all sorts of aspects of change which are within council power.

But, for example, what would blocking traffic do to business deliveries, dropping off someone disabled to a restaurant or any other challenge?

I know a very long-established car-repair garage, built at the end of a little industrial lane, has been forced into closure because its long-standing parking area for clients has been cut out following complaints from a new block of flats whose owners have their own underground garage anyway.

The council claims their projects are all for wellbeing, prosperity and boosting the city’s economy.

Barring access doesn’t help businesses, especially if there is not provision of alternative nearby parking places.

Edinburgh is not a flat city with perfect pavements. It has hills, cobbles and bends which doesn’t work well for trolleys, wheelchairs and elderly.

Businesses and locals may head out of town. The centre can depend on tourists, walkers and cyclists.