Here's why the Spaces for People programme isn't working - Donald Nairn

She then says the Spaces for People programme, intended to allow social distancing and provide an alternative to travelling by bus, “encourages more people to step away from congestion-causing car use, especially for short journeys, and to embrace healthier options”. This has nothing to do with Covid-19 and represents a gross abuse of the emergency powers.

These measures have not worked as she might have intended. Those with cars are choosing not to cycle to their local shops. Instead, they are pointing their cars around and heading out of town to the giant retail parks. This is devastating for local shopping centres like Morningside Bruntsfield or Stockbridge and creates more congestion as the journeys are far longer. They are also spending their money on tax-shy companies like Amazon. People sitting in front of their laptop do not represent “healthier options”.

Her next point was “research clearly shows that people who shop on foot and bike tend to shop more often and ultimately spend more money than those who arrive by car”. This sheer propaganda refers to research by Transport for London (TfL) into the effects of Dutch-style streetscapes in London. London is a completely different city with a young population and a much better public transport. The real weakness in this argument is the presumption you can force all car users to start cycling, such as the elderly, disabled and people with young families. Lesley MacInnes’ plans exclude those who already feel marginalised and excluded. This is simply cruel.

I and my fellow traders are not against all aspects of Spaces for People. Well thought out cycleways where the streets can accommodate them, are an excellent idea.

The pavement widening is for the most part just daft and badly implemented. I have observed precious little use of the extra space given to pedestrians with the exception of a short stretch of pavement (144-160 Morningside Road), which we always agreed was far too narrow. Worse, it is dangerous. There have been several incidences of people tripping over the dark coloured bollard bases and this will only get worse as the nights get darker.

As a cyclist, there are several streets I now avoid. The pavement widening has made a lot of roads extremely narrow, with the result that motorists cannot pass safely. This leads to dangerous manoeuvres by drivers or severe congestion. I have also seen ambulances stuck in traffic.

If the council is serious about reducing the impact of car usage, there are far better ways to do it. They could provide free bus transport, increase the cost of a parking permit for non-electric cars and use technology to enable car sharing. We could also reopen the South Suburban Railway line for passenger use.

Donald Nairn owns Toys Galore on Morningside Road