Councillor backs Cramond residents fresh calls to reopen road closed under spaces for people

Fed up residents have called for Silverknowes road north be reopened to tackle traffic in Cramond, after large numbers heading to the beauty spot during lockdown sparked safety fears.

Following residents claims the area has been “rammed” by traffic Barnton and Cramond Community council said the city council decision to close the road to cars as part of spaces for people has been a ‘nail in the coffin’ making the situation worse.

It comes after Edinburgh City Council announced a public consultation on the controversial Spaces for People scheme, taking the first steps to making the city wide programme permanent.

Silverknowes Road north was closed to all traffic last year under scheme. In December work started to reinstate access for public transport but the north section of the road remains closed to cars.

Ian Williamson, secretary of the Cramond and Barnton Community Council said: "Lockdown has exacerbated problems we’ve had for a while. Roads and infrastructure can’t cope. When they closed the north section of Silverknowes Road that was the nail in the coffin for us. My house looks onto the promenade. On a decent day we get hammered. What we are trying to do is make things easier not just for those of us who live here but for people who come here. It’s not just an amenity for our own sake.

"The closure is causing massive problems, making the area unsafe and social distancing impossible. But it’s falling on deaf ears. This needs to be taken seriously.”

"Silverknowes road is wide, no houses on it and has got a big pavement either side. It needs to be reopened. The council are being intransigent. They have now told us this needs to be treated as an official complaint.”

Tory councillor Graham Hutchison said: “I have been against the closure of Silverknowes Road north from the outset. It’s frankly pointless. Closing it has created problems for Cramond Glebe Road and Marine Drive, clogging up roads and access to the promenade for locals, visitors and emergency services. It should be reopened immediately. The closure of the road under the spaces for people scheme was rushed through with no consultation.”

Transport and Environment Convener councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Closing Silverknowes Road north was one of the first measures implemented as part of the Spaces for People programme and has helped people take exercise and get to the shore in Cramond easily and safely while physically distancing. These changes were introduced after engaging with emergency services on any impact they would have.

“We’ve since agreed to reintroduce the Lothian Buses service 29 on the west side of road to allow public transport provision to and from the promenade. We will soon be introducing changes on Silverknowes Road, south of Silverknowes Parkway, including segregated bidirectional cycle provision and a signed quiet route that will negate the need to cycle on the main road or across the roundabout.”

Transport and Environment Vice Convener councillor Karen Doran said: “We do appreciate community concerns about the impact of parking on Cramond Glebe Road and our officers are currently looking into ways of relieving congestion on busier days.”

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