Anger as contractors' staff use Meadows as 'private car park'

Published on Thursday 8 January 2009 08:50

CAMPAIGNERS have hit out after part of the Meadows was turned into a "temporary car park" during work on a revamp of the city's busiest park.

A major refurbishment of the main path through the Meadows has seen much of Middle Meadow Walk fenced off.

But up to ten cars a day have been parked behind the temporary fencing, with many of them thought to belong to contractors working on the 60,000 project.

The scheme will see Middle Meadow Walk refurbished and resurfaced, along with a renewal of its gullies to prevent flooding.

Work is focused on a section of the park where a number of paths cross – just south of the new Sainsbury's supermarket – which is popular with both pedestrians and cyclists.

Campaigners and local councillors today accused the council's contractors of using the Meadows as their own personal car park.

Council bosses confirmed parking on the Meadows was forbidden, adding they would investigate why so many vehicles have been parked on the popular footpath and cycleway.

Alison Johnstone, Green councillor for the Meadows and Morningside ward, said: "I understand why the fencing is put in place to make sure pedestrians are safe during the work. But I think any vehicle that has nothing to do with the works should not be parked there. It is a park after all.

"The fences should only be up if there is work taking place behind them and there is no way this path should be being used as some sort of temporary car park."

Traders in Leith Walk have made similar complaints about tram contractors parking their private cars in fenced-off areas along the busy street.

Chris Wigglesworth, chairman of Friends of the Meadows, said: "I think people will be annoyed to see so many cars in the Meadows unnecessarily, but it is part of a wider problem of too many vehicles in the park. The paths have all been widened over the years and this has encouraged more vehicles on to them. It is something the council needs to get on top of."

Developer Gladedale, which is behind the neighbouring Quartermile scheme, will pick up the 60,000 cost of the refurbishment project. Much of the grass surrounding the paths has been worn away by people taking shortcuts and fencing will be installed to try to stop this happening again.

Other improvements planned include the planting of more bulbs in the area.

A council spokesman confirmed no cars should be parked on the Meadows and only vehicles necessary for the refurbishment project would be allowed on.

He added: "We will be looking into why these cars were parked there."