Leith campaigners hoping for a car-free zone on the Shore

Published on Tuesday 27 October 2009 08:46

A HISTORIC cobbled street could become a car-free zone under plans being put forward by local campaigners.

The newly formed Friends of the Water of Leith and environmental group Greener Leith both support plans to pedestrianise the Shore.

It follows a council-backed car-free day on the street last month in which local people were given a glimpse of what life would be like without traffic.

Greener Leith, which recently launched the We Love Leith campaign, said the most popular suggestion from locals taking part in an ongoing travel survey was currently to ban traffic from the Shore.

Alastair Tibbitt, chairman of Greener Leith, said: "Pedestrianisation seems to have a huge amount of support among people in Leith. All the research from elsewhere suggests it has economic benefits in that it helps to promote cafe culture.

"If you speak to the owners of bars and restaurants on the Shore, many would be delighted to be able to expand out on to the street."

Mr Tibbitt said that with the current traffic diversions brought in for the tram project there was a bus passing along the Shore once every four minutes.

George Johnson, chairman of the Friends of the Water of Leith, added: "The racket on the cobbles for the people living here is just extraordinary. I'm making a plea for something to be done about that. We would really like to see some form of pedestrianisation in the Water of Leith area.

"We are deeply concerned about the number of trucks, HGVs, cars and now buses coming down the Shore."

Last month cars were banned from the Shore for an afternoon as part of an event to promote more sustainable forms of transport.

The We Love Leith initiative received widespread public support and gained the backing of the city council, which agreed to divert the number 22 bus for the day.

The council recently commissioned a feasibility study looking into plans for a pedestrianised Princes Street for when the trams are up and running.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport leader, said he had agreed to meet with the Friends of the Water of Leith and local councillor Marjorie Thomas to discuss pedestrianisation.

Last month Greener Leith accused transport chiefs of "ruining" cobbled streets with temporary repairs to potholes.