Park car for free near tram route

Published on Thursday 22 May 2008 10:28

FREE parking spaces will be created on council-owned land along the trams route in a bid to help ailing traders, under plans being considered by city leaders.

Officials are considering the temporary move for land at the former Leith tram garage and Leith Water World – both off Leith Walk near Manderston Street – as well as the old Royal High School on Regent Road.

The initiative is aimed at boosting the flagging fortunes of businesses along Leith Walk, many of which say they are losing thousands of pounds of trade due to the disruption.

It is not known at this stage how many spaces can be created under the scheme, but officials have said proper signposting would be put in place to direct drivers to the temporary parking spaces.

The move has today been welcomed by business leaders and opposition politicians.

Gordon Burgess, a spokesman for the newly-formed Leith Walk and Constitution Street Traders Association, said: "I think anything that improves the parking situation on Leith Walk will be welcomed by the businesses down here.

"It will not benefit everyone of course, but at least it is something the council can do in the short term to help."

In July, Leith Walk will be made a one-way street as part of the latest round of trams roadworks.

The temporary move means traffic will be able to travel southbound on Leith Walk, but northbound vehicles will be diverted on to Easter Road.

The road needs to be reduced to one side because engineers need to work on moving utility services that cross the road rather than travel vertically. It is thought the works will last around three weeks.

Leith Walk councillor Angela Blacklock said: "It's a good idea and something the council can do, hopefully relatively quickly, which won't cost a lot of money.

"I don't think the shops particularly want handouts from the council and practical measures like this might have a bigger impact.

"There is no doubt that businesses on Leith Walk and the surrounding streets are suffering, so anything we can do to help has to be welcomed."

Council officials have also instructed the city's parking contractor, NCP Services, to pay particular attention to Elm Row, ahead of works at the London Road junction.

A four-month project to divert utilities at the London Road/Leith Walk roundabout gets under way on June 2.

The work involves lane reductions on southbound Leith Walk traffic, while a contraflow will be in place for northbound traffic.

The Blenheim Place and Elm Row junctions with London Road will be closed, as will the Montgomery Street Junction with Leith Walk.

City leader Jenny Dawe said: "We have moved some way to addressing the issues in Leith Walk. We do, though, still have some challenges facing us."

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