Tram chiefs drive through scheme to impose car ban

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 14:49

TRAM bosses are set to press ahead with permanently banning cars from Shandwick Place as part of a controversial city-wide traffic shake-up, despite scores of objections from local residents.

&#149 Banning cars from Shandwick Place will not be popular with local businesses

Residents of the New Town had complained that closing the key artery to traffic had led to an increase in noise and pollution for those living in surrounding streets.

However, council officials have recommended ignoring the objections, which they claim were based on "unreliable" figures about increased pollution levels.

More than 400 objections were raised across the Capital after the city council released details of the major traffic shake-up needed to make way for trams.

While the new restrictions include removing the last remaining car access to Princes Street and changes at Haymarket, St Andrew Square and Leith Walk, it is plans for Shandwick Place and Blenheim Place, off London Road, which have raised the most opposition.

Officials have agreed to look again at plans for banning right turns from London Road into Blenheim Place after local residents and businesses raised concerns about being cut off by the ban.

There looks set to be no reprieve for residents in the streets surrounding Shandwick Place though, after officials ruled that banning cars from the busy street was vital to the overall success of the tram project.

According to traffic models, opening the road to all traffic would delay westbound trams by up to eight minutes during the morning rush hour, reducing the project's business case by 42.5m over a 60-year period.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport leader, said: "Considering the scope of alterations along the on-street sections we have had a relatively low volume of objections and many of those we have received relate to wider issues rather than being specific to the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process.

"However, we do recognise that a number of people have concerns that their local areas will be adversely affected by changes to the road network.

"While the impact on the wider area around Shandwick Place is not a statutory concern of the TRO process, we are proposing that a series of workshops be held with local people to investigate whether any of their suggestions, or any other measures, can be put in to minimise the impact of displaced traffic on their area."

The council had received almost 150 objections from residents living in the various New Town streets surrounding Shandwick Place who had claimed increase traffic levels were damaging to their health.

The council said pollution figures collected by the local Moray Feu residents' association had been "unreliable," and said its own analysis had shown nitrogen dioxide levels to be within EU limits.

Meanwhile, plans for a temporary lifting of the ban on traffic in Shandwick Place until the tram works re-start are set to be rejected after officials said re-instating previous traffic management measures would cost 340,000.

CHANGING LANES

Chris Marshall

Princes Street: Last remaining car access to the thoroughfare - on the Gardens' side carriageway at night - set to be blocked.

Leith Walk: Junctions at Picardy Place and London Road would be replaced with traffic light junctions.

The Mound: All left and right turns at The Mound on to Princes Street set to be banned, with traffic also no longer permitted to turn left from Lothian Road into Shandwick Place.

Haymarket: Torphichen Street set to change from having one-way to two-way traffic, while Canning Street would become one-way northbound for buses, taxis and cycles only.