Car ban plan for only one side of Shore

MOTORISTS are to be banned from one side of the Shore under plans being drawn up to breathe new life into the historic area.

• Taxi association's Raymond Davidson bemoans plans

Plans to reduce congestion in the area will see all traffic except buses and bikes banned from travelling north on the section of road between Tolbooth Wynd and Bernard Street.

That will mean only buses will be able to use the lane closest to the water on the side of the road with most of the area's bars and restaurants.

The move falls short of the complete ban on cars which some local residents and businesses had called for, but has still been criticised by the city's taxi drivers.

• Do you agree with plans to ban traffic from one side of the Shore? Vote here

As well as banning cars from travelling on one side of the street, there will also be a series of measures to encourage pedestrians into the area, including widening pavements and tackling illegal on-street parking.

A spokeswoman for the city council said today: "These are positive plans to improve the local environment and reduce the heavy traffic on the Shore area.

"A public consultation has been held and we received positive feedback.

We will also be discussing the proposals with taxi companies and Lothian Buses."

Proposals for banning cars on the Shore were first mooted after the success of a car-free day in 2009.

The council-backed car-free day gave people a glimpse of what life would be like without traffic and received widespread public support.

It came after local group Friends of the Water of Leith complained about the increasing levels of traffic, including buses and HGVs, using the area.

Taxi drivers have hit out at the latest plans, saying the move will make it harder for them to ply their trade in the area.

Raymond Davidson, of the Edinburgh Taxi Association, said: "It looks like the council have got it in for the taxi drivers at the moment after the ban on cabs using Holyrood Park, which we managed to get overturned.

"It's just one thing after the other at the moment. Hopefully, this is just an experiment."

The council said a public consultation on the proposals had been "very positive" and had received very few objections.

Work will start on introducing the traffic management measures in September, if they are approved at the council's next transport committee meeting.

A consultation with taxi companies and Lothian Buses is due to start soon, the council said.