Safety concern over plans to pedestrianise Edinburgh city centre street

Private hire cars to be banned from George Street under plans to revamp the capital’s New Town

Banning private cars from one of Edinburgh’s busiest night spots could risk people’s safety, according to a leading union.

Edinburgh Council is planning to pedestrianise George Street, banning almost all vehicles from being able to drive on it. The £36 million redesign will see everything other than pedestrians and cyclists excluded between 10am and 7pm most days.

And only certain vehicles will be allowed to access the street outside these times, including black cab taxis.

Plans for the redesigned George Street.

This is all part of a wider redesign of the New Town to help drive down carbon emissions and support the capital’s economic recovery.

However, the GMB union says banning private hire cars could risk people’s safety late at night, particularly if they have had too much to drink or are tourists not familiar with the area.

Colin Dodds, union rep for private hire drivers at GMB Scotland, said: “To ban private hire cars from such an important street for Edinburgh’s night-time economy is unfair on its bars, restaurants and hotels, inconvenient for visitors and customers, and potentially dangerous for people forced to wander off a busy, well-lit street to pick up their private car.

“The plans include two ranks for black cabs, but many people no longer want to wait in the street when they can order cars on their phone, when they can track their car and be told the registration number and the name of the driver.”

What the redesigned George Street will look like.

Mr Dodds said many people now preferred to order a private hire car such as an Uber on their phone rather than hailing a taxi or waiting in a taxi rank because of safety and convenience.

The union has written to Edinburgh Council asking for this proposal to be overturned. Mr Dodds said: “We only want fairness, but our passengers deserve protection.”

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said plans to ban taxis from George Street needed "a complete rethink".

He welcomed a relaxation of the rules to allow coaches to drop off hotel guests, but added: "I understand that if there is too much vehicle access to the street, it is going to compromise the principles of what we’re trying to do. But I think the street has to work for everyone that uses it and the businesses 365 days a year.”

There are concerns for people's safety at night-time on George Street under the new plans.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Edinburgh Council’s transport and environment convener, said consultants working on the redesign of George Street had considered people’s safety in their plans.

He said private hire cars would still be able to access the streets surrounding the new pedestrianised George Street.

Cllr Arthur said: “Blue badge holders will be able to enter the area, and we are looking at how people with disabilities can access the street using licensed taxis, which can carry a passenger in a wheelchair.

“Our current analysis shows that unrestricted taxi access could mean 3,000-5,000 additional vehicles in the area on the busiest days, and I have drawn the conclusion that this would compromise the design and pedestrian safety.

“Of course, I would be happy to discuss this design with GMB Scotland ahead of the statutory consultation.”