Edinburgh locals have expressed safety fears over new road management measures introduced by the city council.
The authority's pilot Low Traffic Neighborhood Scheme or LTN in Corstorphine aims to create a "safer and more comfortable street environment for residents to walk, cycle, wheel, and spend time in." Measures proposed include banning through traffic from certain streets.
But a group of residents including cyclists and motorists have banded together to oppose the plans. They claim to haver been ignored by officials and fear the plans will push cars onto neighbouring streets and make them more dangerous.
Council chiefs assured the views of locals are being considered and are helping shape the trial scheme - while families are already reporting benefits of the scheme.
The LTN measures are being trialled around the country in a bid to help reduce volumes and speed of traffic and aim to improve accessibility for local residents.
In 2021, Edinburgh Council published the results of a consultation that they led on the proposed plans for the Corstorphine area which some residents opposed.
This has led to the creation of a Facebook Group, 'Stop the Corstorphine LTN' which has now amassed over 1,400 members in a week. Edinburgh Live spoke to two residents who reached out to us to discuss their concerns.
Keen cyclist David Madine has lived in the Corstorphine area for almost five years. He said: "At its fundamental basis, it is undemocratic, they gave people the option to respond to the consultation, and people did respond even though it was a small number, people did respond and it still went through.
"There are a lot of older residents who round the community as well and there a lot of people who still don't know what is happening."
A proposed bus gate on Manse Road, just off St John's Road, was opposed by 136 to 40 in a survey. David went on to talk about his worries of the proposed plans such as traffic constraints. He said: "I think this is very important to say but this isn't, cyclists versus motorists or anything like that. I detest the rat race terms that people use or the militant cyclists groups people bamby on about because it is untrue.
"From my point of view, I want to know where the traffic is going to go. It is not simply a case of let's close the road and traffic will evaporate. What we have seen so far is that our fears are valid and it's making the rest of the streets significantly busier and significantly more dangerous for people.
"I have two young girls who are just beginning scooting and cycling around the place and I believe it is making it unsafe for them due to the additional traffic which was not there before."
Accompanying, David was Peter Roberts, 55, a resident of the area for 23 years. Peter has similar concerns and is also worried that many local residents are unaware of the proposed plans.
Peter said: "They are essentially restricting the number of ways you can go in and out of Corstorphine. At the moment you can go in a number of roads to disburse it, by restraining traffic to a smaller number of ways you aren't going to eliminate any cars
"Traffic will just be funnelled along streets making those roads much more congested, more dangerous, and ultimately more pollutive as people spend more time in their cars.
"We all want to reduce pollution but you don't make that happen by making journeys longer and more inconvenient. In its own terms, if it is designed to support and absorb traffic, it is going about it entirely the wrong way."
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “As part of the development of designs for Corstorphine Connections, which was approved by Transport and Environment Committee in August 2021, the Council carried out lots of engagement with the local community, many of whom highlighted concerns with the volume and speed of traffic in the area. Independent market research carried out also showed more people were in support of than against the project.
“The Council listened to concerns expressed by residents before implementing the experimental scheme, and modified the measures that residents were most concerned about, for example removing a proposed ‘bus gate’ on Corstorphine High Street.
“As with any project of this nature the Council engaged with the emergency services to ensure they would not be negatively impacted by the new layout and have retained access for residents and businesses travelling by motor vehicle.
“By limiting through traffic and providing spaces to sit, relax and interact, Corstorphine Connections aims to create a much safer and more welcoming environment for people living there. I know already that many parents have enjoyed being able to walk and cycle more easily with their children since we started implementing the scheme, particularly during this warmer weather.
“A degree of uncertainty was expected as drivers come to terms with the fact that they can no longer cut through the residential area. Please keep in mind, however, that the changes are simply a trial and will be undone or modified if negative consequences outweigh the benefits. Indeed, I still want to hear residents’ views and I look forward to receiving feedback as part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order process.
“Within a few days the traffic should have stabilised, and at that point I intent to pop out to see the scheme working and speak with local residents.”
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