Car-free zone

Edinburgh is to become the first place in Scotland to introduce city centre carfree zones once a month in a move that councillors believe will “leave a legacy” for future generations.

Once a month, the disabled, elderly and infirm are denied vehicular access. Once a month, tourists have no vehicular access to or from their accommodation. Once a month, businesses needlessly lose even more revenue as (what will obviously be Sunday) visitors avoid the area. Why do the council insist on foisting this rubbish upon us? The City Chambers is already drowning in debt. The city doesn’t need any more “legacies” or sham “public consultations”. The council should get its own financial house in order and improving existing core services.

Greig Cockburn Have you tried driving through Edinburgh city centre recently? It’s totally blocked by cars and tour buses – traffic can’t move. The council is trying to look ahead and put measures in place to stop us grinding to an emission-choked halt as ever more vehicles pile in.

Elaine Mason I live in the city centre. Surely I should be exempt? I’m paying council tax, I work away caring for the elderly and infirm now and again . . .why would I need to lump my luggage home from some distant non-existing parking lot on the outskirts of the city centre? Will I get money back on my parking permit? It should be tourists and visitors who should be parking in park-and-rides and getting buses in. As it is I loathe having to leave my parking spot as it’ll take 20-30 minutes to find a space I’ve paid for upon my return.

Kirsten G Nielsen They are closing certain streets not the entire city centre. There’s going to be a public consultation where your concerns can be raised and I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to close roads which will prevent people accessing their own homes.

Heather Gibb Emergency, commercial and disabled access will still be available! They’re talking

one day a month! Many other cities have car-free zones and it works well for them. Why would it be so difficult?

Jill Simon I don’t see how not going into the city centre makes a person “housebound”? They can still leave their house and go elsewhere, in particular shopping centres that are not in the city centre.

Kenney Mortimer How about introducing car allowed zones once a month? There is no reason that anybody needs to drive their own car in Edinburgh.

Sean Wichman What Edinburgh council is really saying is we don’t want business in Edinburgh, it’s too difficult to deal with, so let’s make sure no-one can access. The guys in charge of transport in Edinburgh need to wake up and realise that their war on the car has just gone one step too far.

Jonathan Innes The whole of Bruges shuts down to traffic one Sunday a month and it is amazing! Street performers, markets, bars set up, extra seating on the streets and along the canals. It’s busier than on a normal Sunday! I was lucky to experience it. And there is special access for disabled vehicles, emergency services etc.

Niamh King Macfarlane