Car ban prospect to make Edinburgh’s New Town ‘world class’ for pedestrians
0 Plans for George Street include plazas and dedicated cycle routes in an ‘enhanced pedestrian space’. Trees would also be planted Cars could be banned from Edinburgh’s George Street as part of proposals revealed to transform the New Town into a “world class space” for pedestrians.
The draft plans for George Street, Hanover Street, Frederick Street and Castle Street could see “plazas” and dedicated cycle routes created, as well as a vision for an “enhanced pedestrian space”.
The George Street concept includes a specific proposal to consider “the restriction of vehicle access” to business waste collections and deliveries and restrictions on “access hours to key times of day to reduce vehicle dominance”.
The bus network is not mentioned in the draft proposals and the future of public transport is expected to be set out in the council’s city centre transformation project.
The draft design
for the George Street and New Town (GNT) project has been produced following extensive consultation including with community and specialist interest groups.
Lesley Macinnes, transport and environment convener, said: “The GNT project is widely recognised as a crucial catalyst to re-invigorating George Street and adjoining New Town streets for the present day but is also fundamental to ensuring the area can easily adapt in the future as the city of Edinburgh continues to evolve.
“The concept design aims to create a world-class space that respects and enhances the World Heritage Site.
“It seeks to make the First New Town a safer and more vibrant area by opening up central places to more people and enhancing the current setting and position of the street’s statues to make greater feature points of them.
“The concept has been shaped through ongoing stakeholder consultation and listening to a wide range of views and aspirations.”
The council’s ambition is for George Street to be “on par with other great global cities” by giving more focus to pedestrians. Significantly more outdoor seating could be made available, while the central car parking space could disappear – which the council says “detracts from the character and heritage of the street”.
Other proposals include prioritising blue badge parking on George Street, with residents and pay and display parking moved to side streets. Trees could also be planted along George Street, while “dedicated delivery and servicing areas” could be created.
If approved, pavements could be widened to “enhance the pedestrian experience, accessibility and movement flow” along George Street.