Emergency fears over ‘spaces for people’ plans
● Council claims impact is ‘minor’ but residents warn of risk of delays
One in five changes to road usage in Edinburgh could negatively impact emergency services’ ability to get to 999 calls, official reports have warned.
The Spaces for People programme comprises a series of measures implemented by the city council to increase pedestrian and cycling provisions in the city.
In light of the coronavirus crisis and in order to facilitate social distancing, the Scottish Government awarded the council £5 million to fund the programme and introduce measures including cycle segregation lanes, widened footpaths and parking bans on various streets.
Usual consultation processes have been abandoned and instead “key stakeholders” have been given five days to submit feedback on any plans.
According to the council’s own analysis, 20 per cent of proposed Spaces for People changes to roads will have “minor” negative impacts on emergency vehicle routes and their access to patients.
But one East Craigs resident has voiced fears over access for the blue light services.
David hunter ,46, said :“if you have a heart attack and Maybury and Barnton junctions are congested at rush hour then the ambulances would be forced to go and be stuck in that. A bus gate may well allow emergency vehicles access but the concern remains the same that if you have an emergency at the wrong time of day you are in trouble.”
Alongside negatively impacting emergency vehicle accessibility, 43 per cent of proposed road changes under the Spaces for People programme would negatively impact traffic diversions.
The Conservative transport spokesperson on Edinburgh Council, Susan Webber, said: “We all know that every second counts. So when a project looks like it will impede the ability of our emergency services to reach critical incidents then it becomes a straight forward decision for me. These schemes should not proceed any further.”
The council says it is working with emergency services to ensure any impact the Spaces for People programme has on accessibility is minimised.
Transport and environment vice convener, Councillor Karen Doran, said: “In a small number of schemes, a potential minor impact on emergency services has been highlighted. However, our engagement process involves communication with the police, ambulance and fire services, to ensure any impact is minimised so that the public remain safe while also benefiting from the improvements.”