Cars driven off the road by capital’s city centre ban

EDINBURGH is to become the first city in Scotland to ban cars from city centre streets on certain days in an attempt to cut congestion and air pollution.

Councillors have given the go-ahead to a pilot project that will see key streets closed to traffic on the first Sunday of every month from 10am to 5pm.

But business leaders warned the plans needed to be “practical” because many shops rely on passing trade from motorists.

City leaders, who want to make Edinburgh easier to get around and are also attempting to improve air quality, have yet to decide which streets will be covered by the new ban.

But they insisted it would include “key parts of the city centre and town centres”.

Based on similar, successful schemes in Paris and New York, they said it would “help citizens experience the city in a quieter, more peoplefocused environment”.

It is also hoped the move will make public transport in Edinburgh more appealing.

An eight-week consultation beginning next month will set out ideas including pedestrianised streets, widened pavements and regular vehicle-free days.

Andrew Mcrae, of the Federation of Small Business, sounded a note of caution, warning that the “wheels of commerce continue to be turned by cars, vans and lorries”.

He said: “The idea of car-free streets in our cities will appeal to some business owners, especially those who are concerned about poor air quality and congestion driving away customers.

“But we must be practical. Businesses, especially retailers, cafes, coffee shops and the like, need access to passing trade – motorists nipping out to buy a paper and or a pastry.

“They also need to be able to accept deliveries seven days a week. A decent, usable local road network is key to small business productivity and this should be the transport priority.”

Edinburgh’s transport leader Councillor Lesley Macinnes said fears over air quality and rising levels of traffic congestion meant radical action would be required to make the city easier to travel around.

She said: “The status quo is not an option any more. As a council we are serious about tackling poor air quality, reducing congestion and making it as easy as possible to get around Edinburgh, especially by walking, cycling and public transport.”