Roads boss ‘kept awake’ by fear festival-goers will be hit by bus
Edinburgh City Council’s roads chief is “kept awake” by nightmares that summer festival-goers will be hit by a bus if nothing is done to tackle crowded pavements.
Council officers are concerned about a “growing ten- dency for pedestrians to spill on to roadways” and “increasing the potential for conflict with vehicles and accidents” during August in the city centre.
The authority’s culture and communities committee discussed a report on how the council will manage next year’s summer festivals – with Conservative councillors demanding that the full council debate the issue next week.
Paul Lawrence, whose position at the council is executive director of place, spoke out about his fears that pedestrians are at risk of colliding with a bus on South Bridge.
He said: “I’m constantly talking to officers about the concerns we have around public safety.
“This is an amazing oneoff global event but I am kept awake by the potential of people being pushed into busy bus lanes.
“We might have to look at different forms of traffic management to try and address exactly that issue.”
The authority will bring forward detailed proposals early next year to extend the festival space around the Royal Mile up to the junction with North Bridge for 2019, including Hunter Square.