The Scotsman

Pedestrian­s get right of way under city centre road closure

- By DAVID BOL

Pedestrian­s would be given priority access on some of Edinburgh’s busiest roads under the proposed overhaul of the Scottish capital.

As well as plans to open up Waverley Bridge as a plaza, the council has published proposals to permanentl­y close Cockburn Street and Victoria Street to traffic.

The Royal Mile would also be shut between North Bridge and St Mary’s Street. Bank Street would be closed, except for buses and taxis.

Candlemake­r Row would only remain open to buses.

Closure of the Old Town Streets are likely to be one of the first visible interventi­ons in the strategy.

A draft timescale from Edinburgh council has planned the changes for between 2021 and 2023.

Lothian Road would remain open to traffic, but be transforme­d into“an urban boulevard ”, with the council keen on “taking some of the space back”.

Project director Daisy Na ray an an said :“There will be a network of carfree streets, essentiall­y Victoria Street, the Royal Mile from Lawnmarket down to St Mary’ s Street, down Cockburn Street and Waverley Bridge.

“This is the essence of what Edinburgh should be. It’ s a medieval heart of a city centre and it’s a pedestrian wonder of the world. It’s a jewel. We are not doing a car-free city centre because that is not deliverabl­e. What we have is the historic core of the city centre will be car free and a zone where cars have access, but very much as a guest.”

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