On 23 July, Edinburgh Council transport officials published draft proposals to make temporary changes to the Queensferry High Street. This is part of the ‘spaces for people’ initiative which has been undertaken in response to social distancing requirements.

You can see details of the proposals here.

There was only a short consultation window and we worked hard as councillors to engage as widely as we could on the plans.

We want to say a huge thank you to all the residents who completed our online survey and fed in their views. We got well over 600 responses from residents right across Queensferry and Dalmeny. We also engaged with the owners of a number of small businesses on the High Street.

The survey results showed strong and differing views. Overall, 58% said they supported the officers’ proposals. 32% said they were opposed to the changes with the remaining 10% saying they did not have a strong view one way or another.

However, views varied significantly throughout the town. For example, from those we heard from and who live on the High Street, 84% were in favour compared to 16% opposed. For those residents living on or just next to Rosshill Terrace / Station Road, only 31% were in favour with 69% opposed.

You can see a report of the full results here.

Inevitably, as local councillors, it’s difficult to try and represent all these differing views.

For our part, we realise the levels of traffic currently being seen on the High Street are causing significant challenges. The width of pavements and the requirement for social distancing is forcing people, including children, to walk onto the road. This creates unacceptable safety risks.

Similarly, the current two-way flow of traffic along the narrow High Street causes substantial congestion, particularity at weekends.

In our formal response to officers, we raised a number of key issues and practical problems with the plans as proposed. For example;

1. The risk the turning circle at the centre of the High Street could increase rather than decrease congestion.
2. Questions on how the proposed residents parking arrangements on Edinburgh Road will be administered and enforced.
3. The two-hour time period for visitor parking being too short (a real concern raised with us by businesses).
4. Issues relating to the wording of the proposed signage (particularly the use of ‘road closed’) which could significantly deter visitors and business customers.
5. Whether a one-way system or the option of a trial was considered and, if so, why these were dismissed.
6. Perhaps most significantly, the huge concern about diverting traffic along Station Road / Rosshill Terrace along (in some cases) narrow roads and past two primary schools and one secondary school.

Officers will now need to consider all the feedback received and decide whether to proceed with these or amended plans. We will make sure to keep residents updated.