No more parking on George Street under new vision from city council
A range of changes is being proposed including the removal of parking bays in the middle of the road.
Last updated 8th Nov 2018
The parking spaces in the middle of George Street could be removed so the pavements can be widened and dedicated cycle lanes set up.
The proposal is part of wide-ranging plans being unveiled by the city council to improve the busy thoroughfare and New Town.
A design for the future of the area is going on show at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre.
Transport Convener, Lesley Macinne said: "The project is widely recognised as a crucial catalyst to re-invigorating George Street and adjoining New Town streets for the present day but is also fundamental to ensuring the area can easily adapt in the future.
"The concept design aims to create a world-class space that respects and enhances the World Heritage Site.
"It seeks to make the First New Town a safer and more vibrant area by opening up central places to more people and enhancing the current setting and position of the street’s statues.
Here's a list from the city council detailing the various changes;
1 Creating spaces where people can sit, rest, relax and linger comfortably in the street, with significantly more outdoor seating available.
2 Creating plazas – areas that reinforce views of key buildings, provide attractive spaces within the street and support events of an appropriate scale without impacting pedestrian and cycle routes.
3 Increasing the width of pedestrian areas to enhance the pedestrian experience, accessibility and movement flow.
4 Creating dedicated and segregated space for cycling in two directions on George Street.
5 Eliminating existing street clutter which detracts from the heritage and buildings and also impedes pedestrian movement, presenting a particular obstacle for people with visual and mobility impairments and those with prams.
6 Improving the pedestrian experience at road junctions by extending the footway space available and narrowing vehicle carriageways.
7 Enhancing the visual settings of the statues on George Street by removing street clutter and providing more pedestrian space to ensure the statues can be better appreciated.
8 Introducing greenery to improve the environmental qualities and the comfort of the street, including some carefully placed smaller native trees and some lower level Georgian plants, to resonate with the street’s heritage.
9 Reducing the current impact of vehicles by removing the central median parking which detracts from the character and heritage of the street.
10 Prioritising blue badge parking on George Street, with resident and pay and display parking in side streets.
11 Creating dedicated delivery and servicing areas.
12 Considering the restriction of vehicle access to core services and access hours to key times of day to reduce vehicle dominance while still allowing the function of businesses.
13 Adopting a holistic design approach which considers the design's impact on the wider city centre.
Drop-in sessions are being held on the fifth floor of the City Art Centre from 2pm to 7pm (Thurs, Nov 8), 11am and 5pm (Fri, Nov 9) and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday (Nov 10).
An online survey about the concept design will be available until January 25, 2019.