Traffic Could be Banned from Holyrood Park in "Active Travel" Proposal

Traffic could soon be permanently banned from Edinburgh's Holyrood Park, under new plans from Historic Environment Scotland.

A consultation's opened on calls for "a new purpose" for the iconic park, centred around Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat

The public body says it wants "active travel" - walking, cycling, running etc - to become the primary mode of transport across the Park.

"Vehicular traffic will largely cease, and active travel will become the primary mode of transport across the Park"

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their opinions in a consultation running until 19 December 2023 on their Outline Strategic Plan, which HES says "will lead onto development of detailed Strategies, Plans and Proposals to deliver a new future for the Park that reflects community aspirations, the needs of the City and its inherent value and sensitivity."

Under their "vision statement", they've outlined plans to close the road to cars altogether:

Vehicular traffic will largely cease, and active travel will become the primary mode of transport across the Park; reflecting wider societal trends away from a car dominated urban environment.

The road network in the park today is a product of Prince Albert's reforms in 1844, which added the circular Victoria Road, later called The Queen's Drive. It is crown property and does not form part of the City of Edinburgh road network. Holyrood Park is a ‘Property in Care’ (PiC) looked after by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) on behalf of Scottish Ministers and is designated as a Scheduled Monument.

HES says "Scotland has declared a climate emergency and Edinburgh is targeting becoming a Net Zero City by 2030. It is critical that all actions and decisions relating to Holyrood Park seek to make a positive contribution to these vital goals."

The Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park draft is open for consultation until 19 December.

• holyrood park
• historic environment scotland