It's Princes Street v George Street in battle to ban traffic

IT is already shaping up to be one of the city's great transport debates.

While the idea of banning traffic permanently from Princes Street is taking hold among traders on the famous thoroughfare, businesses on nearby George Street say it is this road that should be pedestrianised instead.

The Evening News reported yesterday that city council chiefs are set to explore the possibility of reserving Princes Street only for trams and cycles in the wake of the successful traffic diversions for tram works. The idea was backed by deputy council leader Steve Cardownie.

And today the chairman of the Princes Street Traders Association Rob Winter said: "We feel it would bring the whole city centre together.

The transport issue would have to be worked out, and thanks to publicity by the council and Lothian Buses most people seem to be in the groove with it as it is just now."

However, the feeling a street away was completely different.

George Street, which was used to a more sedate level of traffic before the diversions were put in place, has taken on much of the bus traffic from Princes St.

Denzil Skinner, treasurer of the George Street Association, said: "George Street would be far more suited to pedestrianisation, and there's no way both streets could be. It would just be a tremendous public space, with Charlotte Square and St Andrew Square at each end.

"I don't think we (George St businesses] would want the level of buses that there are now going down the street."

Motoring groups also raised questions about the scheme.

Neil Greig, a spokesman for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added: "Princes Street probably should be pedestrianised.

But there is no way Queen Street could cope as Edinburgh's main thoroughfare for traffic, in places it goes down to one lane, and some innovative ideas would have to be brought in at both ends to make it work."

Tom Campbell, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh – a group dedicated to improving business viability of the city centre – added: "

There is no clearly defined right or wrong answer – there are people in retail who would fall on both sides of the argument."