City chiefs look at permanent traffic ban for Princes Street

TURNING Princes Street into a pedestrianised zone with all vehicles except trams and bicycles being banned is set to be considered by city chiefs.

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie said today that the success of the traffic diversions brought in for the trams building project meant that it was "foolish" not to discuss making it a permanent arrangement.

The idea has emerged from cycling lobby group Spokes, which is campaigning for the street to be closed to traffic once the £512 million Newhaven to Edinburgh Airport tram line is up and running.

The temporary closure of Princes Street, which became off-limits to buses and taxis from February 21, has worked well, with transport bosses claiming they had learned lessons after the botched closure of The Mound in October.

Councillor Cardownie said the case for permanently closing the street to traffic was now stronger as a result.

He said: "It's something that's well worth looking at. I think everybody has been pleasantly surprised with how well the traffic diversions have gone.

"With that knowledge, it would be foolish not to examine whether they should be made permanent. Any information we get from temporary traffic plans must be used to our advantage.

"If all the indications are that it will work, then I would say 'why not?'

"It's a fantastic street. It would be absolutely splendid."

Retailers reported better than expected customer numbers following the closure of the street in February, saying that the traffic diversions had helped encourage shoppers back in to the city centre.

Spokes said a busy shopping street crowded with vehicles would soon be regarded as a "relic of the past".

Spokesman Gary Bell said: "We want to promote the idea of the city as a place to be in rather than just to travel through.

"At the moment, there's no need to dodge buses or taxis, there's less pollution and it's just a much nicer area.

"Most major cities have pedestrianised public spaces. It seems like a relic of the past to have a thoroughfare clogged with buses and pedestrians and cyclists pushed to the margins."

The organisation said its campaign was at an early stage, but said it hoped to put pressure on the council in coming months.

Bruce Young, Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, said there would be no merit in permanently closing Princes Street to traffic.

He said: "I really can't see any reason for not opening up Princes Street to all vehicles, including cars, once the trams are up and running.

"At the moment, everybody is being squeezed away from Princes Street and, frankly, I can't see the point of having what is probably the broadest street in the city limited to trams and bikes."