Albany Street residents and businesspeople have responded angrily to diverted traffic running through the New Town.
Several have now begun contacting the Council and political representatives for help.
In a first step, the New Town and Broughton Commuity Council will hold an emergency session on Monday 6 August to quiz Council officials and discuss possible changes to the diversion scheme.
Vocal among the protestors has been Alex Watts. His concerns include:
- disturbance to family sleep patterns, with children being woken at 5am
- increased pollution
- disruption to business caused by noise distraction and reduced parking
- possible structural damage to listed buildings
- damage to the road surface
- the likelihood of an accident for which the Council will bear collective responsibility.
He is also unhappy at the use of Albany Street by buses (the No. 8 service) and 12-wheeler HGVs, both of which he feels should be restricted to York Place. He points to insufficient consultation 'and what appears very little forethought for residents and businesses' which have turned Albany Street into 'Edinburgh's new motorway'.
Richard and Emma Evans have noticed a worsening of their own asthma symptoms over the last week, and are now concerned at the possible consequences of pollution for their infant sons. They are urging the Council to undertake immediate measurement and assessment of air quality. However, 'the lack of forewarning given for these changes has made it impossible to provide proper "baseline" readings', a problem, they suggest, which may owe as much to conspiracy as to cock-up.
James Dawson cannot understand why northbound traffic is being directed off Broughton Street and along Albany Street. He would also like to see greater use of Princes Street.
Alan O'Connor of George Street remembers the last time Albany Street was briefly closed. Locals worried by the rat-run created on Dublin Street Lane sought legal opinion, and were advised that the Council 'have a statutory obligation to provide safe streets for motorists and, more importantly, vulnerable pedestrians'.
City Centre councillor Joanna Mowat has been keeping herself updated by officials, and has learned that they are concerned by the 'high level of driver non compliance', particularly at the Broughton and Albany Streets corner (Breaking news, 16.7.12). In consequence, this may become a fully signalised junction or mini-roundabout, with northbound traffic flow (including the No. 8 bus) restored down towards Canonmills via Mansfield Place. She has raised with officials the possiblity of creating additional temporary parking on Dublin Street.
Councillor Mowat's questions for officials when she first became aware of the York Place diversions – and their responses – may be viewed here.
Spurtle staff do not experience living with the Albany Street diversions 24 hours-a-day, but have observed vehicle movements through the New Town about half-a-dozen times over the last week. Traffic on these occasions appeared mostly light and free flowing, although certainly at a higher level than that to which locals are accustomed.
We shudder to think how much worse their experience may become when traffic levels pick up during school term and the Festival.
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Reactions
See 'Albany Street "NIMBYs"', Letters (21.7.12).
Paul Burgess @pauledinburgh Wonder when police will enforce the no car ban on York Place? It's being blatantly ignored today by a significant minority.
Alan D Rudland @AlanDRudland As with any road, traffic density varies. CEC rep said YP #edinburghtrams diversion would increase peak cars from 700ph to 2000ph.