Parking in the Grange - Councillor Mackenzie Reports Back

11.00.00am GMT Tue 8th Dec 2009

Over 120 local residents attended a public meeting in the Royal Blind School on Tuesday 1 December 2009. Southside/Newington Liberal Democrat Councillor and City Transport Convener Gordon Mackenzie provides the following update.

"Firstly, I want to thank Grange /Prestonfield Community Council, those who attended the meeting at the Royal Blind School and all those who have emailed and written in about this issue. With the help of local residents we are making significant progress on this issue. Some measures, such as reducing the cost of 9 hour parking in S1, will take effect from the end of this month. Other options, including some which were raised at the meeting, will take longer to deliver but I've asked Council staff to focus on bringing these forward.

"Many of those who spoke at the meeting expressed a strong desire to use some of the vacant space in S1 to reduce parking pressures to the south. I estimate 80% or 90% of those who were at the meeting supported aspects of that view. Many also favour some form of permit system for parts of the area between S1 and the South Suburban railway; either for specific locations or for residents to park on the single yellow lines which were described in the proposals put to the meeting.

"As a result of comments at the meeting the following actions have been agreed by me with Council officers

1. Changing the Parking Restrictions in S1:-

I have asked Council officials to provide me with details of the number of available spaces within each street of the S1 area; those which are unused at different times of the day and the number of Resident's Parking Permits currently issued for each of those streets. This information will help us to identify areas where we can change the current parking restrictions in order to reduce the displacement of parking into the areas to the south (and elsewhere).

Of course, any changes to S1 would require a formal consultation process so that residents in the S1 area have the opportunity to express their opinions. My view is that there have to be appropriate safeguards. This time the approach must be flexible and it should be phased, over a short period of time, to allow us to put a hold on any measures which have an unforeseen and significantly detrimental impact.

2. Residents Permits for Single yellow Lines:-

I have asked Council staff to follow up the information which was given to us on areas which allow permits for residents to park on single yellow lines. However, having contacted Councils in several of the areas identified I have to report we can't find any which provide permits for residents to park routinely on a single yellow line. I would ask any residents who do know of areas where residents can get permits for routine use of single yellow lines to please get in touch with me at gordon.f.mackenzie@edinburgh.gov.uk

I will provide a further update to residents in January and a report on progress and proposals will go to the Transport Committee on 9 February 2010.

Related Link:

The Council Guide to Parking in Edinburgh.