Edinburgh parking: Plan for Portobello controlled parking zone is thrown out
Plans for a controlled parking zone in Portobello have been thrown out by councillors after more than 2,000 residents objected to the move.
A long-running local campaign against the CPZ had argued parking pressures in the area did not justify the year-round restrictions proposed and said local businesses would be devastated by the introduction of parking charges.
The proposal had been revised so the restrictions would no longer apply on Sundays and the implementation of the scheme in Joppa would be delayed for the time being.
But the Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) sub-committee voted 5-4 against approving the necessary order to introduce the scheme.
Proposing the order, convener Margaret Graham said there had been parking issues in Portobello for a long time. She said: “There have been lots of objections - change is very difficult - but all of the objections have been considered and there have been significant changes made because of the objections.”
But Lib Dem councillor Kevin Lang said he had not been convinced by the case for the CPZ. "You have over 2,000 objections to this order. Here you have a community that is saying very strongly this is not the right answer for the place in which they love and which they are proud of."
He said he was particularly concerned about the impact on the High Street and street traders and the market. "I am conscious that we have out of town shopping centres with free parking literally a five minute drive away.
"There is very real concern that charging people to park near the High Street and the markets will simply mean people take their business elsewhere."
SNP councillor Cathy Fullerton backed Cllr Lang's comments and added that people going to Portobello to visit the beach needed somewhere to park. "Most people need to take a car because of the amount of stuff you've got to take to a beach if you're going to be there the whole day."
And she said: "Consultation must not be a tick-box exercise. I want to support the many residents who know their area well, who know what works and they are saying there are no problems."
Tory councillor Phil Doggart said: "If we're going to consult, we have to listen. The single voice from Portobello is 'We do not want this' and I think it is absolutely essential that we consider that single voice."
He said if the CPZ went ahead it was “almost certain” it would end up making out of town shopping centres more attractive than the small shops in Portobello.
Green Alex Staniforth said officers had reassured the sub-committee that exceptions could be made for Portobello's markets. He said he disagreed with Cllr Fullerton's claim that people had to take a car to the beach. "A great many people visit Portobello beach for the day by bus."
And he continued: "I would argue Portobello shopping is of an entirely different character to the areas we're told are five minutes away and have free parking. I don't think they are sufficiently similar that the one-hour pay and displays will put a significant number of people off. And we do know that when you encourage active travel and bus travel, actually it's beneficial for local businesses."
Residents who had attended the meeting to hear the debate greeted the vote with enthusiastic applause.