Trader fury as plan to park free is dropped

TRADERS have hit out after plans to create free parking spaces on council-owned land along the tram route were dropped.

City leader Jenny Dawe last month ordered officials to look at creating the temporary bays in a bid to boost the flagging fortunes of businesses along Leith Walk.

Among the sites under consideration were the former Leith tram garage and Leith Water World – both off Leith Walk near Manderston Street – as well as the old Royal High School on Regent Road.

But council chiefs have today ruled that it is not feasible to create the spaces on the preferred sites because of access problems.

The Leith tram garage is to be used for storing tram construction materials, while the old Royal High School was deemed too far away from Leith Walk, especially given there is already a multi-storey car park at Greenside.

The news comes as traders in Leith are this week having to contend with a one-way system in place on Leith Walk.

Council chiefs today insisted they were still working with businesses and residents in other ways to support them during the tram works. But traders and opposition politicians hit out at the demise of the free parking proposals.

Gordon Burgess, chairman of the Leith Walk and Constitution Street Traders Association, said: "The Greenside car park may be of use for some of the shops at the top of Leith Walk, but it is of no use for people at the bottom end of the Walk.

"It is sadly just the latest thing to go wrong though. This new one-way system has not been without its problems and we are just looking for a break from all this."

The two-week one-way project, which will allow engineers to divert utility services that cross the road rather than run along its length, got under way on Monday and affects a section of Leith Walk between Dalmeny Street and Manderston Street.

Businesses have complained that some of the signs put up for the work have stated it is a four-week project, while another sign on Easter Road incorrectly claimed there was no access to Leith Walk via Lorne Street.

Maggie Chapman, Green councillor for the Leith Walk ward, said: "I am disappointed that the council has not managed to find any space for parking near the tram route. The council now needs to investigate other solutions urgently."

A council spokeswoman said: "The council is continuously working with businesses and residents in a bid to support them during the tram works.

"We were happy to investigate the option of providing free parking, but unfortunately none of the suggested sites was suitable.

"We will continue to work closely with traders and to listen to their views and suggestions."