EDINBURGH’S controversial Spaces for People traffic and roads scheme is to be extended with £2 million extra support from the Scottish Government via Sustrans, the national charity to encourage walking and cycling.
Since May the council has introduced many temporary changes across the capital to provide “safe and protected routes, helping pedestrians and cyclists to travel while physically distancing”.
Amongst these measures are widened pavements in key shopping streets, segregated cycle lanes on main roads, closures on roads leading to popular parks and beauty spots, and improvements around schools. The £2m funding from Sustrans will add to the £5m already received for Spaces for People and will enable the completion of the programme.
Transport and environment convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Additional funding will help us to deliver an even better package of routes and improvements which not only create more room for physical distancing but help residents to make healthy, active travel choices whenever they can.”
Vice-convener, Councillor Karen Doran, added: “We’ve already delivered a whole range of projects – helping children to get to school safely, creating space to spend time on shopping streets and giving cyclists safer, segregated routes for travel.”
The measures are not universally popular, however, with questions on the programme tabled by opposition councillors for today’s meeting. Conservative group leader Jason Rust has voiced fears that the programme could become permanent.
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