Cockburn Street and Victoria Street are open for business – but no cars please we’re eating out

July 10, 2020 5:42 pm

The Old Town is now an oasis for foodies and shoppers as Cockburn Street and Victoria Street are now closed to cars for the foreseeable future using Covid-19 emergency measures.

This is part of the Spaces for People measures being put in place to help city centre businesses reopen.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes: “Our latest phase of improvements to make it easier and safer to travel by foot, bike or wheelchair focus on supporting the city’s economy to recover. By making our shopping streets more welcoming we want to encourage people to spend time there, visiting shops, cafes and restaurants.

“Victoria Street and Cockburn Street are two of the city’s most iconic thoroughfares and these changes will help the public enjoy them while maintaining physical distancing. We will continue to work with the businesses there to ensure the measures work for them.”

Dean Gassabi, owner of Maison Bleue restaurant on Victoria Street, said: “I’m very supportive of the closure – I’m quite happy not having as many cars in the street. We’re going to be applying to put tables and chairs outside too, which will help us to create proper social distancing.

“Victoria Street is one of the most beautiful streets in Edinburgh, and we have the Grassmarket as well. We could make it a hub for Edinburgh people, create something for families and a much more friendly atmosphere – it’s very feasible.”

Measures the council has put in place so far:

[su_spoiler title=”Forrest Road to The Mound” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]road resurfacing and temporary segregated cycle lanes.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Forrest Road to The Mound” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]road resurfacing and temporary segregated cycle lanes.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Waverley Bridge” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]closed to vehicles at the junction with Princes Street, while maintaining cycle access from Princes Street partially closed at the junction with Market Street, allowing only taxi access and loading to Waverley Station and Princes Mall from the Market Street end space allocated to allow queuing for users of Waverley Station and for taxis.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Silverknowes Road ” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Closed from the roundabout at Lauriston Farm Road and Silverknowes Parkway to Marine Drive.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Braid Road and Braidburn Terrace” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Closed to vehicles from the junction at Braidburn Terrace and Hermitage Drive to the entrance of the Braid Hills Hotel. Braidburn Terrace is open for oneway traffic eastbound only from Greenbank Terrace / Comiston Road – closed to westbound traffic.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Links Gardens” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Closed from the junction with Links Gardens Lane to the Gladstone Place / Vanburgh Place.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Cammo Walk” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Closed to vehicles east of the pathway into Cammo Grove. Access allowed also for local vehicles only.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Stanley Street and Hope Lane ” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Partial closure of Stanley Street and Hope Lane between Stanley Street and Christian Grove to traffic. Provides a low traffic corridor and access to nearby green spaces like Figgate Park for exercise.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Warriston Road ” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Closure of Warriston Road to through traffic to provide a wide pedestrian wheelchair, pram and cyclist-friendly space leading to the access for the North Edinburgh Path Network. Access to the allotment and Warriston Crematorium will be maintained via Ferry Road.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Crewe Road South” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Temporary segregated cycle lane to improve acces to Western General. Re-designating parts of the road to help pedestrians and people using wheelchairs, prams or bicycles to physically distance.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Old Dalkeith Road” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]Temporary segregated cycle and to improve access to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Re-designating parts of the road to help pedestrians and people using wheelchairs, prams or bicycles to physically distance.[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”East Princes Street and South St David Street” style=”fancy” icon=”plus-circle”]East Princes Street and South St David Street widened footways to help pedestrians and people using wheelchairs, prams or bicycles to physically distance bus, cycle and taxi gates to reduce traffic volumes to aid cycling and public transport. In operation from 7.30am to 6.30pm daily loading access for businesses in West Register Street maintained via the east end of Princes Street.[/su_spoiler]