Edinburgh Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) ‘won’t be stopped because of vile acts of vandalism,’ the city’s council leader has said after measures designed to stop through traffic in Corstorphine were targeted.
Cllr Cammy Day urged locals opposed to the scheme to engage in “open, honest and transparent discussions” and not resort to destroying council property.
An attempt to cut down a pole with bus gate cameras attached which monitor vehicles, was made on Sunday. “No LTN” was also spray-painted on a wall while several signs detailing the restrictions were also vandalised.
Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing into the incident.
Corstorphine resident David Madine, who is one of the people running the “Stop the Corstorphine LTN” private Facebook group, condemned the “thoughtless and dangerous” act and urged members to “use the appropriate channels to share their objections”.
Cllr Day said he had been made aware of some in the group who were “celebrating that type of action” online.
He said: “We cannot allow people that do not agree with democratic decisions and the democratic process to take to the streets to vandalise publicly-owned equipment.
“All that does is cost us a lot more officer time and costs the public purse.”
The trial LTN was launched in Corstorphine in May to stop drivers taking short cuts through quiet residential streets in a bid to create a “safer and more comfortable environment”.
The measures – which range from closing roads to through traffic altogether to restricting driver access at certain locations during rush hour – have proved controversial among some people locally.
Key criticisms of the scheme have been that it pushes congestion and air pollution on to other nearby roads and forces drivers to make longer journeys rather than encouraging use of other means of transport, whilst unfairly impacting elderly people and those with mobility issues who rely on their car more than the average person to get about.
The camera which was targeted was set up to monitor a part-time ‘bus gate’. This restricts general traffic (anything other than cycles, taxis and buses) from turning from Manse Road on to St John’s Road on weekdays between 8am and 10am and 2.45pm to 6.30pm – with drivers fined £60 – reduced to £30 if paid in 14 days – if they break the rules.
However the council leader said he hoped the vandalism and the LTN were “two different issues”.
He said: “Some irresponsible person has taken to vandalise council and community property, the separate issue for me is the longer-term low traffic neighbourhood proposals and that will be achieved through a democratic process – it won’t be stopped in any way or changed because of these vile acts of vandalism.
“What will change any decisions is open, honest and transparent discussions with each other which is what I’ve committed to do.”
Mr Madine, who last month hinted at a legal challenge to the LTN, said: “We all condemn the recent reckless vandalism. This was a thoughtless and dangerous thing to do. The Facebook group was created for the community to share their concerns about the undemocratic LTN scheme.”
He pointed out that transport convener Cllr Scott Arthur – who in reaction to the incident repeated that 67 per cent of locals felt there was an issue with vehicles in the area – failed to mention that almost three-quarters of those surveyed were specifically opposed to the bus gate going ahead.
“It is a shame that he is choosing to ignore the bulk of the statistics that show the community was opposed to the scheme,” Mr Madine added.
A spokesperson for Low Traffic Corstorphine, a group formed to “promote the facts and evidence” about LTNs, said: “We were shocked and disappointed to see the dangerous vandalism on our streets at the weekend.
“The bus gate and other LTN measures in the area have been implemented after years of the community asking the council to take action to address the incessant flow and speed of vehicles travelling through Corstorphine.
“Manse Road has exceptionally narrow pavements and is a key route for children travelling to school & nursery. Council data shows 3,000 vehicles per day travelling through this street and the bus gate is being trialled to see if the situation can be improved for those walking to and from Corstorphine Primary.”
Local councillor Euan Davidson said: “There are legitimate concerns about aspects of the Corstorphine LTN and it is vital that the council sits up and listens. However, this vandalism could have resulted in someone being injured and is completely unacceptable.
“I, along with my fellow Lib Dem councillors and parliamentarians have been out listening to and speaking with local residents, including those directly impacted by the recent changes.
“There are proper processes and democratic procedures for people to engage with, so there is simply no excuse for people to resort to this kind of destructive behaviour.”
by Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
