Residents in Main Street, Balerno, do not want cars in their street. That was the strong message from a delegation who addressed Balerno Community Council (BCC) during a 25-minute hearing at the September meeting.
Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, the Transport and Environment Convener on the City of Edinburgh Council, was also at the monthly Community Council meeting, and heard that parking was a real issue with vehicles cluttering the street at certain times of the day and night.
Residents accepted that loading and unloading from shops had to be allowed along with the refuse collection lorry. But they did not think that casual parking of vehicles by overnight residents at the Balerno Inn was appropriate. Nor did they think that parking bays for residents of the Street was the answer. They were in facvour of increased enforcement by Parking Attendants; at present parking attendants did not come at the times when the street was busy.
Residents feared that the parking problem was likely to increase with the re-opening of The Grey Horse. Residents said also that motorists appeared to take no heed to signage at the entrance to Main Street.
The meeting also heard suggestions from local Councillor Graeme Bruce who said that heavy duty cones or planters parked in a zig-sag fashion could assist, although it was noted that in the past these had simply been nudged out of the way by lorries
It was also suggested that some redesign of the entreance to Main Street at the Ladycroft junction might discourage casual parking if for example the entrance were narrowed and there was marking of therod surface to show that etering the Main Street involved crossing the pavement.
Councillor Jenkinson explained the procedure for designating parking zones and promised to speak to transport officials and ask them to consider alternatives.
Residents also raised the issue of speed of cars using the street and Cllr Jenkinson dais he would also consult officials on that issue. He added however that policy for one street should not decide policy for he whole of the city and the council had to be aware that making a decision for Balerno could have “unintended consequences”.
