Make Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent or not? It’s Decision Time!

City of Edinburgh Council (TRO sub-committee) is going to take decisions on 18 February as to whether to make the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent or not.

Lobby groups and press publicity so far have been very one-sided, insisting that ‘everyone’ is in favour. Is this true?

The findings of our own recent Community Council survey show that the local community is actually very divided on the issue (40% FOR, 34% AGAINST, and 26% MIXED FEELINGS). You can read our Summary Report of the survey findings here.

The Councillors on the TRO sub-Committee are still prepared to receive representations from the members of the public on the matter.

Please, if you feel strongly, will you email in to the councillors in question, to say whether you –

  1.  – want to the see the LTN, as it is now, made permanent.
  2.  – have suggestions to make about changes to make the LTN better (NB the committee can only make small changes or take things away, they can’t add new things at this stage).
  3.  – do NOT want to see the LTN made permanent, but would like to see the changes that have been being trialled taken away, so that things are back to where they were before.

You can find the email addresses for the members of the committee here, if you wish to add your views.

Please remember that this is JUST about the LTN measures that are still classed as ‘experimental’ (it is NOT about reversing the Controlled Parking Zone, or any of the changes linked to the tram). For example, it covers:

  • westbound bus gate on Links Place prohibiting entry tomotor vehicles other than buses and taxis
  • blocking off entry for motor vehicles at Tolbooth Wynd/ Water Street junction
  • making Tolbooth Wynd two way operation
  • blocking off entry for motor vehicles at Wellington Place into John’s Place
  • contraflow cycling on one way streets within the area – Water Street, Carpet Lane, Giles Street, Spier’s Place, Maritime Lane, Seaport Street.
  • restrictions on waiting and loading associated with new pavement buildouts

The Community Council finds that there are many mixed views about the LTN, particularly because of the additional traffic congestion which has resulted, especially at peak times, on the surrounding main roads. We are making a few Recommendations on the basis of the survey findings, including that the so called ‘bus gate’ be removed.

Read our Summary Report of the 2024 survey findings here.

Read quotes from the public collected at Gala Day, june 2023, here.