Council plans to change parking on the south side of Albany Street from end-on to angled have been temporarily shelved, following objections from residents and intervention by the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC).
Current parking arrangements here are a temporary solution during tramwork-related diversions through the area. As tramworks are completed, the original end-on parking scheme on the south side had been expected to resume.
However, a change to introduce angled parking (TRO/12/56A) was suggested by another resident who had more than once bumped passing traffic whilst trying to pull out. In theory, angled parking would allow better sightlines and help prevent further such collisions.
When news of the proposal spread, three objectors noted that the original end-on bays allowed cars to manoeuvre in from either side of the carriageway (the foreground in the photo above). But the proposed angled bays would only permit immediate entry from the south side. Traffic on the north side (where there will be a smaller number of side-on spaces) would have to U-turn first – not an easy or safe task, they argued, in narrow Albany Street.
Objectors also pointed out that poor parking in angled bays kyboshes the spaces next to them, making them difficult to use and increasing the chance of scrapes.
No such proposals for angled bays were raised at a recent meeting of 20 locals with Council officials, and the lack of prior consultation appears to have been another factor in ruffling feathers.
NTBCC Chair Ian Mowat formally objected to Traffic Orders Administration on 23 April, and asked for Alasdair Sim (Interface Manager – Edinburgh Trams) to clarify the situation at its AGM on 13 May. A Council official responded yesterday, confirming that the plans had been put on hold pending reconsideration.
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M.F. Jones: 'Isn't it also the case that end-on parking here further narrows – or gives the appearance of narrowing – the road and so makes drivers go slower?'