Edinburgh councillors are planning measures to help protect key routes in and around the city’s World Heritage Site as plans to tackle “congested and cluttered” roads during peak tourist and festival seasons are underway.
Bus companies and councils officials are in talks about the possibility of re-routing services after an official report warned that “the city needs to take action now” in order to preserve it’s environment, reports the Express.
Adam McVey, council leader, said: “We are taking forward a fundamental look at how the city centre workds in terms of transport.
“That could mean quite a lot of change.
“Other cities around the world have managed increasing numbers, which is driven either by population or tourism, they have looked to maximise space by diversifying transport uses.
“I would expect us to look at having less private cars and better public transport.
“We need to make sure people can still access the city centre, but in a way that maximises the space, we can’t increase the size of the city centre.”
Insisting that the changes would be under consultation and not railroaded through, McVey added: “You can’t drive where you want in other cities and they are all the better for it.
“The have better spaces and better public realm.
“We’re not aiming to eradicate private cars, that would be ridiculous.
“Everybody has to acknowledge that you can’t drive everywhere all the time.”