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Edinburgh Council fork out £60k for controversial Spaces for People planters

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
AuthorJames Delaney
Published date31 May 2021
The wooden boxes have been installed on a number of streets outside primary schools as a way of minimising the risk to children from traffic and ensuring space was allocated for physical distancing to take place outside the gates.

However, the move has proved contentious with motorists in some areas left furious over the narrow gaps and stunted traffic flow left in their wake - despite City of Edinburgh Council consulting on whether to make certain measures permanent.

The planters have also been labelled 'hazardous' due to a lack of reflective coating to enhance visibility in the evening.

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A meeting of the local authority's Transport and Environment Committee has now shone a light on the cost of the traffic management protocols.

In answers to a series of questions tabled by Conservative group leader councillor Jason Rust transport bosses revealed £57,439 had been forked out on the scheme - working out at just over £1,000 per planter.

A further £5,586 has been designated for maintenance of the structures and the plants within by facilities management firm P1.

The Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice (TTRN) was put in place in May 2020 as the country felt the brunt of the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic.

The Spaces for People project, which has also been launched in several other Scottish cities, was made possible by a £5m grant from Transport Scotland and Sustrans.

Road users have previously complained about newly installed bollards and cycle lanes having a "confusing" layout under the measures.

But the planters have sparked a particularly volatile reaction with a farcical video showing a large lorry becoming stuck as it attempted to round one of the boxes.

Transport bosses say they are now installing "appropriate reflective markings" on all on-street planters to boost visibility.

Cllr Rust told Edinburgh Live: "While we all want safe travel to school for children, there have been a range of issues...

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