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Edinburgh Reporter
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Another delay to Edinburgh bus lane trial announced
Another delay to a bus lane trial that has been pushed back for six years will mean 'public transport will suffer', a city councillor has warned. Edinburgh's Green group has been pushing for the introduction of '7-7-7' bus lanes – ones open from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week – across the capital since 2015. A trial was supposed to begin at the start of this year, but traffic regulation issues and difficulty getting funding has now seen it shoved it back to February 2026. Green councillor and co-leader Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill said the delay was 'disappointing', and would aid in worsening the congestion faced by the city's bus network. In 2019, Edinburgh's transport committee voted for a consultation to be held ahead of a trial of the scheme, with the survey running at the end of the year. But the results of the consultation were never passed on to councillors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the scheme was revived when councillors voted to have officers explore the feasibility of rolling out 7-7-7 bus lanes in the capital. It is unclear what progress was made with this, but two years later, in February 2024, councillors at the Transport and Environment Committee voted to have officers develop plans for a trial. And in August last year they approved the trial, which would have seen 7-7-7 bus lanes be rolled out along the length of the 44 bus route by the first quarter of 2025 – but no trial has come. At a meeting of the transport committee last Thursday, a councillor asked officers for more information on why the scheme was delayed yet again. Green councillor and co-convener Chas Booth said: 'The original committee decision from August of last year stated that the trial would start in the first quarter of 2025 – so that's already at least three months delayed. 'Can I ask what is the reason for the delay, and whether we have a new date for the trial to start?' Council officer Deborah Patton said: 'There are probably two main reasons. One is around orders, overlapping [traffic regulation orders] which needs to be sorted out, but will hopefully be sorted out later this year. 'The other really crucial one is funding for this piece of work. We had hoped that we would be able to secure some funding from Transport Scotland's bus infrastructure fund, and indeed have submitted a proposal for that to Transport Scotland several months ago. 'However, unfortunately, at the time of speaking today, we still haven't heard whether that bus infrastructure fund is going forward or not.' Another officer, Jamie Robertson, said the council is aiming to complete preparatory works for the trial by February 2026. Cllr Booth continued: 'Obviously, there is a long history to this. Committee, I think four years ago, even more, agreed to the roll-out of 7-7-7 bus lanes across the city. 'And now, we've seen a delay to just the very limited trial that committee agreed to last year.' Council officer Gareth Barwell said: 'We'll have to look at some form of a plan B on the funding of this if it's not successful. 'This is an important thing to do. We'll continue to push contacts at Transport Scotland and we'll keep members updated if we'll have to look at using resources differently.' Cllr Booth asked Mr Barwell if councillors could be provided with a written brief on the issues facing the trial. Mr Barwell said he was happy to do it. Labour councillor and Transport and Environment Committee convener Stephen Jenkinson said: 'I think that would be helpful. I think if there's anything we can do as councillors to apply pressure in the right places to maybe speed up funding decisions, certainly as convener, I'm more than happy to do that. 'But maybe collectively as committee it's something we can take a brief on and take offline, and decide what a plan B might look like. 'I think it's fair to say, I'm slightly disappointed that it's taken so long to get to this point, and that we haven't managed to make as much progress as I would like to see. 'I want to see if there's any ways in which we could maybe speed this up.' Several other cities in the UK, including Glasgow, have rolled out 7-7-7 bus lane schemes. And in some parts of the country, bus lanes stay closed to other traffic 24/7. Cllr O'Neill said: 'It was disappointing to be told in Committee that there have been delays to the 7-7-7 trial. 'While we wait, more and more buses will be stuck in congestion and our public transport network will suffer for it. 'Funding is an issue across the board and we understand this, however we need the council to be transparent and explain what is needed. 'If this doesn't happen, how can we expect the public to come on the just transition with us?' Cllr Jenkinson said: 'Making public transport more efficient, reliable, and reducing journey times, are key objectives for us. 'I share the frustration over the delayed roll-out of this trial. Officers are working with transport partners to secure the necessary funding and progress experimental traffic orders to deliver improved bus priority infrastructure.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
Seven year delay of Edinburgh bus lane trial 'will see public transport suffer'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Another delay to a bus lane trial that has been pushed back for six years will mean 'public transport will suffer', a city councillor has warned. Edinburgh's Green group has been pushing for the introduction of '7-7-7' bus lanes – ones open from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week – across the capital since 2015. A trial was supposed to begin at the start of this year, but traffic regulation issues and difficulty getting funding has now seen it shoved it back to February 2026. Green councillor and co-leader Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill said the delay was 'disappointing', and would aid in worsening the congestion faced by the city's bus network. In 2019, Edinburgh's transport committee voted for a consultation to be held ahead of a trial of the scheme, with the survey running at the end of the year. But the results of the consultation were never passed on to councillors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the scheme was revived when councillors voted to have officers explore the feasibility of rolling out 7-7-7 bus lanes in the capital. It is unclear what progress was made with this, but two years later, in February 2024, councillors at the Transport and Environment Committee voted to have officers develop plans for a trial. And in August last year they approved the trial, which would have seen 7-7-7 bus lanes be rolled out along the length of the 44 bus route by the first quarter of 2025 – but no trial has come. At a meeting of the transport committee last Thursday, a councillor asked officers for more information on why the scheme was delayed yet again. Green councillor and co-convener Chas Booth said: 'The original committee decision from August of last year stated that the trial would start in the first quarter of 2025 – so that's already at least three months delayed. 'Can I ask what is the reason for the delay, and whether we have a new date for the trial to start?' Council officer Deborah Patton said: 'There are probably two main reasons. One is around orders, overlapping [traffic regulation orders] which needs to be sorted out, but will hopefully be sorted out later this year. 'The other really crucial one is funding for this piece of work. We had hoped that we would be able to secure some funding from Transport Scotland's bus infrastructure fund, and indeed have submitted a proposal for that to Transport Scotland several months ago. 'However, unfortunately, at the time of speaking today, we still haven't heard whether that bus infrastructure fund is going forward or not.' Another officer, Jamie Robertson, said the council is aiming to complete preparatory works for the trial by February 2026. Cllr Booth continued: 'Obviously, there is a long history to this. Committee, I think four years ago, even more, agreed to the roll-out of 7-7-7 bus lanes across the city. 'And now, we've seen a delay to just the very limited trial that committee agreed to last year.' Council officer Gareth Barwell said: 'We'll have to look at some form of a plan B on the funding of this if it's not successful. 'This is an important thing to do. We'll continue to push contacts at Transport Scotland and we'll keep members updated if we'll have to look at using resources differently.' Cllr Booth asked Mr Barwell if councillors could be provided with a written brief on the issues facing the trial. Mr Barwell said he was happy to do it. Labour councillor and Transport and Environment Committee convener Stephen Jenkinson said: 'I think that would be helpful. I think if there's anything we can do as councillors to apply pressure in the right places to maybe speed up funding decisions, certainly as convener, I'm more than happy to do that. "But maybe collectively as committee it's something we can take a brief on and take offline, and decide what a plan B might look like. 'I think it's fair to say, I'm slightly disappointed that it's taken so long to get to this point, and that we haven't managed to make as much progress as I would like to see. 'I want to see if there's any ways in which we could maybe speed this up.' Several other cities in the UK, including Glasgow, have rolled out 7-7-7 bus lane schemes. And in some parts of the country, bus lanes stay closed to other traffic 24/7. Cllr O'Neill said: 'It was disappointing to be told in Committee that there have been delays to the 7-7-7 trial. 'While we wait, more and more buses will be stuck in congestion and our public transport network will suffer for it. 'Funding is an issue across the board and we understand this, however we need the council to be transparent and explain what is needed. 'If this doesn't happen, how can we expect the public to come on the just transition with us?' Cllr Jenkinson said: 'Making public transport more efficient, reliable, and reducing journey times, are key objectives for us. 'I share the frustration over the delayed roll-out of this trial. Officers are working with transport partners to secure the necessary funding and progress experimental traffic orders to deliver improved bus priority infrastructure.'
Scotsman
30-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh buses: Trial of 7-7-7 bus lanes delayed for about a year
Plans to trial an extension of Edinburgh's bus lanes to 12 hours a day, every day of the week have been delayed by about a year. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Councillors agreed last year to introduce a pilot of the so-called 7-7-7 scheme - where bus lanes operate from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week - on the No 44 route from Juniper Green to Musselburgh. It was due to get under way earlier this year, but has been held up because of traffic orders and a lack of cash. The idea of 7-7-7 bus lanes is to stop buses being held up by traffic congestion. Picture: Greg Macvean | JP License Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The idea of 7-7-7 bus lanes is to stop buses being held up by traffic congestion and make public transport more attractive by cutting bus journey times and improving reliability. Most of Edinburgh's bus lanes currently operate only at peak hours and on weekdays, but it has been argued that since Covid travel patterns have changed and the restrictions need to cover a larger part of the day. However, councillors agreed on a trial on one bus route rather than an immediate roll-out after a consultation found mixed views. Green councillor Chas Booth raised the issue of the delay at the council's transport and environment committee, asking why the scheme had been held up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: "The original committee decision from August of last year stated that the trial would start in the first quarter of 2025, so that's already at least three months delayed." Officials said there were two main reasons - one about overlapping orders, which would hopefully be sorted out later this year; the other about funding for the work. One official said: "We had hoped we would be able to secure some funding from Transport Scotland's Bus Infrastructure Fund and indeed have submitted a proposal for that several months ago. "However, unfortunately, we still haven't heard whether that Bus Infrastructure Fund is going forward or not, so we're still waiting to hear on that." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another official said it was hoped to mobilise the contractor for the necessary infrastructure works in December and conclude the works in February 2026. Cllr Booth said that four years ago it had been agreed to have a full roll-out of 7-7-7 across the city, but now even the limited trial had been held up. "Is there anything we can do to speed up progress on this?" he asked. Gareth Barwell, the council's executive director of place, said he shared the frustration felt at the delay and added the council would have to look for a "Plan B" if the external funding did not materialise. Committee convener Stephen Jenkinson said: "I'm disappointed it has taken so long to get to this point and we haven't managed to make as much progress as I'd like. I want to see fi there are any ways in which we can speed this up."
Edinburgh Live
07-06-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Terrifying moment blaze tears through Edinburgh banana flats as locals watch on
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh locals captured the terrifying moment a fire tore through the iconic banana flats on Friday night. Cables Wynd House saw a large fire break out around 10.50pm on June 6, with fire services battling the blaze for over eight hours. Video footage shared with Edinburgh Live shows flames pouring from the windows of a flat near the top floor. Some residents filmed from the ground while others captured the chaos from inside Cables Wynd flats across a courtyard. Smoke can be seen billowing into the air from the scene. Police Scotland confirmed the flat was empty at the time and no one was hospitalised following the incident. All residents, bar two households, have been allowed to return to the building. A message on Cables Wynd House's Facebook called the fire "heartbreaking" and said residents are "waiting for answers" following the "scary experience". (Image: Supplied) Locals and politicians took to social media offering words of support to those impacted by the blaze. Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, announced: "I can confirm that three people were treated at the scene last night for smoke inhalation but thankful did not require hospitalisation. Can I thank the Fire Services, Police Scotland and Edinburgh Council for the response last night. I'm so glad that everyone is safe." Chas Booth, a city councillor for Leith, said: "Very concerned to hear about this and my thoughts are with all those affected. I'm in touch with council officers about this and I understand staff are in the building this morning helping residents affected." A concerned local shared: "I wonder how it started and where. Very sad for the people affected. I've never heard this before in 50 years living in Leith." One resident of Cables Wynd House who captured the shocking footage told Edinburgh Live: "It was bad. I was a scared if someone was in the flat and I thought we were going to have to leave the building in case it started spreading more. "It was like something exploded. I feel bad for the people [who live there], they have lost all their stuff in the house fire." The message on the Cables Wynd House Facebook page read: "So tonight has been a really scary experience of a fire in the building, a fast evacuation and worries of lives of those anywhere near those flames. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "This is a time for all of us to pull together & support each other. In kindness, respect & neighbourly solidarity. "We are waiting for answers but right now we're focusing on our neighbours who've all been through such a scary experience and those whose homes were damaged in the flats." A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were alerted to a fire at Cables Wynd House, known locally as the 'banana flats' at 10.49pm on June 6. "We dispatched nine appliances and departed just after 7.00am on June 7. There are no casualties that we were made aware of." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 11pm on Friday, 6 June 2025, police were advised by SFRS of a fire at a flat in Cables Wynd House, Edinburgh. "The flat was empty at the time. No one required to be taken to hospital. All residents, bar two households, have been allowed to return to the building. Enquiries into the cause of the fire, which at this time is not being treated as suspicious, are ongoing." Cables Wynd House was made famous by its appearance in the 1996 film Trainspotting. Built in the 1960s, it has since become an Edinburgh landmark. In 2017 it was given top listing by Historic Environment Scotland - the same level as Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Reporter
22-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Council explores congestion charge for cars entering capital
Edinburgh is to explore bringing in a congestion charge for cars entering the capital, over 20 years after a similar proposal was defeated at the ballot box. The city will begin having conversations with Glasgow, which is also interested in introducing a congestion charge, and with other local authorities in the Lothians. In February 2005, a referendum was held on introducing a congestion charge in Edinburgh, which was roundly defeated. But some councillors feel that the time is now appropriate to start exploring such a scheme again. Green councillor Chas Booth, speaking at the council's Transport and Environment Committee, said: 'There is an opportunity today to start a conversation about road user charging. Let's start that conversation.' At present, London is the only city in the UK to have introduced a congestion charge. Introduced in 2003, the scheme charges motorists £15 to enter the core of the city. Under the scheme proposed in 2005, drivers in Edinburgh would have been charged £2 (£3.50 today) to enter the capital. However, it was roundly defeated, with the postal ballot seeing 74% of voters rejecting the proposal. Under an amendment to the City Mobility Plan, which was passed at the Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, the council will begin exploring the plans with other councils. The city will seek to work with Glasgow, Sestrans and several local authorities around Edinburgh to develop a common framework for how congestion charging could work in Scottish cities. Any scheme may face an uphill struggle, as the legislation for enabling a road pricing scheme does not fully exist. London's scheme was introduced using powers specifically granted to the city by Westminster in 1999. However, the Scottish Government will soon discuss legislative changes that could make congestion charging possible. Cllr Booth said that the money could go towards funding local infrastructure projects, dozens of which were paused on Thursday due to a lack of available cash. Cllr Booth told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'I'm delighted Edinburgh has agreed to start conversations about congestion charging with other councils. 'It's absolutely clear that Edinburgh will not meet its commitments to address the climate emergency unless we take bold action to encourage people to choose more sustainable alternatives to the private car. 'While the council doesn't yet have the full powers to introduce congestion charging, and any Edinburgh scheme is likely to be many years away, it is nonetheless right that we start talking about what a scheme might look like. '[We will explore] whether we have any common ground with Glasgow which is also considering a scheme, and with surrounding councils about how we can ensure an equitable distribution of any income from the scheme to support sustainable commuting into Edinburgh.' The council's new City Mobility Plan sets out Edinburgh's infrastructure priorities for the next ten years. More than 70 active travel, public transport and regeneration projects will be taken ahead under the project. Among them are the long-promised transformation of George Street, an active travel link between the Meadows and the Union Canal and public transport and active travel works in the Granton Waterfront. More than 50 other projects were paused, the vast majority of which were already on hold before the report or had not yet been started. Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson, who convenes the Transport and Environment Committee, said: I'm really pleased that we've agreed this bold programme for our city. 'Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives. 'This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections. 'This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary. 'However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland. 'Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions make this situation inherently difficult. 'We need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we're to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves. 'We'll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.' Like this: Like Related
