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Petition details

This petition is submitted on behalf of and with the support of the residents of East London Street.

For at least three years, we have sought a reduction in the number of out of service buses using East London Street to leave and return to the Lothian Buses garage on Annandale Street. East London Street has been used by these buses and other traffic to avoid road works and closures associated with the Trams to Newhaven and other transport projects in the vicinity. Despite promises of improvement, out of service buses are continuing to use East London Street from very early in the morning until late at night. This usage is creating significant nuisance in terms of both noise and vibration for the residents of East London Street especially at night when their sleep is being disturbed on an nightly basis. This is having a detrimental impact on their health and well-being.

The number of vehicles using East London Street, as a result of the diversions required by the Trams and other projects, has resulted in significant damage to the largely setted road surface adding to noise and vibration levels. Given continuing city centre road construction works and its location just outside the boundary of the new Low Emissions Zone, there is concern that the increased traffic on East London Street will not return to the levels experienced prior to its use as a primary diversion for the Trams Project. This is of concern to both the residents of East London Street and to the parents of children at St Mary’s RC Primary School.

Although the primary focus of this petition is on East London Street, there is a similar problem on many of the other residential streets in the New Town again mainly because of the use of these streets by out of service buses and other traffic being diverted to avoid road closures and congestion.

We, the undersigned, seek the following actions by the City of Edinburgh Council:

· An immediate and sustained reduction in the number of buses and other heavy vehicles using this street to 2019 levels; in particular between the hours of 7.00pm and 7.00am

· A traffic count to determine the current volume and speed of vehicles using East London Street to inform decisions about improving traffic management on this predominately residential street.

· Urgent repairs to the road surface to rectify the damage caused by the use of East London Street as a primary diversion route for the Trams project

· A longer-term plan to better manage the traffic on this street both in terms of number and speed of vehicles, which will effectively mitigate the impact on residents and pupils at the primary school.

· Replacement of setts with tarmac in the central running lanes to reduce noise and vibration as has already been undertaken in the adjacent London Street.

Petition Status

Closed

Petition submitted by (Business or Individual)

Individual

Name of petitioner

R MacCallum

Opening date

15 June 2023

Total signatories

178

Petition Outcome

This petition was considered at the Transport and Environment Committee on 17 August 2023