Cars banned from near Edinburgh schools in trial

A groundbreaking trial to ban cars from streets surrounding 11 city primary schools at drop-off times is to get underway in Edinburgh.

By DAVID O’LEARY Thursday, 23rd October 2014, 2:21 pm

Picture: TSPL

Roads within 300 metres of schools will be sealed off to traffic for 30 minutes before and after the start and end of the school day under the pioneering plans that have attracted more than a third of Capital primaries.

In total 31 schools had asked to take part in the pilot project which is set to come into force by the summer term of 2015.

Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...

Those chosen include Duddingston, St John’s, Abbeyhill, Colinton, Sciennes and Cramond, with Towerbank, St Peter’s, Clermiston, Bonaly and Buckstone to follow in a second phase.

The 18-month scheme will hand traffic wardens the power to turn away vehicles in nearby streets during the restricted hours.

It comes ten months after education chiefs in East Lothian banned cars from three roads leading to primary schools in Haddington – the first ban of its kind in Scotland.

Wardens will enforce the traffic restrictions by issuing a £50 fixed fine to those caught flouting the rules.

Under the plans, only permit and Blue Badge holders would be able to park outside the schools during the busy periods.