‘It’s a nightmare. Folk are beeping at each other’
Stephen Clancy has said parking is chaos in the community.
An Edinburgh community has railed against parking problems ahead of the construction of a new block of flats on Telford Drive. Locals have complained the area is ‘chaos’ for parking, with several residents unable to secure a spot outside of their home due to congestion.
Those living on the street have told of a concoction of issues which have contributed to the issue. From increased car ownership in the area to NHS Lothian staff using the street for parking due to limited space at the Western General.
While many locals empathise with the hospital workers, some have complained of staff circling the community from 5.30am onwards in search of a space outside homes. A limited permit system is in place for Telford Drive, however locals complain it does not go far enough.
And with plans granted for a new ‘car-free’ four-storey apartment block comprising eight flats adjacent to the land at 25 Telford Drive, those living in the area fear the problem surrounding parking will only get worse.
Stephen Clancy, 62, who works as bus driver, said the parking issues in the area are profound. He decided to get rid of his car years ago citing the difficulty of being a motorist in the capital.
“It’ll cause major problems with the flats,” he said. “When I did have a car it was murder getting parked.
“See if you go 50 yards down from the site, you can’t get a fire engine through due to how congested it is. Police are here all the time dealing with the parking and road access.
The approved site of the new eight-apartment development.
“You put more flats in and it’ll only add vehicles, making it worse. I’ve been here 22 years and there are more and more cars in the area. Folk start parking up on the grass as there is no space when they come home from work.
“Traffic is a nightmare. Folk are beeping at each other, and it can be gridlock. I don’t know where new folk will be able to put their cars.
“Having a car in Edinburgh doesn’t make sense anymore. If we need a car then we just hire one nowadays.”
Donna McFarlane, 46, has lived in the area for 46 years, raising two kids on Telford Drive. She said she has never seen the parking issue as bad as it is today.
“It goes like a fair for cars,” she said. “But to be honest the main issue is the NHS staff coming and parking here.
“You see them arriving from 5.30am onwards, just doing loops looking for a spot after a resident leaves. Folk who live here can’t get parked as it is.
Donna said NHS staff arrive as early as 5.30am in the morning searching for parking spaces.
“It is really chaotic and if you add the flats I suppose it could get worse. It’s so built up already with cars and there are a lot of kids on the street.”
Jack Demarco, 29, who works as a scaffolder, said the main issue is during the day and morning due to NHS staff parking. He feels the flats themselves will not be too much bother however he is concerned construction may damage the local green space.
“The NHS needs to let folk park at the hospital,” he said. “The flats won’t be too much bother but more houses could add to the parking nightmare that already exists – it will be even worse.
“They brought in the permits and tried to charge us about £30 for them but they are only active between 1.30pm,-3.30pm to try to tackle the NHS shift patterns. So I don’t bother paying them.
“It is a pain. I leave my spot in the morning outside my house and the NHS workers are right up my backside.”
Most residents were unopposed to the flats, with many welcoming the site being transformed due to it falling victim to fly-tipping in recent years. Concerns were raised about loss off access to the path behind the proposed development however those behind the plans have confirmed access will be unaffected.
Councillor Vicky Nicolson at the site which is to be transformed into flats.
Local SNP councillor Vicky Nicolson, who lives in the local area and has been responding to residents’ concerns said: “As a local resident myself, also impacted by my residential street being used to park when coming to this area of Edinburgh for work or leisure. I want to help the people of Telford with the parking issues.
“Over the last three and a half years I have tried really hard to find solutions and will continue to try and solve, by involving with and informing about the professionals in CEC, the issues caused by people from outside the community using the area as a car park. What holds this up are Traffic Regulation Orders and differing views of how to solve the issues within the community.”
Planning Convener, Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “Residents have access to public transport nearby so a car free proposal was supported. This is aligned to our City Plan 2030 which supports developments with parking free or low car parking provision.
“These may sometimes be in areas where there is existing on street parking, controlled or uncontrolled and are an important part of our aims to reduce the effects of car ownership on the wider environment.
“The site is adjacent to a Priority Parking Area (PPA) where parking is controlled at certain times of the day and future residents would need to apply for a permit to use these spaces. We continually monitor all controlled parking across the city to make sure parking pressures are managed appropriately.”
Kosta Grammenos, project manager for the site, said: “Both the City of Edinburgh Council and the approved development support the principle of 20-minute neighbourhoods, alongside the promotion of public transport and sustainable modes of travel. In line with this, the scheme has been designed to reduce reliance on private car use, providing ample and secure cycle storage and benefiting from close proximity to existing and future planned public transport connections.
“This approach accords with the current Edinburgh Design Guidance, which the development was required to comply with in order to secure planning permission.
“The proposal was subject to the council’s formal consultation process during the determination of the application. One objection was received, relating to parking provision. As part of its adopted planning policy, the council actively supports developments that prioritise sustainable transport and reduce dependence on private vehicles.
“Pedestrian access to the Telford Path will not be affected by this development.”
On staff parking in the area, Chris Stirling, site director at Western General Hospital said: “We encourage all staff to use sustainable modes of transport where possible and recognise the inconvenience that irresponsible parking can cause for our neighbours. We will continue to work with our teams, as well as local partners, to promote considerate parking in the surrounding area.
“Car parking is limited on the site to prevent congestion and ensure access for patients, staff and blue light services. Parking permits are available and prioritised for staff who need them most, based on criteria including distance to the workplace and health needs.”