A HERITAGE watchdog has criticised the Scottish capital's plans for a £165m tram extension plans as placing under threat one of the city's best known thoroughfares.
The Cockburn Association civic society said in a scathing submission to Edinburgh City Council that the extension from York Place down Leith Walk to Newhaven was engineering-led and its approach to pedestrians "wholly unacceptable".
Read more: 3000 share views in Edinburgh tram consultation
The association said in its submission to the council as part of its six-week consultation that "although we support tram extension in principle, we do not support the council’s current proposals for the extension of the tram line to Newhaven.
"What is presented to us is not a civic vision or a new, exciting expansion to our world-famous places.
"It is an engineering project that attempts to subjugate Leith Walk to meet engineering needs, many of which are ill-defined."
It said the "present exercise comes over as simply a 'this is what we are doing' information assignment rather than as genuine public consultation".
It added: “We feel that the functionality of Leith Walk this street as one of Edinburgh’s most vital and exciting thoroughfares is under threat.
“We consider that the current proposals are neither consistent with the council’s own sustainable transport policies nor with best sustainable travel policy and practice.
“Rather, they are an engineering-led solution driven by the requirements of the tram.”
Read more: 3000 share views in Edinburgh tram consultation
Lesley Macinnes, transport convener, said: “We welcome the Cockburn Association’s support for the principle of taking trams to Newhaven, and thank them for taking the time to contribute their views, which will of course be given full consideration as we continue to develop our plans.
“Some commentary about the nature of our consultations on major projects provides the impression that the council is simply going through the motions.
"That is not the case.
"We have put together an extensive, open consultation process providing many opportunities for more than 3,000 individuals, businesses and organisations to feed their views, ideas and concerns into the design and development process."
She added: “All of this feedback will help us to further refine proposals before engaging again later this year and I am very grateful to everyone who has given their time and energy to this so far.
“It is essential that we find an end result that will accommodate the needs of residents, businesses and local communities, and we’re listening very carefully to everything they have to say.”
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