20mph in Pilrig

Creating 20mph zones in our area, especially Pilrig Street, would have a number of obvious benefits:

• safer streets for children, pedestrians and cyclists
• safer crossing
• less noise
• less pollution
• less through traffic in the long run

Our arguments

Excluding Leith Walk, the streets in Pilrig are predominantly residential in character and 20mph zones would encourage increased pedestrian and cycle use in line with Council and national policies.

In addition to all side streets, we also argue for Pilrig Street to be made a 20mph zone (and to introduce the relevant traffic slowing measures, including pavement widening on the South side) for the following reasons:

• its narrow width makes it unsuitable for normal speed through traffic for most of the day (at other times, excessive speeds can be regularly observed)
• it is essentially residential and a conduit for school children en route to at least five local schools, as well as the main access to Pilrig Park
• Pilrig Street has seen peak traffic increases past its capacity caused not only by general traffic growth, but also as a result of Council policies and decisions (e.g. Greenways, CETM) which we broadly support.
• Appropriate traffic calming would seem a sensible form of encouraging local alternatives to private car use

The Council is currently preparing traffic orders for 20mph in the city centre as far as McDonald Road. Both our MP, Mark Lazarowicz, and our MSP, Malcolm Chisholm, have indicated that they support the extension of these measures into Pilrig.

If you want 20mph in Pilrig, write to Traffic Councillor Andrew Burns. Send a copy (or your comments) to us at 20mph@PilrigRA.cjb.net.