The New Town and Broughton Community Council has submitted a written deputation to the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee meeting on Thursday highlighting the consequences for residents, bus users and the disabled of the plan to defer work on the Frederick, Hanover and Castle Streets (the Cross Streets) which has previously been an integral part of the George Street and First New Town Project. The following is an extract from that deputation but the full document is attached below along with a link to a drawing from the approved Operational Plan for George Street showing the planned location on the Cross Streets of bus stops, taxi ranks and parking.
“Deputation to the Transport and Environment Committee Meeting on 22 May 2025 regarding item 7.5 City Mobility Plan – Capital Investment Plan Prioritisation
The New Town and Broughton Community Council supports the rigorous approach taken in this report to prioritise the various planned activities in support of the City Mobility Plan but has serious concerns about the separation of the planned work on the ‘Cross Streets’ from the main George Street and First New Town project.
This is not rational as the plans to remove vehicular traffic from George Street are dependent on the work on the Cross Streets. In particular, the relocation of bus services, restriction of disabled parking and removal of resident parking from George Street that is contained within the latest Operational Plan for George Street (see attached drawing from June 2023 report to this committee) is reliant on suitable alternative infrastructure being in place on the Cross Streets to allow both the planned construction work to redevelop George Street to commence and its future operation largely without vehicles.
We have been involved with the plans for George Street and the First New Town over many years. In all the presentations we have attended and in previous reports to this committee, the work on the Cross Streets has been seen as an integral part of the overall project.
We believe that the planned work on the Cross Streets is an essential and integral element of the overall project rather than an optional extra that can be delayed to accommodate funding restrictions. If there is a need to phase the projects, the Cross Streets work should come first to enable the future redevelopment of George Street and address immediate issues with the condition of these streets.
Mike Birch
Transport and Environment Convenor – NTBCC
Full NTBCC Deputation
NTBCC Deputation Attachment