LIVING Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, has said that three footways in Edinburgh are set to be replaced with “proper” pavements.
This is to replace the temporary Spaces for People paths that were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pavements that will receive work are in Morningside, Portobello, and Corstorphine.
Work will take place in late spring, with some construction beginning next month.
Living Streets Edinburgh posted earlier this year, saying: “We’ve been told about some small but very welcome improvements to the walking environment coming to Corstorphine, Portobello and Morningside.
“Old temporary ‘Spaces for People’ footways will be replaced with proper pavements.
“First (late spring), a wider northern pavement on St John’s Road opposite the Centurion pub; they will also replace the two-stage pedestrian crossing with a single-stage crossing.
“Next, conversion of this small section of temporary footway on Portobello High Street into a proper permanent pavement.
“Then, the very busy pavement opposite Waitrose on Morningside Road will also be properly widened at last.”
The group state that they have been notified that work on St John’s Road will begin on 7 April.
Spaces for People created walking and cycling infrastructure across Scotland to help people physically distance, travel safely and exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It involved widening footpaths, creating 39km of segregated cycle infrastructure, and pedestrian zones in the city centre.
In 2021, a group was created called “Edinburgh ‘Spaces for People’ Removal”, with over 5,000 locals calling for infrastructure to be removed.
They stated in a letter to members of the City of Edinburgh Planning Committee at the time: “We are utterly disgusted how our beautiful city now looks, it has been destroyed – with plastic chunky bollards.
“Not to mention how our fantastic tourism will be effected (sic) due to these changes – it now looks like one large city-wide roadwork.”
Now, some of these spaces will become permanent, which Living Streets say will make the city “easier” for pedestrians to walk through.
The council have confirmed that changes to Morningside Road and Portobello High Street are subject to approvals, funding availability and the outcomes of the ongoing work to prioritise the City Mobility Plan Capital Investment Programme.
Construction at Portobello High Street should begin in May this year, and the final proposal should be made for Morningside Road in the upcoming financial year.