CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Free car parking in Edinburgh city centre

(41 posts)

  1. neddie
    Member

    Free car parking on the meadows (Saturday):

    Free Parking

    Posted 10 years ago #
  2. SRD
    Moderator

    So, what's going on? I'm baffled.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  3. neddie
    Member

    I don't know. But it seems that since a few cars decided to park on the grass, a few more decided to join them

    Posted 10 years ago #
  4. LaidBack
    Member

    No excuse. Driving across Meadows at night does happen but that's in broad daylight. Which bit was it. ?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  5. Focus
    Member

    Looks like the pavilion/changing rooms(?) opposite Marchmont Rd.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    Cricket season must have started.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  7. KeepPedalling
    Member

    Surely people are not allowed to use the meadows as a car park? I note there is a small tarmac area at the cricket pavilion.

    I have also seen cars driving onto the meadows at the opposite end to park next to the large playground. I once saw a car reverse turning quickly oblivious to the two kids that were running towards the playground. Thank goodness the kids dodged him. Is there nowhere safe from these idiots?!!!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  8. Kim
    Member

    Parking on the Meadows is an increasing problem...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  9. SRD
    Moderator

    also three cars parked all at the same time higher up MMW a few weeks ago.

    I mentioned this in the recent consultation on park use. and asked my community council reps to raise it. would be good if others contacted their CC's and/or councillors too. it's the only way we'll get change on this.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  10. DaveC
    Member

    Is there no one at the council you could contact? Is there a illegal parking hot line for those tow trucks?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  11. SRD
    Moderator

    Whenever I've complained, I'm always told that the car is there on business. Not that they think it ought to be parked on the paths, but that the driver has reason to be there. So my goal has been to get them to limit the vehicles being driven on the paths in the first place.

    But none of that excuses this egregious abuse of the turf. Don't they normally just park on Melville drive in the cycle lane?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    "Don't they normally just park on Melville drive in the cycle lane?"

    Which do you prefer...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  13. Kim
    Member

    Well if they all left the car at home than it would be safe for kids to walk and cycle to the Meadows, the way they used...

    So much better for everyone’s health too.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  14. chdot
    Admin

    Just to repeat.

    I think Melville Drive should be pedestrianised between Marchmont Road and Argyll Place.

    Would solve so many problems.

    AND send out a message that CEC was serious...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I assume original photo was the cricketists as Saturday was the first whites day of the season. They should, as a group of people who spend time and effort campaigning to keep others off "their" bit of grass, know better than to allow/encourage such things on other people's (i.e. everyone's) bits of grass.

    It's worth perhaps forwarding this on to Friends of the Meadows and Links as they probably know who to complain to about this.

    My apologies to Edinburgh's criketing community if the parkers weren't them.

    When the Sick Kids moves out to Little France it will be another reason not to close off Melville Drive as a through-route gone.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  16. neddie
    Member

    I think Melville Drive should be pedestrianised between Marchmont Road and Argyll Place

    Agreed.

    But how would you prevent traffic from then rat-running up through Argyle Pl/Marchmont Cres/Marchmont Rd & back down to Melville Dr?

    Posted 10 years ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    "But how would you prevent traffic from then rat-running up through Argyle Pl/Marchmont Cres/Marchmont Rd & back down to Melville Dr?"

    Many possibilities.

    First stage (after Sick Kids' moves) is to stop-up Sciennes Road at the School.

    It's not that long since it was "impossible" to traffic calm Melville Terrace, because it was a 'through route' - mostly for taxi drivers.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  18. neddie
    Member

    @chdot

    The only way I can think of doing it is by making Marchmont Rd and Argyle Pl one-way in the same direction at their respective junctions with Melville Dr. (with exmeptions for buses/cycles)

    That seems like a big ask...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  19. chdot
    Admin

    "That seems like a big ask..."

    Depends how much people in Marchmont will trade-off some inconvenience (mostly for car users) for a nicer place to live without a lot of through traffic...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  20. SRD
    Moderator

  21. DaveC
    Member

    Woopidoo!! Now everyone who reads that rag will know they can park for free until a loophole is closed!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  22. Focus
    Member

    I was just about to post that. It's amazing what the council finds it has no control over when something happens!

    Posted 10 years ago #
  23. gibbo
    Member

    A council spokeswoman said: “Parking is not permitted on the grass at the Meadows and we are currently investigating."

    'Investigating' what? And how?

    Surely, if parking isn't permitted, the only 'investigating' required is to look at the grass to see if there are cars parked there?

    Then it's just a case of calling the cops to tow the cars away...

    Posted 10 years ago #
  24. Stickman
    Member

    I'm sure the Parks department has access to very large and very heavy objects which could be left in an "appropriate" place. If they happened to block the exit of these cars, well what a shame......

    If only.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    "'Investigating' what?"

    Perhaps if it was related to a cricket match (or other organised sporting event).

    Posted 10 years ago #
  26. neddie
    Member

    Now everyone who reads that rag will know they can park for free until a loophole is closed

    However if everyone starts parking there, it may mean that the loophole is closed quicker than it otherwise would've been.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  27. Charlethepar
    Member

    I was running round the meadows this morning (at about 7:30) and saw some fat bloke on big motorbike chugging his way up one of the paths from Leven Terrace to Leamington Walk, pausing every now and then to take in the view. He then turned up Leamington Walk.

    Barmy.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  28. gibbo
    Member

    Perhaps if it was related to a cricket match (or other organised sporting event).

    Judging by the article, you need written permission... so, there only needs one extra step of investigation: "Did we give these people written permission?".

    Posted 10 years ago #
  29. chdot
    Admin

    "Did we give these people written permission?"

    Yes but it could be a bunch of random sheep.

    If they were there in an 'organised' fashion, then at least there can be a 'don't do it again' letter.

    Posted 10 years ago #
  30. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Not related to original post, but I took advantage of the 1 day a year that I can park in Edinburgh for free. Was nice to get out of bed late and spend an hour less than normal getting to work. :)

    Posted 10 years ago #

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