Campaigners have described the lack of a ban on cars in a new strategy for Edinburgh's Holyrood Park as "hugely disappointing". 

The Strategic Plan, published by owners Historic Environment Scotland, provides a vision for its future and broaches key issues including road access, safety from rockfall, decline in habitats and coping with increasing visitor numbers. 

The park, home to Edinburgh's  mini-mountain, Arthur's Seat, which  draws countless visitors to take in the dramatic views, has featured in film and television, and was a focus earlier this year of the popular series, One Day. It has been estimated that it is worth £1.8 billion per annum to the city.

The new plan describes a site currently under “pressure” of huge visitor numbers, but also providing billions to the economy as well as “health and wellbeing benefits” for the people of Edinburgh.

Alison Turnbull, Director of External Relations and Partnerships at HES, described the park as having “immense value”. “While it already holds great significance, there is still untapped potential to enhance its benefits for people, nature, and heritage.”

But a key question of whether there will be more closures of the road running through the park to cars remains unanswered, and is set to be decided as part of a new 'Movement Strategy'.

Sarah Gowanlock, a campaigner for Car Free Holyrood, said: "I was disappointed not to see the commitment to removing through traffic from the park coming through in the final plan, in Objective Five.  We want through-traffic to end, but investment made in alternatives so that everyone is able to use the park and access it. It was really disappointing to see them instead they have announced a Movement Strategy and another round of consultation."

Following the publication of the strategy, Scottish Green MSP Lorna Slater posted on X: “We believe that road closures make the park a safer and more pleasant place to visit. We would also like to see the park prioritising nature and wildlife while reducing our carbon emissions.”

She has also announced that a meeting will be organised "for all interested community members and stakeholders to come together and possibly set up a Friends Of group".

Arthur's SeatArthur's Seat (Image: Historic Environment Scotland)

Launching the plan earlier this month, Ms Turnbull explained: "The Strategic Plan does not include the final Movement Strategy for the Park, which is still being developed in collaboration with The City of Edinburgh Council and will align to their City Mobility Plan 2030. Additional, detailed surveys are required to inform the plans for future traffic movement and active travel, ensuring a sustainable future for the Park."

The new Strategic Plan also defines the purpose of the park, listing seven key principles. Among these are that it will “put people first”; “strengthen climate action and resilience”, and “be guided by nature”.

But Holyrood Park is also a site of increasing human impact. The key challenges facing the park are, the plan listed, climate change, user number growth, declining habit and water quality, natural regeneration and recolonisation, highly degraded path network, and traffic management conflict.

It boasts numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest, but all of these are in “unfavourable” condition. One of the objectives of the plan is to establish baseline monitoring of biodiversity.

The Strategic Plan follows an initial public consultation, which received just under 5000 responses, and raised numerous issues.

Calls for road closures

A campaign to close off the park roads to cars has long been waged by Car Free Holyrood. Already the road  through the park and around Arthur's Seat, the Queen’s Drive, is closed at weekends, and the High Road to Dunsapie Loch is only open from Tuesdays to Thursdays.

But, in the consultation, others complained about current road closures and their impact on accessibility: “Ever since the high road to Dunsapie Loch closed most of the time, been unable to take elderly and disabled relatives to enjoy the beautiful views from that road. We are now elderly and unable to climb up there. So sad we cannot enjoy this now. This is discrimination against elderly and disabled!”

Another consultation response observed, “I regularly encounter aggression from drivers while cycling through the Park. Holyrood Park is a site of such historical and natural benefit to the city; it should not be used as a rat-run for drivers. Please close the road.”

The Strategic Plan provides no firm guidance on this, except to emphasise "active travel" in its Objective Five. The park's 'Movement Strategy' is set to be developed in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council and will align to its City Mobility Plan 20303.

Car Free Holyrood campaigner, Ms Gowanlock, said: "It's disappointing to see the HES back off from the language that they were using in the draft plan. It is heartening to see Objective Five in there and have active travel be the dominant mode of travel through the park and to the park. That definitely needs to be there.

"The announcement of a Movement Strategy on top of what is already a slow process is pretty challenging. This is a ten-year plan and the movement is glacial. I feel I am getting old and they could be making a change that would really positively impact people today."

Open the Radical Road

Another issue frequently mentioned by those who replied to the consultation was the closure of the Radical Road. The report said that respondents “generally view the closure as an “overreaction” to rockfall”.

“The widely expressed view,” it notes, “was that people should be able to assess their own risk of using the path. It was also noted that the closure of the Radical Road path has prevented climbers from using the Salisbury Crags for recreational purposes.”

Ms Turnbull said: “While the Plan does not cover rock risk, specialist geotechnical engineers have completed a re-assessment of risk and potential mitigating measures in relation to parts of the Radical Road and other areas. HES plans to improve access in spring 2025, where this can be done safely, at the southern end from the Hawse to the northern end of South Quarry.

"This area includes Hutton’s Section and Hutton’s Rock, together with the quarry in which climbing is permitted. Due to Holyrood Park’s complexity and unique nature, all proposals need to consider statutory consents and require engagement with the relevant regulatory bodies."

 

Arthu's Seat in winterArthu's Seat in winter (Image: PA)

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What are the Scottish Greens saying?

MSP Lorna Slater said: “I love Holyrood Park and as a local resident I walk and run there regularly. It is one of the most iconic sites in all of Scotland, providing peace and nature in the middle of a bustling city centre.

“One of the things that detracts from this is the huge number of cars that pass through it every day, making it less safe for the families and residents who visit it every day.

“We saw the improvement that was made when cars were banned from the park during lockdown, which made it feel more relaxing, and far safer.

“As the consultation and groups like Car Free Holyrood have found, by improving cycling infrastructure, widening pavements, fixing paths and increasing seating and rest points, we can make our park even more special and address accessibility in a much greener and more sustainable way.

“In the next few weeks, I’m hoping that the Council’s Local Access Forum will meet and have a productive conversation about the park’s strategy and how they can get involved. In November I’ll be hosting a public meeting for all interested community members and stakeholders to come together and possibly set up a Friends Of group to help set the direction and priorities for Holyrood Park.”

A defence of cars in Holyrood Park

Neil Greig spokesperson for IAM Road Safety said: We have always felt that total closure of the roads around the edge of Holyrood Park was not needed

“The roads through the park add much needed extra capacity for already congested city centre routes “Keeping the option of traffic being allowed when diversions are required would add much needed flexibility. Currently roadworks or events just cause slow moving and polluting traffic to sit next to homes and businesses for hours.

“In addition access by car is needed to allow everyone the chance to enjoy the park no matter what their mobility needs might be.

“Traffic speeds are already low in the park and proper segregated cycling lanes should be in place to enhance enjoyment and reduce risk to any vulnerable road users “