Close Roads in Holyrood Park

Historic Environment Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, should close the road network in Holyrood Park to vehicular traffic to enable those in wheelchairs, walking, and cycling to have a safe and enjoyable visit. It is likely that we will have an extended period of social distancing, and our urban parks need to be safe and accessible for all. With roads through Leith Links and Kelvingrove Park being closed by their respective local authorities, Scottish Government should support similar measures in parks in their control.

The roads in Holyrood Park have been closed every Sunday for decades without incident. Scottish Government oversees Historic Environment Scotland’s management of the park, therefore Scottish Government are key decision makers.

Many people without access to gardens are using the park, and nowhere is busier than next to roads on pavements and cycle paths that are less than 2m wide. While some pedestrians can go onto the grassy verges, there are many reasons why some pedestrians must stick to paved paths. The High Road closure has been incredibly popular and allowed for good social distancing. This should be extended to the rest of the park’s road network.