A NEW 20 mph speed limit may be given the green light in Holyrood Park in an attempt to prevent congestion.

After 35 years of campaigning, members of Duddingston Village Conservation Society have convinced councillors to support plans to cut the speed limit through the park from 30 mph to 20 mph in order to avoid gridlock in and around Duddingston village.

Transport officials had reported that large numbers of drivers in the park were speeding, with 15 per cent of Holyrood Park Low Road users driving at 40 mph in a 30 mph zone.

As well as this, over 7000 vehicles have been counted on the narrow Old Church Lane daily.

Residents in the village had been raising road safety concerns as well as complaining of road rage incidents, linked to the heavy traffic in the area.

Councillor Gary Peacock, who led the group on the project, believes that by reducing the speed limit Holyrood Park would become a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists. He added, “It is difficult because we can’t stop people using Duddingston village because it would put too much pressure on other routes, but we can try to make the situation better with the right balance, I think.”

As one of the largest inner city green spaces in Europe, many local residents feel that congestion in and around the park ruins the landscapes.

Furthermore, Duddingston Village itself is a conservation area, and many residents are keen to remove the traffic and congestion from the area.

Historic Scotland has authority over the roads through Holyrood Park. Councillor Ewan Aitkin who put forward the motion involving traffic stated, “Historic Scotland needs to understand that they have a responsibility to their neighbours.”

After the council meeting he said, “this is a short step in a long journey, but it is a positive one.”

Local resident, Sasha Edye-Lindner stated, “I am in favour of these changes. It would be nice to be able to have the park as the pollution free haven it should be.”