Commercial Vehicle Initiative Holyrood Park

6 March 2013

Historic Scotland and Lothian and Borders Police are undertaking a commercial vehicle initiative in Holyrood Park throughout March 2013 to promote road safety and to raise awareness of the Parks traffic regulations.  

Offending motorists travelling out with the permitted access route and through the Park will be stopped and made aware of its traffic regulations.

Following this period of educational stops there will also be random spot checks by Lothian and Borders Police throughout the Park.

Drivers breaching the commercial vehicle restrictions or speed limit will be subject to a fixed £30 non-endorsable penalty notice under Section 75/76 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Martin Gray, Historic Scotland’s Ranger & Visitor Services Manager said:

“Holyrood Park is a unique green space in the heart of the city. The Park’s location makes it very accessible and popular with visitors, but developments around the park have resulted in increasing levels of through-traffic, commercial vehicle misuse and speeding. Large and heavy vehicles cause accelerated wearing of roads surfaces and damage kerbs and traffic islands. They also pose a risk to Park users and wildlife who enjoy the use of the Park.

“We are very grateful to Lothian and Borders Police for their assistance in helping us address these issues, which will help protect and preserve Holyrood Park for the enjoyment of users and visitors.”

Inspector Neil Clyde from Lothian and Borders Police added: ” Lothian and Borders Police is committed to working with others to improve the quality of life for all our communities. We are pleased to be supporting Historic Scotland in this campaign and recognise the benefits that this action will have for people who are using the park legitimately.

“We ask that drivers travelling through the Park work with us to ensure that it is a safe and pleasant environment for all its user

Notes for editors:

• Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government charged with safeguarding the nation’s historic environment. The agency is fully accountable to Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament.

• Register for media release email alerts from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/news. If you wish to unsubscribe at any time, please email hs.website@scotland.gsi.gov.uk   

Historic Scotland around the web:
www.twitter.com/welovehistory,
www.facebook.com/visithistoricscotland
www.youtube.com/historicscotlandtv
www.flickr.com/groups/makeyourownhistory