Fury as locals in a major UK city threaten to sue council over controversial parking plans

Locals in a major UK city are up in arms against a controversial plan to implement a controlled parking zone. Residents and business owners in Edinburgh's Portobello and Joppa have reportedly threatened to take legal action against the local authorities.

Under the scheme, if implemented, residents will have to pay for a permit to park on their street. Those without permits would have to pay using pay and display machines. The proposed scheme has not gone well with the locals who have launched a petition, issuing a formal legal warning and threatening court action.

One of the campaign's organisers, Nikki Middleton, told Edinburgh Live: "Not only did the vast majority of people consulted reject the proposals, but the council ran the consultation during the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic, when travel and parking patterns were completely unrepresentative. How is that a fair reflection of public opinion?"

"The council also failed to consult Joppa residents at all, despite extending the CPZ boundary to include this area. Drawing lines on a map without considering those communities undermines people's voices and is not a fair representation. These are not just technical errors - they represent a fundamental disregard for transparency and democracy."

Karen Mackay, the owner of Cahoots, an independent store supporting local designers and artisan makers, said: "This scheme is a direct threat to local businesses, it will kill footfall, disrupt deliveries, and drive our customers elsewhere."

"We have worked hard to bring life back to the High Street with independent shops, cafés, and services, and now the council wants to sabotage that progress. If these businesses start closing down, it's not just livelihoods that are at stake - it's access to essential amenities for local people.

"We have seen the damage these schemes have done in places like Leith. Why is the council determined to repeat the same mistakes here?"

A letter has been sent to both councillors and council staff outlining concerns and warning that further action may be taken. The group behind the letter is pushing for their issues to be addressed more seriously.

Later this autumn, a meeting is scheduled where officials are expected to decide whether or not to move forward with creating a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ).

If the council fails to respond within 21 days, the group has indicated it will initiate legal proceedings in the Court of Session, seeking to have the Traffic Regulation Order quashed and to recover legal expenses. A petition opposing the CPZ has already attracted over 1,300 signatures.

Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Sub-Committee Convener, Councillor Margaret Graham said: "We've received a letter from this group and will now take the time to consider its contents.

"The proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) for Portobello is intended to ease parking pressures in the area. The Traffic Regulation Order advertising period ended in late May 2025 and all objections to the proposals will be presented to a future TRO Sub-Committee. Members will consider all the available evidence before coming to a decision on the scheme."