Edinburgh residents fume after council paves over historic new town cobbles

Residents have questioned why the council are prepared to pave over hundreds of years of history on Frederick Street


Running off the north end of Princes Street, Frederick Street is the latest site of council controversy, as its historic cobbles have been temporarily covered with tarmac.

The historic street, built in 1795, is undergoing essential repairs after defects were found in the carriageway. The council plans to replace the original cobbles with new granite setts and Yorkstone slabs will replace the original cobbles, but a layer of tarmac has been applied to keep traffic moving.

Constructed in 1795, Frederick Street is one of the most historic thoroughfares in the New Town, with the decision to tarmac the road inevitably upsetting residents who have slammed the council.

Residents took to X to express their outrage and disappointment in the decision, with some Edinburgh residents asking, “What’s bloody next?”.

The Scotsman reported that the council insists this is just routine maintenance and not linked to the larger George Street and First New Town redevelopment, which aims to reduce car lanes and increase pedestrian space.

The aforementioned plan would see much of the traffic removed from George Street to accommodate widened pavements for pedestrians, with car lanes reduced to two, as well as spaces for parking and taxis.

Another disappointed resident wrote on X: “They could spend this money fixing the shocking tarmac roads that exist, Edinburgh is an absolute disgrace for bad surfaces.”

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, one resident stated the asphalted surface “looks awful”, going on to say that the city’s council have paved over “hundred of years old cobbles”.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Council transport and environment convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said: “Following an inspection of the carriageway, which revealed defects, we’ve put in a temporary running surface over the top of the existing setts. This is to ensure the carriageway is safe for all road users.

This temporary measure will ultimately be replaced with granite setts.”

Featured image via X