Plans for a new one-way traffic system in Edinburgh have been postponed due to business concerns. The council had proposed a 12-month pilot scheme for the system, which could help the city centre cope with its newly-installed trams. It was thought traffic would run in a single direction loop around the city as a result of the plans, but that decision has now been delayed until August after traders complained it would reduce footfall outside their businesses.

Trams are expected to be running in the city centre by the summer of 2014.

The project's final major piece of construction work, which involves the installation of overhead and underground cabling for the city centre section, is currently under way.

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The plans to change the system would see general traffic and buses travel in an east bound direction on George Street, with the other side becoming a two-way cycling lane with space for pedestrians. On Princes Street, all buses, taxis and cycles would travel in a westbound direction.

Following a consultation with stakeholders, a report is now being considered by the transport committee which said: "Respondents were sceptical about the benefits of introducing a one-way system to the city centre, particularly for buses, arguing that traffic would be displaced if no developments in alternative transport provision or better linkages between other parts of the city were provided.

"Strong concerns about traffic displacement were made from residents of the New Town."

The developments sit alongside other improvements taking place elsewhere in the city centre, including the Royal Mile and Waverley Bridge, and initiatives to support extended shopping hours and the move to allow cafes and restaurants to be located on Princes Street.

The plans will now be discussed at the August meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee.

(JP/CD)