 Lothian Buses will not run on strike days |
Steps to ease the disruption caused by a bus drivers' strike in Edinburgh have been unveiled by the city council. A one-day stoppage is planned for Monday 18 July, with more action due to take place on 30 and 31 July.
More than 1,400 drivers employed by the council-owned Lothian Buses are expected to take part in the strikes.
The local authority said parking charges outside the city centre would be suspended and most greenway bus lanes withdrawn for the day.
No Lothian Buses services will operate on the strike days.
An indefinite overtime ban is also due to come into effect from Sunday 17 July.
An Edinburgh City Council spokesman said: "This means that a Saturday bus service will operate Monday through Saturday for the duration of the overtime ban.
Peripheral zone
"It is not possible to operate a full Monday-to-Friday service on non-strike days since a significant amount of overtime is necessary to cover for staff holidays at this time of year."
On strike days the council plans to suspend all pay and display parking charges in the city's peripheral zone, which covers the area south of Melville Drive and north of Heriot Row.
However, that exemption will not apply to a number of main traffic routes, such as: Nicolson Street, Clerk Street, South Clerk Street, Newington Road, Dalkeith Road, Minto Street, Bruntsfield Place, Morningside Road and Comiston Road.
Free parking will also be available in Melville Drive, but pay and display spaces will be operating as normal in the city centre.
Restrictions which apply to residents' parking will also remain in place.
The council has advised commuters to consider other ways of getting to work, including cycling and rail services.
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