Road disruption in Edinburgh as JK Rowling's hedge trimming causes queues of traffic

JK Rowling has been blamed for traffic disruption in Edinburgh as contractors cut back hedges outside her 17th-century mansion.

The Harry Potter author has had the road adjacent to her 17th-century restricted this week while trimming work gets under way on her Leylandii hedge, outside the multi-million pound home.

The 58-year-old has had four-way temporary traffic lights installed which have reduced part of the road outside the home to a single lane.

With lights directing the traffic heading towards the north-west of the city allegedly remaining red, significant delays have been caused.

Several parents have voiced frustrations over the closures, with many saying it is affecting their ability to get their children to school on time.

One frustrated parent said on X: “The disruption to all the families trying to get to school on time was extremely frustrating and I’m sure many families will be late for school.”

The Harry Potter author's Leylandii hedge. — The Harry Potter author’s Leylandii hedge. Google Maps

It is not the first time that Rowling’s property has had work done to trim the large bushes.

In July 2022, she had similar roads shut down and in 2019 officials from the City of Edinburgh Council wrote to the author asking her to have the shrubbery trimmed as a “matter of urgency”.

The City of Edinburgh Council said that any individual or business may apply for a permit to occupy a public road for activities such as placing a skip or erecting scaffolding. The appropriate permits were applied for and approved.