consultation – Page 36 – The NEN

Have your say on initial proposals for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Leith and Corstorphine

A second phase of community engagement on plans to introduce Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in two areas of Edinburgh begins today.

Between 8 February and 5 March, the city councill sought the views of residents in Corstorphine, Leith and East Craigs on their travel choices and use of their community spaces for movement and relaxation to help us develop proposals for each area in partnership with the local communities themselves. In total we received around 2200 responses across the three communities.

After the first phase of engagement, there was a clear appetite within Leith and Corstorphine to move forward with more detailed dialogue.

For East Craigs the council will be bringing an additional report on plans for the area to the next Transport and Environment Committee in recognition of the majority of respondents reporting, during our initial engagement in February/March, that traffic levels were not significant on most residential streets.

However, some residents did indicate that there are issues with high traffic volumes on selected streets. We’ll therefore propose to have further discussion on targeted traffic reduction with the East Craigs community at a later date, with a view to bringing proposals back to a future meeting of Transport and Environment Committee.

In Leith and Corstorphine the council is now looking for feedback on initial recommendations to create safer, more comfortable environments for walking, cycling and wheeling, as well as for spending time in local streets and outdoor spaces.

These have been informed by the opinions and ideas shared during the first phase of engagement, as well as traffic data which indicates where there are issues around intrusive traffic.

As part of this second phase of engagement they will be holding co-design-type workshops with community representatives so that the design team can closely explore details in greater depth with the community.

Each of the schemes will be refined following the current period of engagement and brought back to Transport and Environment Committee. If approved, they would be then be introduced on a trial basis via an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) towards the end of 2021.

For Corstorphine, two options have been proposed to improve safety on the High Street, as well as various interventions elsewhere in the area to restrict through traffic, particularly around schools.

The Leith Connections project designs consist of two elements – a high-quality segregated cycle route between the Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, which will be introduced on a permanent basis, and an experimental LTN in the area between Salamander Street, Commercial Street, North and Great Junction Street, Duke Street and the roads around Leith Links.

The LTN designs include restrictions to through traffic and ‘parklets’ to encourage more people to walk, cycle and spend time.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Over the last year we’ve seen the impact that lower traffic volumes and space to walk and cycle can have on our environment.

“As we work to make a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, we’re looking at ways of working together with our communities on designs and proposals that would make neighbourhoods more liveable, easier to move around by active travel and welcoming to spend time in.

“Thanks to thousands of comments on the initial engagement about our plans to introduce Low Traffic Neighbourhoods across the city, as well as traffic monitoring both before and after the pandemic to identify intrusive traffic hotspots, we’ve been able to develop a set of proposals for Leith and Corstorphine that really address the issues facing these neighbourhoods, helping to tackle barriers to walking, cycling and wheeling.

“As we now start the next phase of public engagement on these proposals we’ll be continuing to work closely with the communities in a co-design-style approach which involves residents in each key step of the projects’ development.

“In East Craigs, there was a clear view that for most people there weren’t significant traffic problems on most residential streets, although some residents did report too much traffic on certain streets.

“That’s why we’re currently putting the LTN plans on hold in East Craigs. We’d like to come back to discuss ideas on targeted traffic reduction with the community sometime in the future, but for now, we look forward to working with communities in Corstorphine and Leith to take forward designs there.

Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “We’ve seen from examples around the world how Low Traffic Neighbourhoods can encourage community interaction and healthy, active travel, and we want to see this happen in Edinburgh.

“Please let us know what you think of the initial plans for Leith and Corstorphine, so we can deliver schemes which work for as many people as possible.”

Key findings from engagement with the public earlier this year include:

Corstorphine – almost 600 responses received

Walking was the largest travel mode used by respondents to the survey, with cycling higher than the national average at 9%.
Safety of streets for cycling and safety of streets for walking were the main factors that prevent respondents from making trips by foot or bike within the local area.
51% of respondents think that traffic levels and speeds for children cycling or walking are unsafe or very unsafe.

Leith – over 800 responses received

75% of survey respondents strongly support or support the aim for improving cycling conditions in Leith.
80% of survey respondents strongly support or support the aim for improving walking conditions in Leith.
The most popular local destinations were Ocean Terminal, Leith Walk and Leith Links. Walking was used for the highest proportion of these journeys with between 44-65% of trips and cycling was used on 13-23% of trips.

East Craigs LTN – over 800 responses received

Speed and volume of traffic on Craigs Road was felt by some in the community to be too high and conditions could be improved for people walking and cycling, however there was also general feedback that most streets in the area were not felt by survey respondents to have high traffic volumes or speeds.
School drop off/pick up times were highlighted as a particular issue on some streets, resulting in higher volumes of traffic and parking.

Alongside this engagement feedback, project teams have collected and assessed traffic data from before and during COVID to help identify streets where intrusive traffic is a problem. This data has generally corresponded closely to the streets that residents have highlighted as having high traffic volumes and speeds.

Traffic operations plans have been developed to help people to plan journeys around their communities by different transport modes. Every residence will remain accessible by motor vehicle.

Engagement on the Leith and Corstorphine proposals will run from TODAY (Friday 4 June) until 4 July, during which time respondents can view and comment on designs. We’ll also be consulting with key stakeholders including community councils, ward councillors, emergency services and mobility and access groups.

The ETRO process for introducing changes, if approved, includes further public consultation on the traffic regulation changes, with the results to be reported back to Transport and Environment Committee in autumn, when a decision would be made about whether to implement the LTNs on a trial basis (for up to 18 months).

ETROs allow us to trial measures, in collaboration with the community and stakeholders, to evaluate their impacts and benefits prior to permanent implementation. During the trial we will be monitoring the impacts of the changes and asking for public feedback.

Measures along the future cycle route from Leith Walk to Ocean Terminal, which will change traffic movement in the area, are proposed to be implemented at the same time as the trial LTN. These relate to a permanent route design and have already been through public engagement.

You’ll be able to find out more and share your views on Leith and Corstorphine proposals from today.

“A total dog’s breakfast”: City council publishes Spaces for People feedback

60% of residents AGAINST Spaces for People

Responses to a major consultation and market research exercise on perceptions of Spaces for People measures, and whether they should be retained, have been published by the city council. Lothians MSP Miles Briggs says the results show the SNP-Labour ‘Capital Coalition’ has made a ‘total dog’s breakfast’ of the Spaces for People scheme

More than 17,600 people responded to our public consultation in March, which asked respondents about their familiarity with schemes introduced to help people walk, cycle and wheel safely during the COVID pandemic, and whether they would like to see them kept longer-term.

Alongside this, market research was carried out by independent market research consultants on our behalf, providing a statistically representative sample of opinion from a cross section of residents.

Officers are assessing each scheme for retention using a set of criteria agreed at January’s Transport and Environment Committee, including whether they encourage walking and cycling, how they impact businesses and whether they affect public transport. The longer-term contribution to the Council’s strategic transport objectives will also be considered.

Feedback gathered through consultation and market research will be taken into account as part of the assessments and will help guide recommendations on which schemes to keep beyond the pandemic, which will be considered by Transport and Environment Committee on 17 June.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Firstly, I want to thank all those who took the time to complete the consultation. The changes we have introduced reach across Edinburgh, so we wanted to hear from as many different people in communities around the city as possible.

“Officers have been assessing each of the schemes for retention using a set of criteria agreed by committee and responses to the consultation and market research will be part of this process, helping to form recommendations for the best way forward.

“I look forward to constructive debate with fellow councillors on the future of these schemes, and how they can benefit residents and visitors to Edinburgh longer term.”

Transport and Environment Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “Over the last year we’ve introduced many measures to help people physically distance and travel safely during the pandemic, and there have been a range of opinions shared on their effectiveness and impacts on the people who live here.

“Thanks to the feedback gathered in March, we’ll now be able to take people’s comments and ideas into account as we assess each scheme, meaning a rounded approach as we move beyond the pandemic.”

Far from a ’rounded approach’, Tory Lothians MSP Miles Briggs has branded the council’s handling of the scheme ‘a total dog’s breakfast’.

Miles Briggs said that 60% of Edinburgh residents are opposed to the scheme, and added: “The people of Edinburgh have spoken and it is clear that residents across the Capital have lost confidence in Spaces for People.

“From the outset many local representatives have expressed concern at the total lack on consultation and the introduction of schemes which have had a negative impact on all road users – yet the Council knowns best approach has prevailed.

“It is inconceivable for Edinburgh Council to continue with Spaces for People with a significant majority of people against the scheme.

“There have been countless issues and risks with Spaces for People and Edinburgh Council must now start to listen and reverse these changes immediately.

“There has been an overwhelming amount of opposition and the plan to make Spaces for People permanent must be taken off the table.

“It is clear that the SNP / Labour coalition running Edinburgh City Council have made a total dog’s breakfast of the Spaces for People scheme and if they will not act this is set to become a major campaign issue at the Council elections next year.”

Questions in both the consultation and market research focused on how much people supported or opposed retaining changes in place, what they considered to be the main benefits or disadvantages of retaining measures and which schemes people would especially like to see retained or removed.

While there were differences in the level of support or opposition for schemes between consultation and market research results, in general, for both, participants shared the strongest support for measures at schools, followed by schemes in the city centre.

Both reported lower rates of support for town centre interventions and protected cycle lanes, with the lowest levels of support for leisure connections and Quiet Connections, with many market research respondents saying they weren’t aware of these changes.

The council began introducing Spaces for People measures in May 2020 in order to ‘help people physically distance, travel safely and exercise during the COVID pandemic’.

In January 2021 it was agreed to explore the potential for retaining some of the schemes longer-term, in recognition of their impact on Council objectives to encourage walking and cycling, improve air quality, reduce congestion and achieve net zero carbon emissions, amongst other commitments.

Three separate surveys aimed at residents, businesses and stakeholders were conducted for the consultation. This was made available in a range of formats including regular print, large print, braille and translation into other languages. A British Sign Language video was also displayed on the project website to further widen access to people with hearing loss.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes has written in yesterday’s Edinburgh Evening News (Wednesday, 2 June) on the aims of Spaces for People, and plans to move forward with the programme – see below.

We’re working to get the balance right

It’s now more than a year since we began introducing Spaces for People measures to help people to make journeys by foot, bike and wheelchair safely while physically distancing.

It was inevitable that introducing changes in so many parts of the city would give rise to differing reactions, with people expressing both concerns and positive comments.

We’re now considering the results of a major consultation and market research on the changes we’ve made, and whether people would like any of them to be kept more permanently. Before we move to the next stage, I want to take this opportunity to comment on some of the key issues that have arisen since the start of the pandemic.

Some people have asked us why we’ve been making these changes. Last year, in the depths of lockdown, we had very little choice. As the nation came to terms with a ‘new normal’ where 2m physical distancing is needed, the way we moved around the city changed drastically. People were stepping on roads to give one another space, cycling along busy routes to avoid public transport or squeezing onto narrow pavements to take daily exercise.

Throughout the course of the last year our approach has evolved with the changing situation, and strands of the programme reflect that. From the beginning, when we created Spaces for Exercise, so people could get to places like Silverknowes prom safely (and they did, in great number), to our city and town centres schemes to add space on busy high streets. Restrictions outside schools helped limit crowding as pupils returned to full-time learning and Travelling Safely measures provided much-needed cycle space on busy roads as alternatives to congested off-road networks, along with a scheme to remove obstructive street clutter from our streets.

Both the Scottish and UK Governments have encouraged and funded local authorities across the country to make temporary changes to facilitate active travel. Through the Scottish Government, via Sustrans, we’ve been awarded £5.25m in total specifically to provide additional space for physical distancing in the pandemic – and I want to be clear that we can’t spend this money on filling potholes or elsewhere.

To those who question Sustrans’ influence over our decisions – Sustrans is a respected, national charity and we value their input highly. But these decisions are very much our own. It’s our responsibility to protect citizens’ safety, to support businesses to thrive and to give children and families space to enjoy safe, pollution-free routes.

This is an entirely new situation, and I know that some of the road layouts have taken time to adjust to. But we’re also in the midst of a crisis. We’ve followed guidance set by the Scottish Government to help us get these emergency changes to protect public health on the ground quickly – in fact, we’ve gone further than expected to engage with key stakeholders on every single scheme. As a result, we’ve tweaked and improved many of the measures along the way.

It’s thanks to the efforts of our dedicated Spaces for People team that we’ve been able to respond to community concerns. Each intervention is carefully risk assessed, taking blue badge parking and loading into account, and is closely monitored once in place. People’s safety is our priority, and we notify emergency services about every intervention, addressing any access issues if necessary.

As restrictions are eased alongside the rapid rollout of vaccinations across the population, some may ask why we still need interventions like these in place. While there is much to be grateful for, we’re not out of the woods yet. The fast-spreading Indian variant of the COVID virus still threatens to set back best laid plans to fully exit lockdown. Large sections of society, many of whom don’t own a car, still feel nervous to set foot on public transport. And as businesses reopen with restrictions in place, queues will become commonplace on our streets.

That these changes are helping to people to walk, cycle and wheel more easily aligns with our strategic policy goals too. Our ambitious ten-year City Mobility Plan focuses on sustainable travel, while projects like City Centre Transformation will facilitate travel by foot, wheelchair or bike. Our commitments to become carbon neutral by 2030, to significantly improve air quality and to encourage healthy, active travel will benefit from people choosing to walk or cycle over private car journeys.

Of course, we recognise some schemes have caused disruption and we want to minimise that for residents and businesses. This is a difficult balance but we’re trying again to get it right.

We have no intention of pushing through any permanent schemes under the cover of Spaces for People. We want to bring the people of Edinburgh along with us. That’s why we would be using Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to implement any longer-term changes, meaning we can continue to involve local people in their operation and evolution once in place.

Many of the changes we’ve made, it’s worth noting, are as a result of our Commonplace consultation last year and have been informed by residents’ suggestions for improvements. The 17,600 responses we received to the latest consultation, along with the findings of in-depth marketing research conducted with a representative cross-section of residents, will be invaluable as we progress to the next stage of the programme.

This insight, along with the expertise of our officers, who are working to a defined set of criteria approved by elected councillors in committee, will help us to understand where we can make schemes better, how they can be changed to suit more people and where, in some areas, they can be scaled back.

Find out more about the market research and consultation responses online.

Have your say on Community Payback Orders

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given out by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.

In particular, the city council would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.

Examples of unpaid work include:

repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture

The council is seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and wants to know:

Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Vice Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh about their views on Community Payback Orders, and the work carried out by the people subject to them.

“Through our consultation we also hope to identify more opportunities in the Capital for unpaid community work to be carried out. This work could include community clear ups, repainting community centres or recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.

“They are an excellent way for organisations such as charities to get practical help, and they give people who commit offences the chance to pay back to communities and develop new skills.

The information we collect will help us to improve how we work with communities and help to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping people reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.”

The consultation runs until Wednesday 30 June.

Community Council slams Spaces for People consultation

New Town & Broughton CC has responsed to the city council’s ‘retaining Spaces for People measures’ consultation – and has given the process a scathing thumbs-down:

Executive Summary

As noted below, the New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) considers the consultation to be deeply flawed.

The inclusion of questions about measures not yet implemented is highly questionable. Until there has been an opportunity to evaluate the success or otherwise of any particular measures, it is impossible to make any valid judgment on whether they should be retained or removed.

Many of the questions group cycling and walking together but the needs of these two groups are quite different making it impossible to properly judge the merits of specific measures for each of these groups.

The survey is designed to encourage simple yes/no answers to questions about whether measures should be retained and does too little to obtain any insight into the consequences both favourable and otherwise from the implementation of the measures.

The Commonplace Mapping tool would have been a far more effective means of obtaining genuine and considered feedback on the various measures that have been introduced. This lack of qualitative feedback will hamper any decision making by Council officials and Councillors.

Edinburgh Council and its citizens deserve better than this hastily prepared and poorly designed survey.

With regard to the specific schemes already implemented in our area:

We are in favour of continuing with the changes to The Mound and Princes Street East with some provisos.
We are opposed to the measures on Waverley Bridge and London Road being retained and indeed believe that they should removed before the end of the current TTRO’s.
We do not agree that any of the measures yet to be introduced in our area including those to Broughton Street, Broughton Roundabout, Bellevue, Rodney Street or Canonmills should be considered for retention until there has been an opportunity to better assess their effectiveness.
We are also very concerned about the impact on traffic in our area of the planned changes to South Bridge and would urge that implementation is delayed until the consequences of the planned restrictions to vehicular traffic can be better understood.

General Comments

Despite the deadline for submissions being delayed to 5 April, it still appears that the whole process is being rushed. We do not agree with consulting on the retention of measures that have not been implemented yet. Until stakeholders including the public and local businesses have had an opportunity to evaluate the success or otherwise of any particular measures, it is impossible for them to make any valid judgment on whether they should be retained or removed. It is suggested that the results on any planned measures are discounted and that a new consultation, if required, is held after the measures have been in place for at least six months. This would allow counts of the number of pedestrians and cyclists using these temporary measures to be taken to support or otherwise their retention.
There are three separate but almost identical surveys (for the Public, Businesses and Stakeholders) with the main difference being the number of words that the respondents can submit as comments. As a result, many of the questions do not make sense for someone completing the survey on behalf of a business or stakeholder group. There are clearly issues that will affect businesses and wider stakeholder groups that the survey is not able to capture. It is therefore difficult to understand how the results of such a survey will be used for any future decision-making.
Many of the questions group cycling and walking together. The needs of these two groups are quite different and as such it will be impossible to properly assess the significance of the answers and thus draw any conclusions about the merits or otherwise of specific measures for each of these groups. There are also no specific questions about the needs of those using public transport. The implementation of segregated cycle lanes has introduced new hazards for bus users at bus stops. Asking questions about the experience of bus users would have been useful in better understanding these hazards and in identifying suitable mitigation measures.
The questionnaire requires simple yes/no answers about which schemes should be retained or removed with limited opportunity to comment on the specifics of particular measures. It is unlikely that the responses will provide a valid basis for understanding which specific elements of the schemes are working or not. There is no requirement for adding comments and therefore someone completing the survey may vote in favour or against a series of measures in an area but 100% agreement or otherwise with a particular scheme should not be inferred. There should have been greater emphasis on understanding why the responses were for removal or retention. For example the closure of Waverley Bridge has required the buses that normally terminated there to be relocated mostly to St Andrews Square or Regent Road. In neither location are there any facilities for buses to wait until commencing their return journeys. The pavement on Regent Road where the buses stop is very narrow and it is impossible to social distance without stepping on to the carriageway creating new hazards for pedestrians.
The survey encourages all or none responses, which may therefore overwhelm any more specific responses. Given that the survey is covering the whole of Edinburgh it is inevitable that awareness of the various measures will not be uniform among respondents. The views of a community most directly by specific measures may be swamped by the responses of others. The Commonplace Mapping tool that was used to establish where many of the measures were required would have been a better tool to gain feedback on which schemes were working or not.
There is nowhere in the survey to record general points on the various measures including for example the conservation/heritage arguments, the continued presence of street clutter, the additional hazards associated with pavements which include sections partly at a lower road level, the lack of progress on increasing pedestrian priority at crossings. Our comments on each of these issues is shown below:
1. Heritage Issues – we understand that given the emergency nature of many of the measures especially those introduced in the first period of the pandemic that it was not possible to ensure that the measures met requirements for such infrastructure changes to satisfy the normal expectations for a World Heritage Site but this can no longer be used as an excuse to perpetuate the sub-standard designs that have been implemented in many areas across Edinburgh. Any continuation beyond the current period of the TTRO’s should be subject to full heritage assessment.
2. Street Clutter – the result of many of the measures introduced across the City has been to increase the level of street clutter that is not only unsightly but creates additional hazards particularly for pedestrians. Any extension of the current measures should be accompanied by a campaign to reduce the level of street clutter to improve the public realm. This again would have been a good use of the Commonplace Mapping tool to help identify any surplus street clutter.
3. Pavement Hazards – the extension of pavements into the carriageway with wands to separate that space from the main carriageway or even no separation apart from road markings from adjacent cycle paths results in significant additional hazards for pedestrians due the changing levels and proximity with other road users. Where such pavement widening is retained it must be achieved with a single level of pavement of properly maintained paving and drop down kerbs at any road junctions. Cyclists and pedestrians should not be expected to share space. Any cycle lanes that are retained should be fully segregated from any pedestrian areas and of sufficient width to ensure proper separation.
4. Pedestrian Crossings – there are many examples within our own area and also highlighted by Living Streets across Edinburgh of crossings at traffic lights where the time that pedestrians are expected to wait before crossing is too high and the time allowed for them to cross is too short. This does not reflect the stated priorities of the Council or the Sustainable Travel Hierarchy that should put greater emphasis on pedestrian movement. Again the Commonplace Mapping tool could have been used to great advantage to identify specific problem areas. Given that changing the timing on traffic lights would not incur any significant financial cost, the problems already identified by Living Streets and others should be addressed now rather than wait for the completion of this review.

Existing Schemes

There are a number of schemes within our area and we have focussed our feedback on these measures.

Princes Street East – this scheme places bus gates at the east end of Princes Street and on South St David’s Street, which operate during the daytime to restrict unauthorised vehicles from entering this part of Princes Street. It was initially proposed that the pavement on the south side of this section of Princes Street (between North Bridge and Waverley Bridge) would be widened but this did not happen (despite the Council’s own website stating that it has). There is also clearly an issue with compliance as many non-authorised vehicles are still entering Princes Street, which will require improved signage and more effective enforcement. We are in favour of this measure but the original plans for pavement widening should proceed, as it is very congested in this area due to the station entrance and a number of bus stops.
Waverley Bridge – we considered that the closure of this road was unnecessary when first proposed, as the pavements were already very wide. Closure of this road to the many buses that terminated here has resulted in their relocation to St Andrews Square and Regent Road. In the latter case as many as eight buses at a time are waiting here before starting their return journeys blocking parking bays and creating additional hazards for pedestrians walking to and from Princes Street. We are against this measure being made permanent and indeed believe that it should be removed as soon as possible.
The Mound – we are in favour of the segregated cycle lanes being retained but on the understanding that by creating a permanent north south segregated cycle route from the city centre that North Bridge should not have any restrictions imposed on vehicular traffic so that there remains a north south vehicular route on the east side of the City for private and commercial vehicles. This route is critical for the effective management of traffic on this side of the City, which may be expected to increase once the St James Quarter reopens later this year. There are no obvious diversion routes for traffic that would otherwise use North and South Bridge. We are in particular concerned that any restriction to traffic on this corridor will increase the volume of traffic using the roads around Holyrood Park that is such an important areas for exercise for many residents in this part of Edinburgh. Also given that there will remain a number of bus services using the Mound the safety of bus stops needs further consideration.
London Road – we were against the introduction of a fragmented section of segregated cycle path for westbound cyclists only along the south side of this road from Easter Road to Leith Walk, as it would encourage cyclists into an area where the construction activities for the Tram work would be most active over the next 18 months. We are also concerned that until the Tram works are complete there will not be any connection to the existing cycle network on Leith Walk around Picardy Place. Based on our observations most cyclists are avoiding using this section of cycle path as the road surface is poorly maintained close to the kerbs where the cycle path is located and there is a frequent need to leave the lane to negotiate the bus stops along the route. We proposed that an alternative route should be implemented along Regent Road to better connect with current and planned cycle infrastructure and this remains our view. We are against this measure being made permanent and unless the current deficiencies are addressed it should be removed immediately. We would welcome discussions on creating an alternative cycle route along Regent Road.

Planned Schemes

There are a number of planned schemes within our area and we have focussed our feedback on these schemes but the proposed scheme for South Bridge has the potential to cause significant disruption to traffic flows in our part of the City and this is included below.

Broughton Street – the lack of any measures at the top of Broughton Street is a major deficiency of the planned scheme as is the lack of any traffic calming or improved pedestrian crossings. We have made our views clear on the small section of cycle path and the movement of the loading bays to the side streets. For all these reasons we are opposed to the measures being retained with the exception of the pavement build out at Barony Street. Indeed we would like to see further pavement build outs at junctions along Broughton Street to increase pedestrian space and slow traffic turning into these side streets.
Broughton Roundabout – we do not know what will be eventually approved for this junction but apart from the widening of the pavements none of the proposed measures address the key issues identified by the Commonplace Mapping. We are against these measures being made permanent but that we are strongly in support of a radical improvement to this junction that prioritises the needs of pedestrians and cyclists. This should be part of a review of all of the streets leading to and from this roundabout and in particular East London Street.
Bellevue/Rodney Street/Canonmills – while it is too early to make any decisions about the measures on this route, we would be in agreement with replacing the planned TTRO with an Experimental TRO to allow further evaluation of the measures to be made.
South Bridge – this measure will introduce a bus gate restricting traffic entering South/North Bridge and effectively closing off this side of the City centre to private and commercial traffic during daytime. Traffic will therefore need to find diversions around this blockage, which will mean increased traffic congestion on small side streets and increased traffic through Holyrood Park neither of which is desirable. As with the other planned measures it is too soon to make any decisions about whether the intended measures are retained permanently but for the reasons stated we are opposed to this measure being retained and indeed would prefer to see the plans for a bus gate cancelled.

Usdaw Ne’er Day trading petition secures a Scottish Government consultation … after 14 year delay!

Retail trade union Usdaw has at last secured a commitment from the Scottish Government to consult on large stores closing on New Year’s Day.

The union submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament and spent a year providing evidence to convince the Public Petitions Committee to press Ministers to make progress on a consultation.

Jamie Hepburn MSP (Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills) wrote to Usdaw yesterday (Thursday) confirming that the Scottish Government will now conduct the necessary consultation, as set out in the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007. However no timetable has yet been set for the consultation.

Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer says: “Confirmation that a consultation on large stores closing on New Year’s Day will now take place, after an unnecessary 14 year delay, is a step forward in our campaign to get a proper break for shopworkers over the festive period.

“We are disappointed that the Minister has not set out a timetable for the consultation and we will continue to press for further progress.

“As key workers delivering the essential service of keeping the nation fed, shopworkers deserve a decent break over the festive period. They have worked long hours in difficult circumstances throughout the pandemic, faced unprecedented levels of abuse and worried every working day about catching the virus and taking it home to their families.

“The very least that key workers in retail can expect is that the Scottish Government shows their appreciation for the essential work they’ve done throughout this appalling pandemic by progressing the call for a proper festive break.

“However this is not just a campaign for the pandemic, our members have for many years demanded a proper break after the extremely busy and stressful shopping period in the run-up to Christmas. 98% say that large stores should be closed and only 4% are happy to work on New Year’s Day or 2 January. Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers, with three-quarters saying they spend too little time with friends and family.

“On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers we are urging the Scottish Government to open the consultation as soon as possible, so that the necessary legislative processes can be completed in time for 1 January 2022.”

Consultation on miners’ strike pardon

The Scottish Government is consulting on the detail of plans to pardon miners convicted of certain offences during the 1984-85 strike.

An independent review into the impact of policing on communities during the strike, led by John Scott QC, recommended that the Scottish Government should introduce legislation to pardon miners convicted for certain matters related to the strike, subject to establishing suitable criteria.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has now launched a consultation seeking views on the qualifying criteria for a pardon.

Mr Yousaf said: “I am determined to make swift progress on this matter, given the passage of time since 1984-85. That is why we have acted quickly to publish this consultation now.

“The consultation paper sets out potential criteria – based on the criteria suggested in the independent report – and asks for views. It is important that we have a rationale for the qualifying criteria which is well-thought through and informed by a range of views. That is why I encourage anyone with an interest in these important events to take this opportunity to have a say. The responses to the consultation will help shape the legislation that will implement the pardon.

“The miners’ strike was one of the most bitter and divisive industrial disputes in living memory and I hope that the independent review, this consultation and the legislation for a pardon will go some way to aid reconciliation – and to help heal wounds within Scotland’s mining communities.

“I have again written to the Home Secretary Priti Patel renewing the call for her to instruct a full UK public inquiry into the policing of the strike.”

In 2018, the Scottish Government commissioned an independent review into the impact of policing on affected communities during the miners’ strike 1984-85.

The Justice Secretary announced in October last year that the Government would accept the review’s single recommendation.

People can read and respond to the consultation – which runs until 4 June, on the Citizen Space website.

Spaces for People consultation: Don’t forget to have your say

The city Council is considering whether to keep in place some of the temporary ‘Spaces for People’ measures that are helping people to physically distance and travel safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is because many of the temporary measures are likely to help us achieve the Council’s long-term objectives to improve how we travel, making it easier for people to get about and to help us meet our net carbon-free targets.

These plans include:

encouraging people to switch to more sustainable ways to travel
making it more pleasant, easier and safer for people to explore their local area
supporting high street and city centre businesses by providing more space for people
improving road safety
improving health
reducing carbon dioxide emissions, to help the city achieve its net zero carbon by 2030.

The council says trialling schemes for a longer period – or making them permanent – will allow them to ‘change the way people and communities interact and connect across our city’.

Once we have decided whether to keep any measures on a trial or permanent basis, we will of course follow the normal legal processes for Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) or Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO).

This will include an opportunity for residents, businesses and stakeholders to comment and formally object.

Give us your views

Tell us how you’ve used the temporary measures and how you think we should move forward

Tell us what you think

Whether an existing temporary scheme is on your street, your family’s street(s), your local high street or somewhere you visit or pass through on your journeys, we would like to know what you think.

After hearing people’s views and assessing the temporary measures that are in place, we’ll make recommendations to councillors on whether to keep them either on a trial basis for a longer period or perhaps more permanently.

Have your say on Hogmanay!

Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals consultation launched

Citizens are being asked for their views on how Edinburgh celebrates Christmas and New Year in a new consultation launching today (Wednesday 24 February).

The twelve-week survey, being carried out by independent market research company Progressive on behalf of the Council, is now live on the Consultation Hub.

The survey seeks feedback from the Capital’s residents, communities and businesses on how Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, should be delivered from 2022 onwards.

In addition to the online consultation residents without internet access can request a paper copy by calling the Council on 0131 200 2000.

Originally planned for Spring 2020 the delivery of the consultation was delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and suspension of all public consultations. In the meantime, officers procured independent agency Progressive to allow the consultation to be delivered as soon as the suspension was lifted.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh both on how our Winter Festivals should be delivered and indeed what should be delivered.

“Their feedback to our consultation will shape the future direction of our celebrations from 2022 onwards, when the current arrangements come to an end. This is a good time to take stock and look at what people think and what people want.

“Our Winter Festivals have grown in size and renown both at home and throughout the world. Their cultural and economic importance is well documented and through this consultation we will establish a balanced knowledge of how Edinburgh citizens regard these celebrations, both positive and negative.

“It is therefore important that as many people as possible make their views heard and I would urge everyone, whatever their views, to spend the small amount of time needed to complete the survey and have their say.

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “We want Edinburgh’s residents and businesses to be at the heart of shaping the future of the Winter Festivals in the Capital. We are engaging in an open public conversation about the future of these events, with opportunities to respond online or in written form.

“In this consultation, residents will be asked about their experiences of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, as well as what activities they would like to see included in the planning and operation of the festivals in the future.

“We want to ensure that our future Winter Festivals achieve the right balance for those living, working in and visiting our capital city.

The consultation will close on 19 May and the outcomes will be presented to both the Festivals and Events All Party Oversight Group and to the Culture and Communities Committee later this year.

Green light for New Town Quarter development

Plans for the ‘largest and most important brownfield development in Edinburgh city centre for a generation’ were approved by the City of Edinburgh Council yesterday (Wednesday 17th February).

The development will create 350 new homes and provide 700 new jobs, giving a major economic boost to Edinburgh’s city centre and the Capital’s economy.

The construction phase alone will boost the local economy by more than £27.7 million a year while work is carried out, and the development will further boost the local economy by £35.5m each year once complete.

Work will begin soon and the New Town Quarter development could be complete as early as 2024.

Ross McNulty, Development Director at Ediston, said: “We have worked very hard to comply with all the relevant policies for such an important site. Our design has been driven by a thorough understanding of the heritage issues associated with being adjacent to Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, and to open up the area, breathing life and activity into what is currently a redundant brownfield part of the city.

“We have conducted the largest consultation exercise ever carried out in this local community and, as a result, we have made many changes and improvements based on the feedback we have received.

“New Town Quarter will be one of the best places to live and work in one of the world’s finest cities and will help make Edinburgh’s heart beat even stronger. We are looking forward to turning our vision into a reality.”

SELECT urges response to electrical sector consultation

As the long-running campaign for professional recognition of electricians in Scotland nears its final stages, SELECT has warned that the clock is ticking for those who want to help influence the sector’s future.

Scotland’s largest construction trade association is reminding professionals that the deadline to respond to a second consultation on the regulation of the electrical industry is Friday February 12 – and is urging interested parties to take part before it’s too late.

The consultation was launched by Jamie Hepburn, MSP, the Minister for Business, Fair work and Skills, and SELECT says the fact that further parliamentary investigation into regulation is being made is an extremely encouraging sign.

It also points to a first consultation by Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, which closed on November 10 last year and received more than 140 submissions, more than 90 per of which were positive.

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the levels of support we have received, and the huge range of people who have publicly backed us through channels such as our Wall of Support.

“This second consultation another great opportunity for the industry to take part in and shape the future. It is a further chance for Scotland to demonstrate that we are committed to a safer industry and we would urge that all interested parties make their submission to the latest consultation.”

SELECT argues that only government legislation can bring about “comfort and security” for customers across the country and end the scourge of unqualified people passing themselves off as electrical professionals.

Among those who have responded to the latest consultation are the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland.

Grahame Barn, its Chief Executive (below) , said: “It seems a glaring anomaly that when virtually every other trade in the UK is regulated, that no such scheme operates for electricians.”

The Supplier Development Programme has also taken part, with manager Gillian Cameron saying: “Protection of title could reduce the amount of evidence required by public sector buying organisations into a single certification to determine if electricians are competent to carry out work in Scotland.”

SELECT has been campaigning for years with other leading industry bodies, such as the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) and Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT), to ensure that those who work in the industry do so in a safe and competent manner.

Its campaign, which has been raised in the Scottish Parliament, is being backed by membership bodies, industry figures, professional services and individuals from across the country – and has received unprecedented levels of cross-party support from politicians.

Monica Lennon, MSP, who currently is challenging for the leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland, said in her Wall of Support message: “Poor quality electrical work carries huge risks to people’s homes, their businesses and even their lives.

“It is vitally important that consumers are helped to make informed choices whenever they employ an electrician.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “I fully support the importance of using professionals in all aspects of construction work, be they multi-million-pound contracts or small domestic works.

“It is vital that we ensure only properly trained, qualified and competent people carry out these works.”

Mr Wilson pointed out that any real and effective change must be underpinned by legislation. He said voluntary regimes have never addressed the issue of dangerous and poor work often undertaken by unqualified or partially qualified persons.

He said that the Scottish Government needs to introduce a package of measures which must include Protection of Title. Establishing a single register based on the existing SJIB model would provide the comfort and security to a customer that someone calling themselves an electrician was qualified and competent.

Mr Wilson said: “There is a strong economic case for legislation. Scotland is investing £1.6 billion over the next five years in decarbonising the heat in buildings and it makes sense that those undertaking that programme are trained, qualified and competent.

“But there is also a social side. Protecting title and making the role of electrician a profession will lead to greater interest in the industry and more opportunities for women and ethnic minorities to join it, which would be a significant advantage to us all.”

· The latest consultation can be completed here.