A little bit late this month but hopefully worth the wait following our biggest ever meeting (writes BILL RODGER). Continue reading Trinity CC’s best ever attended meeting discusses Wardie Playing Fields proposals
Tag: consultation
Speak out on bank closures, urges Holyrood committee
Edinburgh has lost 60% of it’s bank branches in just seven years
The closure of more than a third of Scotland’s banks since 2010 is set to come under the microscope, as the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee calls on local businesses and consumers to ‘speak out’ on the impact on local communities and economic growth. Continue reading Speak out on bank closures, urges Holyrood committee
Tram to Newhaven? Public consultation launched
‘Survey showed that a majority of residents think trams will make a positive difference to Leith’
Starting later this month, a major local consultation exercise will seek feedback on (a) traffic management and business support plans for the construction period and (b) the outline road layout for Leith Walk and the rest of the route.
The consultation comes as the results of an independent survey carried out in Leith are published, showing that the majority of respondents believe Leith would benefit from the introduction of a tram.
However the vast majority of those interviewed – 91% – said they are satisfied with current transport provision on Leith Walk.
From 19 March, six weeks of public consultation and engagement will provide the public, businesses and wider stakeholders with general information on the project, an opportunity to meet the team and specific details around traffic management during construction, support for business proposals and the outline road layout, ahead of final plans being drawn up.
Views will be sought on traffic management and phasing currently proposed, including proposals for the closure of Leith Walk northbound and a single lane open southbound, along with the closure of sections of Constitution Street, for approximately 18 months during construction.
The traffic management proposals have been drawn up following in-depth traffic modelling and discussions with key partners and stakeholders, including bus companies, local community groups, businesses and elected members.
The plans include support for businesses who will be most affected by the works, including provision for parking and loading between worksites, an Open for Business campaign, on-street customer service staff, logistics hubs and financial support.
Views will also be sought on the plans for the permanent design of the street along the route, including a dedicated public transport-only lane on Leith Walk for tram and bus during morning and evening rush hour.
This is the first stage in a consultation process that is scheduled to continue through to the end of 2018.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “When the Outline Business Case was approved by Council in September we pledged to dedicate the following year or so (ahead of the final decision) to establishing mutually beneficial relationships with local residents and businesses who would be most affected by construction works.
“We’ve been working very closely with the local community and our partners ever since to model traffic management plans and look at options for supporting businesses as much as possible if the project goes ahead.
“These plans have been developed taking on board lessons learned from the first phase of tramworks and the current traffic management arrangements in place around Leith Street.
“The recent Leith survey showed that a majority of residents think trams will make a positive difference to Leith.
“However, there are clearly some very real concerns about disruption and congestion during construction. This consultation gives people the chance to help shape how we manage things if and when work gets under way. We hope as many people as possible will have their say, either at one of our four information events or via the Consultation Hub, which will host the consultation from 19 March.”
The consultation will include:
- online consultation via the Consultation Hub
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28,000 letters delivered to residential addresses in the area surrounding the planned tram route
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4 public information events*
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4 local business forums
– 4 community council briefings
LEITH SURVEY
In November 2017, the project team commissioned an independent survey to understand local behaviours and attitudes towards Tram to Newhaven. Research done by Progressive Partnership – 368 ten-minute on-street interviews carried out on three different stretches of Leith Walk.
- 59% agreed that the line would benefit Leith with 58% saying it would be easier to get around and 42% saying it would be good for local business
- 91% were satisfied with current transport provision on Leith Walk
- When asked what would improve public transport provision in Leith Walk, the most popular response at 38% was ‘introduce a tram service’ NB most respondents currently used buses or walking to get to and around Leith
- 56% said they were likely to use the new line
- Among those who did not think Leith would benefit, concerns focused chiefly on disruption, delays and congestion resulting from construction works
*Public information events
Thursday 22 March: Leith Theatre, 11am – 6pm
Tuesday 3 April: McDonald Road Library, 10am – 4pm
Thursday 12 April: Leith Community Education Centre, 3pm – 9pm
Saturday 21 April: Ocean Terminal, 12 noon – 5pm
Have your say on Lower Granton Road cycle path improvements
Wednesday 7 March 6.30 – 8pm
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Granton and District Community Council is to hold a consultation session to give local people an opportunity to find out more about proposed cycle path improvements on Lower Granton Road and to give their views on the plans. Continue reading Have your say on Lower Granton Road cycle path improvements
Have your say on Randolph Place proposals
Members of the public are invited to a drop-in session next week outlining proposed changes to Randolph Place as part of the City Centre West to East Cycle Link and Street Design project. The drop-in session will take place on Tuesday (20 February) from 1pm-7pm at Harry’s Bar, 7B Randolph Place. Continue reading Have your say on Randolph Place proposals
Have your say in Fire & Rescue Service consultation
Consultation opens on ‘transformation vision’
THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is set to launch a public consultation as it continues to lead the way in Scotland’s public sector – by proposing to transform to meet modern risks. Continue reading Have your say in Fire & Rescue Service consultation
Meadowbank redevelopment moves forward
The regeneration of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank has taken another step forward with planning applications submitted on Friday. Continue reading Meadowbank redevelopment moves forward
Have your say on diesel surcharge
The city council’s consultation on imposing a diesel surcharge on parking permits closes this Sunday (28 January). The council wants to find out the views of people living, working or visiting Edinburgh on the proposal to apply a surcharge on parking permits issued to owners of diesel vehicles. Have your say …
Through the Council’s Parking Action Plan, we are reviewing parking permits in Edinburgh with the aim to improve air quality and enhance quality of life.
In the past, diesel was considered to be more environmentally-friendly than petrol, as it produces less CO2 per mile. Fuel duty and road tax changed to encourage people to buy diesel cars to cut their carbon footprint. As a result, the number of diesel cars on Britain’s roads increased from around 7% in 1994 to around 40% today.
Internal combustion engines have become cleaner and more efficient in recent years, but diesel vehicles still produce higher emissions of Nitrous Oxides (NOx) and harmful Particulate Matter (PM).
The Councillors who sit on the Transport and Environment Committee have asked us to consult with residents and businesses on a proposal to apply a surcharge on parking permits issued to owners of diesel vehicles.
Some background
Diesel vehicles work best for longer journeys on motorways, but are not well suited to shorter and slower trips in built up areas like Edinburgh’s city centre. There is growing evidence to suggest that diesel engines;
- contribute to poor air quality
- increase the risk of lung cancer
- can cause heart attacks and
- reduce life expectancy.
Major world cities including Madrid and Mexico City have pledged to ban diesel vehicles and several London Boroughs have already introduced a diesel surcharge on residents’ parking permits.
With an estimated 8,000 diesel permit holders’ vehicles in Edinburgh we need to consider how we can tackle pollution, enhance air quality and improve the health of people living and working in Edinburgh.
Why We Are Consulting
We want to find out the views of people living, working or visiting Edinburgh on the proposal to apply a surcharge on parking permits issued to owners of diesel vehicles.
Give Us Your Views
Have your say on Human Rights
How the Scottish Parliament ensures Human Rights are respected in Scotland is to be the subject of a new Holyrood committee inquiry. The Equalities and Human Rights Committee has launched a call for views and hopes to hear from as many people in Scotland as possible. In particular, it is seeking to hear from human rights experts as well as those with lived experience of fighting for their rights. Continue reading Have your say on Human Rights
Reducing loneliness and isolation: draft strategy open for consultation.
‘Young or old, loneliness doesn’t discriminate’ – Jo Cox
A new national strategy, one of the first in the world, is being developed to tackle loneliness and isolation. The draft plan, now open for consultation, will look at the causes of social isolation and loneliness and how they can be addressed. Continue reading Reducing loneliness and isolation: draft strategy open for consultation.