Tag: consultation

Have your say on Welfare Foods Scheme proposals

Low-income families with young children will receive increased payments, digital smartcards and access to a wider range of foods under new proposals. The Scottish Government is consulting on plans to reshape the Welfare Foods Scheme, which aims to help families access a healthy diet. Continue reading Have your say on Welfare Foods Scheme proposals

City schools: three options tabled

Three alternative options have been developed by the City of Edinburgh Council for the future of schools in the west and south west of the city. These options have resulted from the widespread informal consultation across the various school and local communities since an original proposal was published in November.

Continue reading City schools: three options tabled

Trinity CC’s best ever attended meeting discusses Wardie Playing Fields proposals

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

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’

Members of the public, businesses and a wide range of stakeholders will help shape plans for taking the tram to Newhaven – should the project be approved by Council later this year.

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

  • 28,000 letters delivered to residential addresses in the area surrounding the planned tram route

  • 4 public information events*

  • 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