Tag: George IV Bridge

“A City where you Don’t Need a Car”

Spokes public meeting, Wednesday 24 May

Speakers

  • Cllr Scott Arthur, Edinburgh City Transport Convener – the Council’s plans
  • Phil Noble, Strategy Manager for Active Travel and Streetspace – more detail on the policy delivery documents, including ATA, the Active Travel Action Plan
  • Adrian Davis, Professor of Transport & Health at Napier Transport Research Unit – he will critique the policies – are they sufficiently ambitious? will they work?
  • … followed by our one-hour panel QA, chaired by Dr Caroline Brown, Spokes member, Transform Scotland policy adviser, transport academic – your chance to interrogate and challenge the speakers

Arrangements

  • Where Augustine United Church 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
  • Date Wednesday 24 May
  • Time Starts 7.30, Ends 9.30. Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stalls and chat
  • Queries & Questions Queries, or questions for the speakers, can be emailed to spokes@spokes.org.uk. However, questions in person from audience members are likely to have greatest priority on the night
  • Online We hope to live broadcast on our youtube channel – details nearer the time on Spokes website. We also intend to make the recording available a few days later.

Background

Edinburgh City Council is consulting on a new Active Travel Action Plan (ATAP) and a series of other Mobility Plan ‘delivery documents’ all aimed to support Edinburgh NetZero 2030, and a 30% reduction in car-km by 2030.

Our public meeting will hear from the Council, followed by an expert critique, and then there’s a full hour panel discussion – your opportunity to challenge the speakers.

Do the delivery plans live up to the Council’s ambition to cut car-km 30% by 2030, alongside greatly increased travel by foot, bike and public transport? Will they enable more people to live car-free? Will they lead to speedy implementation? Our meeting is your opportunity to find out!

The ambition “to create a city where you don’t need to own a car to get around,” mentioned in several of the documents (e.g. Parking Action Plan, p8) is very welcome, for reasons of climate, public health, congestion and equalities. Such an ambition is also essential if the Council is to achieve its ultra-tough target to reduce car-km 30% by 2030.

A top cycling takeaway from the draft ATAP is the new focus on main road segregated routes. It says [chap 5],

“The (off road) traffic-free routes will continue to play a vital role, and we will seek to improve their comfort,safety and security. However, we now plan to develop a joined-up network of routes that feel safe to everyone at all times of day. This network will need to use segregated cycle tracks on main roads, as well as unsegregated on-street routes that have low volumes of motor traffic.”

The three highlighted phrases above [our emphases] neatly summarise important major developments, which we strongly welcome, in the Council’s approach to cycling policy, and we urge determined implementation.–

** Spokes: spokes.org.uk; twitter.com/SpokesLothian

Teddy Bears’ Sleepover at Central Library on Tuesday

Join us at Edinburgh Children’s Library for our very exciting Teddy Bears’ Sleepover!

To book, click the link below which will take you to our Eventbrite page.

#EdinburghChildrensLibrary

#TeddyBearsSleepover

https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/teddy-bears-sleepover-childrens-event-for-3-5-year-olds-tickets-475608496817?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Vittoria on the Bridge named best independent Italian in the UK

Much-loved Edinburgh institution recognised by the Papa Industry Awards

For the second year in a row, family-owned Edinburgh restaurant Vittoria on the Bridge has been awarded ‘Best Independent Italian Restaurant in Britain’ by The Papa Industry Awards.

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town on George IV Bridge, the much-loved eatery has been serving up delicious, authentic Italian cuisine since it opened its doors in 2007.

The well-known industry awards celebrate restaurants serving very best Italian food, bringing friends and family together over authentic dishes and a shared love of Italian cuisine. Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner for almost 15 years, Vittoria on the Bridge was recognised as a strong family business which has become a favourite with both Edinburgh locals and tourists alike.

Vittoria’s menu is full of comforting Italian classics with some recipes – like the Tagliatelle Vittoria and Lasagna di Mamma – having been in the family and served in their restaurants since the 1970s. They source the very best of Italian ingredients to create authentic cuisine, bringing a true taste of Italy to Scotland.

Alberto Crolla, Director of the Vittoria Group, said: “We are extremely proud to have won this award two years in a row now. We feel so lucky to do what we love and to share incredible Italian food with everyone who walks through the door at Vittoria.

“Awards like this are testament to the team and their hard work and determination to provide an excellent service for customers when they visit into our restaurant. It’s great to be recognised for this especially after the challenges of the last two years.”

The Crolla family have been at the forefront of Italian hospitality in the capital since Vittoria on the Walk first opened by Nonno Alberto in Leith more than 50 years ago. Now three generations of the family have expanded the Vittoria group across the city.

These award-winning restaurants, run by sons Alberto and Leandro, each offer something unique while honouring the traditions of great Italian hospitality with artisan suppliers and winemakers bringing authentic Italian dining to stylish and comfortable surroundings. 

For more information on Vittoria on The Bridge, please visit: 

https://www.vittoriagroup.co.uk/vittoriabridge/ follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vittoriaedinburgh/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VittoriaEd/.

To book: 

https://dishcult.com/restaurant/vittoriaonthebridge?sortOrder=0&page=1&bookingDate=2022-11-25&covers=2&promotionId=0

Final proposals for Meadows to George Street project unveiled

An artist's impression of what George IV Bridge will look like once the scheme is in place

A milestone for Edinburgh’s City Centre ‘Transformation’ has been reached as final designs for the Meadows to George Street (MGS) scheme are published.

The Meadows to George Street (MGS) project will overhaul conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling on some of Edinburgh’s busiest and most iconic streets, as well as enhancing public spaces.

Changes made along the route via Teviot Place, Forrest Road, George IV Bridge, the Mound and Hanover Street will be made in a way which respects and enriches the World Heritage Site.

Plans include segregated cycleways, wider pavements and pedestrian priority areas and have drawn on feedback received through various stages of public and stakeholder engagement since 2018.

The council aims to begin construction in early 2024 and once complete, MGS will integrate with the forthcoming George Street and First New Town (GNT) scheme at Hanover Street, which is scheduled for a construction start later in 2024.

Following the last public consultation carried out in 2019, some amendments have been made to designs.

Amongst these, the two-way cycle track at Hanover Street is changing to one-way cycle lanes on either side of the road to better tie in with the proposed George Street junction under GNT.

A bus gate is also being introduced on Market Street to reduce through-traffic in the area, while footways along the route have been widened further and a new safe cycle crossing over Princes Street tram tracks has been added.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “The transformation of Edinburgh’s city centre will lead to a truly connected, people-friendly place to live, work and spend time in.

“The Meadows to George Street project is one of the first steps to achieving this, as well as supporting our net zero goals by promoting sustainable travel, so it’s really exciting to see the final designs.

“We’ve worked hard over recent years to develop proposals which balance the needs of all those who use the street while prioritising safe and accessible travel by foot, wheel or bike. These plans provide a snapshot of how the route will look and operate in the near future, as part of our broader ambitions for the city.”

Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “Our plans for Meadows to George Street are key to creating a Capital fit for the future, where healthy, active and sustainable travel is supported, and public spaces are opened up for socialising and relaxation.

“This is one of many projects to transform the way we use our city centre and I look forward to seeing it progress in the coming years.”

The MGS project is principally funded through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, via Transport Scotland. This links in with other major Places for Everyone projects in Edinburgh, including the GNT project and City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) which is already under construction.

Simon Strain, Head of Programme, Places for Everyone, at Sustrans said: “Sustrans have been working closely with The City of Edinburgh Council over the last few years to ensure designs for the MGS project meet the wants and needs of the people of Edinburgh. It’s great to see the final designs for the MGS project now shared.

“Once complete, the MGS project will make walking, wheeling, and cycling across Edinburgh city centre a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, connecting the Old Town to the New like never before.”

By transforming walking, wheeling and cycling through the busy heart of Edinburgh, MGS will make it easier and more attractive for people to choose travel by foot or bike as part of their everyday journeys. Improvements to the streetscape will create a safe, vibrant place for people to live in and for all to enjoy.

MGS will be central to the broader transformation of the city centre, which will reshape Edinburgh by significantly improving public spaces and prioritising movement on foot, by bike and by public transport.

It will connect to several other major schemes already underway or in development, such as CCWEL, Meadows to Union Canal and, with cleaner air and a more a more pleasant and attractive city centre to spend time in, the Low Emission Zone.

The council plans to begin the statutory processes required to carry out the proposed changes to the road layout in May.

The final designs for George Street are due later this year.

Find out more about the Meadows to George Street project and view the final designs online.

Large Fire on George IV Bridge: please avoid the area

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at a large #fire on George IV Bridge. More than 60 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in the city centre.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 6.18am this morning (Tuesday, 24 August) to reports of a building on fire at George IV Bridge.

Operations Control mobilised nine appliances and two height vehicles to the area where the fire was found to be affecting a number of properties. A further three appliances were mobilised.

Crews remain on the scene and are expected to do so for some time as they work to make the area safe.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer David Farries is the Incident Commander. He said: “This is undoubtedly a complex and challenging incident.

“I would like to thank our crews as they work to extinguish the fire. I would also like to thank our emergency services colleagues and local authority partners.

“We will remain in attendance for a considerable time yet as we work to contain the fire.”

DACO Farries continued: “We continue to ask people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.

“Road closures remain in place and we advise people to avoid the area and to allow access for emergency service vehicles.”

Nearby residents advised to keep windows & doors closed and road closures remain in place.

See @EdinPolSE & @edintravel for traffic advice and please avoid the area #edintravel

Suspicious package in Princes Street Gardens: two arrests

Police yesterday arrested a 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman in connection with a suspicious package left in Princes Street Gardens on Thursday 11 January 2018.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, Police Scotland’s Head of Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism said: “Since the discovery of the item, officers from Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit have carried out extensive enquiries, including with European partners and law enforcement agencies.

“They have been absolutely committed to this protracted and challenging inquiry to identify those believed to be responsible. This has resulted in the arrest of two people today.”

Chief Superintendent Sean Scott, Police Scotland’s Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, added: “Enquiries by Police Scotland are ongoing and I want to re-assure the public that the activity in Granton Road and on King George IV Bridge was pre-planned and intelligence-led.

“You will see an increased police presence, however, there is no wider risk to the community.”