Tag: Open Streets

Daisy takes the lead on Mobility and Placemaking at city council

Planning and transport expert, Daisy Narayanan, has been appointed to a new role bringing together placemaking and transport strategy at the City of Edinburgh Council.

Daisy is currently Director of Urbanism for Sustrans and will bring with her a wealth of experience in policy and public realm design, gained through work as an architect and urban designer in India, Singapore, England and Scotland.

She is also a member of the Edinburgh Climate Commission and Scotland’s Climate Assembly’s Evidence Group, so will contribute expertise in this area to support the Council’s zero carbon goals.

In 2018 and 2019, Daisy was seconded to the Council to lead on the successful development of Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, a pioneering ten-year plan to create a vibrant, truly people-friendly city centre.

During this time, she also championed the introduction of Open Streets in Edinburgh, a monthly car-free event in the Old Town, when families and individuals could enjoy the sights and attractions of the city.

As Mobility and Placemaking Senior Manager at the Council, Daisy will focus on several ambitious strategies for the sustainable development of the city as we work towards carbon neutrality by 2030.

These include the City Mobility Plan, which was approved by Transport and Environment Committee in January, and the 20-minute neighbourhood programme.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: We are delighted to welcome Daisy back to work with us in this role, which is crucial to the sustainable and inclusive development of the Capital, as well as our net zero carbon goals.

“As we work toward a green recovery from the pandemic, we will be focusing our efforts on delivering transport and placemaking projects that truly place people at the heart of the city, and we know that Daisy will bring exactly the kind of experience and passion we need to drive this forward.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We stand on the cusp of an extremely exciting time for the future development of the city, so it’s fantastic to have Daisy on board to help deliver some of the bold planning and mobility projects we have in the pipeline.

“We know from our own work with Daisy, and her standing across the placemaking and transport profession, what a fantastic addition to the team she will be, and I look forward to working with her.”

Daisy Narayanan said: “I am delighted to be joining the City of Edinburgh Council, as the city recovers from the pandemic, and as it gets ready to tackle the climate emergency.

“This is a really wonderful role which brings together various strands of what make great places. I’m passionate about working with people to shape how their streets and places should look, and to learn from and build on the work done to date in Edinburgh.

“I am under no illusions that this will be an easy job, but I am excited by the challenge.

“When I came here in 2004 as a student, I never dreamed that I would one day have the privilege to work with people in making this beautiful city even more wonderful.

“I am determined to ensure that everyone living here gets to benefit from the city’s development as a greener, healthier place – and that these benefits extend to the outer edges of the city.”

John Lauder, Deputy CEO, Sustrans, and National Director, Sustrans Scotland, said: “Although Daisy will be missed at Sustrans, we are delighted to hear about the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to appoint her to this role.

“It demonstrates the Council’s commitment to making Edinburgh a world-leading liveable city that allows everyone here to live and to travel in greener, healthier ways.

“Daisy has played a huge role in shaping Sustrans, thinking on liveable cities and towns for everyone, and on highlighting the importance of inclusive design and placemaking as a central tenet of urban design.

“We wish her well in her new role.”

Open Streets: Old Town roads closed to traffic again this afternoon

Enjoy exploring Edinburgh’s Open Streets today from 12 noon to 5pm. This is the second Open Streets event and follows the first phase of the programme, which aims to create a people friendly route around the Old Town and includes the Royal Mile, Victoria Street, Grassmarket and Cockburn Street. 

Activities and areas to visit:

Activity Time Location Further information
Just Eat bike hire 12pm- 5pm City Chambers, High Street
Hoola hoop extravaganza 12pm to 2pm West High Street This drop-in workshop will have you hoola hooping in seconds. No experience required, hoola hoops provided, everyone welcome.
Edinburgh all-ability bike trials 12pm to 4.30pm West High Street A range of adaptive bikes to help people to cycle regardless of age, background or ability.
Spokes stall 12pm to 4pm West High Street Promoting safe active travel with a focus on cycling and maps for Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Street games 12pm to 5pm High Street Connect 4, chess and badminton.
Play on pedals 12pm to 3pm Grassmarket Fun learning for p3 to p5-aged children.
Literary walking tours 12pm to 5pm John Knox House, Canongate Explore Edinburgh’s Netherbow area – pick up your self guided tour from the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Arts for all 12pm to 4pm Canongate The Cranny are holding a pot luck picnic, inviting local residents in the Canongate to bring some baking or a dish to chat about the new community centre and ideas for gardening and arts projects.
Children’s crafts 12pm to 4pm Chessel’s Court Come and make tissue flowers and chalk a butterfly selfie.
Reading havens 12pm to 5pm Sandeman House Garden; Chessel’s Court Garden; Old Tolbooth Market; Canongate Free books on offer in a quiet reading haven.
E-bike trials 12pm to 4.30pm Victoria Street/Grassmarket Come and try and e-bike with Hart’s Cyclery.
Hip-hop dance performance 1.15pm to 1.35pm West High Street Display by youth company House of Jack followed by a chance to join in and learn some hip hop.
Circus skills 2pm to 4pm Canongate Free circus skills for all ages, including spinning, twirling and juggling.
Tai Chi Display and Taster Sessions 3pm and 4pm Parliament Square, High Street Free to join in – bring something comfortable to wear.
Royal Mile walking tours 2.30pm and 3.30pm City Chambers, High Street Meet at the City Chambers in the quadrangle for the free tours, approx. 50 minutes.
Yoga sessions 2.30pm to 3.30pm Canongate Come and have a go – free sessions. Bring something comfortable to wear – 4 x 15 minutes.
Swing dancing 3.30pm to 4.30pm West high Street Get inspired and join in.

Streets closed on 2 June

The following streets will be closed to cars and other vehicles from 12pm to 5pm, except for blue badge holders and bicycles.

There will be barriers in place for everyone’s safety. Events staff will manage access to the area for emergency vehicles and blue badge holders.

Additional bike parking will be available across the area.

  • Grassmarket (pedestrian zone between West Bow and King’s Stables Road)
  • West Bow
  • Victoria Street
  • Lawnmarket
  • High Street
  • St Giles’ Street
  • Cockburn Street
  • Niddry Street
  • Blackfriars Street (between High Street and New Skinner’s Close)
  • Canongate (between St Mary/Jeffrey Street and the west side of Reid’s Close) Cranston Street
  • New Street
  • Old Tolbooth Wynd

For more information, email the Open Streets team on openstreets@edinburgh.gov.uk.

 

 

Open Streets: ‘a signal of our intent’

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, writes about the inaugural Open Streets event and how it will inform plans for the city centre:

Last weekend we made history in Edinburgh. On Sunday we became the first city in the UK to join the international ‘Open Streets’ movement.

The High Street is free of cars, vans and buses and thronging with visitors throughout August, but to experience the Canongate, Victoria Street or Cockburn Street as peaceful, pedestrianised spaces is something else entirely.

I’m sure anyone who ventured into the Old Town will have been struck, like me, by the noticeable sense of calm that had descended upon the loop of Open Streets, even though thousands were strolling through the area. Instead of traffic-dominated thoroughfares they became places for conversation, enjoyment and play.

The beautiful, colourful backdrop of Victoria Street was revivified in the absence of queues of traffic, the Canongate, usually filled with cars and buses, was the site of open-air yoga and the Lawnmarket became a place to stroll and enjoy the beautiful, historic buildings.

Of course, this was a wonderful experience to which so many have responded very positively. Over the next year and a half these monthly events will bring a new vibrancy to Edinburgh’s Old Town, letting people experience our historic centre in a completely new way. But what does it mean to the future of the city?

This is about so much more than closing roads to cars. Open Streets is a signal of our intent to create a people-friendly environment, taking a holistic rather than purely transport-led approach, incorporating placemaking, well-being and economic growth.

Over the next 18 months we will be able to monitor the changes that will gradually develop in response to the initiative, learning from that understanding as we grow and develop our vision for the city centre.

Later this week we will publish a suite of reports which significantly moves forward our ambition for change, in particular reports on City Centre Transformation, Low Emission Zones and the City Mobility Plan, all of which are designed to re-negotiate the contract we have, as citizens and businesses, with the Capital.

We want to step into the future with confidence, a future where transport and environmental choices help to support continued economic success at the same time as improving people’s lives.

We know, from extensive consultation, that many understand clearly that the status quo is no longer an option, that radical change is needed to build resilience.

Like other cities, we face enormous challenges from population growth, air pollution, increased car use and the fast-paced tempo of modern life.

I want to be clear that the forthcoming changes are for the people of Edinburgh – we want to equip future generations to face these challenges, to improve quality of life and to conserve the city’s heritage for centuries to come.

As part of this we want to ensure a truly inclusive, accessible centre. This isn’t about putting up walls – we know that many people with mobility issues rely on cars and taxis and, as was the case with Open Streets, we want to make sure that this continues.

But, for our own sakes, we can no longer ignore increasingly urgent conversations around the climate change, air pollution and public health – and we want to be part of the solution.

Sunday’s Open Streets event was an illustration, an initial sketch, of what we want to do, and it’s thanks to the extremely hard work and support of Council officers, partners, community groups and residents that it was able to take place.

Over the coming months I look forward to many more citizens and visitors joining us to reclaim the streets, helping us to better understand how we can reshape and transform the city for everyone’s benefit – and for other cities to follow suit.

Exhibition puts the benefits of walking in the frame

An exhibition that captures the faces and stories of people who champion the joy of everyday walking in Scotland is launching this weekend.  The Humans of the Walk portrait photography exhibition celebrates the many ways in which walking improves physical, mental and social health, regardless of age or ability. Continue reading Exhibition puts the benefits of walking in the frame

City transport: Now is the time for change, says Convener

Tram to Newhaven “makes absolute sense”

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, writes in The Scotsman on the need for radical thinking to create a city fit for the future:

There is little doubt that the time is now for widespread, ambitious change if we are to create a truly liveable city worthy of future generations.

Our population is projected to rocket over the next 20 years, while we face a significant challenge in terms of congestion and air quality – it’s abundantly clear that we must build resilience to these pressures, and to do so we need to think radically.

Last week we cemented our commitment to do so when members of the Transport and Environment Committee moved forward two game-changing reports focusing on the transformation of our city centre and proposals to bring the tram to Newhaven.

This is about much more than solutions for traffic management or congestion though. We see the development of modern, inclusive and efficient transport infrastructure as an enabler for improving communities. By putting people at the heart of placemaking, we want to drive sustainable, economic growth while creating a better environment to walk, play and live in.

It’s extremely important that we bring the people of Edinburgh with us as we progress this vision. That’s why I’m delighted by the immense response to our major Edinburgh: connecting our city, transforming our places consultation, which engaged more than 5000 people and gathered a huge amount of valuable feedback.

What was apparent from the thousands of comments was that people really want to see change happen – 88% to be precise. And not piecemeal, gradual change – more than half of participants told us that they wanted a radical approach to deliver a more liveable city, fit for the future.

Recent artist’s impressions of a pedestrianised Cowgate or scaled-back traffic on Lothian Road are not only eye-catching but they’re helping us to explore how a combination of different measures, based on feedback and research, could help us achieve this desired change. These aren’t proposals yet – they’re scenarios, visualisations of what our World Heritage Site could be, created as part of our ambitious Edinburgh City Centre Transformation (ECCT) project.

ECCT will take a strategic approach to how the city centre is managed, with the aim of creating a more vibrant, people-focussed Capital through a range of ‘interventions’. Our project team has undertaken an enormous amount of work to identify emerging principles and potential actions for achieving this, and last week committee heard about types of changes that could enable a smarter, fairer and transformed city.

In doing this we have looked to place-making best practise in forward-thinking cities around the world. We want to lead the way when it comes to sustainable transport and inclusive design but it’s worth noting that many of the kinds of innovations we’re looking at have already been seen internationally – with great success.

Just last month I accompanied Daisy Narayanan, ECCT Project Director, when she delivered a key speech on our plans to the Smart Sustainable Cities Workshop in Madrid, an extremely beneficial experience. Not only did we gain a great deal from engaging with an international contingent on the topic of delivering smart, low carbon and healthy travel, but we were heartened by the passionate response to our own aspirations. People from around the globe are really beginning to sit up and take notice.

One of the areas in which we are leading the way, in the UK at least, is in the introduction of Open Streets, which will see vehicle-free days in key parts of the city centre every month.

In line with our desires for ECCT, these events will return our streets to the people, encouraging community interaction, activity and an appreciation of our beautiful historic backdrop. It’s already attracting interest from authorities around the country, and will help us to better understand how new approaches to pedestrianisation and traffic can impact the city.

Physical transformation is just one piece of the jigsaw – our co-ordinated approach will only improve community, economic and cultural life if it is aligned with planning, housing, economy and the range of other services we manage.

Key to this is our commitment to introduce an LEZ in Edinburgh, something which three quarters of respondents to our consultation support, and we are making great strides to develop proposals. As part of our broader work to improve air quality, including an ambitious electric vehicle action plan, an LEZ will control the effects of the most polluting vehicles, which have been proven to have a detrimental impact on our health and the environment.

Many of the issues described – an increasing population, issues transporting people from A to B, the need to drive economic vibrancy – can be seen clearly in Leith. Therefore it makes absolute sense that we should bring the tram to Newhaven, and I’m pleased that, following the first public debate on the Final Business Case, committee voted to bring it to Council for the final decision. This will be pivotal to our overall ambition to create a greener, more liveable city, and I sincerely hope fellow elected members recognise this when we come to make the decision this summer.

Ultimately, no growing city can expect that the status quo should last forever. Over the years we’ve seen major evolution in the way city centres operate around the world, from Copenhagen to Barcelona or Amsterdam, and now it’s our turn. This is very much an ongoing discussion, but I have every confidence that we are moving in the right direction towards making Edinburgh the innovative, inclusive and economically viable city it deserves to be.