Work has begun on the next stage of a major project to improve Leith Walk. Phase Four of the Leith Programme, between Pilrig Street and McDonald Road is now under way in September and will last around ten months. Contractors Land Engineering Ltd are now on site, with construction expected to end in summer 2017. Continue reading Latest phase of Leith Walk programme is underway
A programme of maintenance and inspection work on one of Edinburgh’s North Bridge is underway. Continue reading Work underway on North Bridge facelift
A controversial city-wide cycle link has been given the go-ahead by councillors – despite objections by local traders and community councils. Members of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee yesterdayrejected community concerns and instead agreed to proceed with ‘an ambitious project to create a family-friendly west to east cycle route through the city centre’.
The City Centre West to East Cycle Link and Street Improvements project aims to create a largely protected cycle way to and through the city centre, providing a crucial link from existing QuietRoutes in north and west Edinburgh to Leith Walk and intended to encourage many more commuters to choose to travel into town by bike instead of by car, reducing congestion and contributing to improved air quality as well as boosting health and fitness.
A new working group is being set up to help resolve outstanding design issues with the plans. Meanwhile work will start immediately to secure further funding and to make preparations to commence the necessary statutory processes for the scheme.
The Council’s Transport and Environment Committee voted to create the new stakeholder group, whose members will include the Transport Convener and Vice Convener, the transport representatives of the other political groups, local ward members, relevant local groups and selected officers.
A motion put forward by the Capital Coalition acknowledged “a strong division of opinion on the two options for the Roseburn area – with the majority of ‘Active Travel Forum’ members supporting Option A” and a “strong preference for Option B amongst local businesses and Community Councils”.
The stakeholder group’s discussions on this aspect and other outstanding design issues will be reported to the Future Transport Working Group, chaired by the Transport Convener and held in public, for a final decision under the delegated authority of the Executive Director of Place.
In approving the Capital Coalition motion, members agreed that this group “will also act as a ‘sounding board’ throughout the detailed design and eventual statutory processes”.
Transport Convener Cllor Lesley Hinds said: “We remain 100% committed to delivering this bold and transformational project, which will make it so much easier to cycle into and through the city centre by linking up with our already well-used cycle routes across the north and west of Edinburgh.
“Given the strength of feeling out there about certain aspects of the plans, there’s clearly still work to be done before the final route design is agreed.
“This new stakeholder group will allow all interested parties to get round the table and thrash out the remaining issues, listening to each other’s points of view and – hopefully – arriving at a conclusion which the majority are happy with so that the final route design can be agreed.” Continue reading Controversial city cycle link gets green light
Police Scotland and Sustrans Scotland joined city council Transport Convener Lesley Hinds and mascot The Reducer today to mark the launch of the first zone in the Capital’s new 20mph limit rollout.
Phase 1 of the rollout of a 20mph speed limit on all residential, shopping and city centre streets in the Capital goes live on Sunday (31 July), when a Traffic Regulation Order formalising the reduction in the speed limit comes into force.
The Transport and Environment Committee approved a new speed limit network for Edinburgh in January last year following extensive public consultation with local communities, businesses and other stakeholders.
In becoming Scotland’s first 20mph city, Edinburgh follows a growing number of European and UK cities (eg Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cambridge and much of inner London) in introducing slower speeds. The project extends 20mph speed limits to approximately 80% of Edinburgh’s streets and the council says there is strong support from city residents for the move.
The new speed limits are aimed at increasing safety for all road users as well as creating a calmer, more people-friendly environment in shopping and residential streets. A network of key arterial roads across the city will be retained at 30mph and 40mph.
Slower speeds bring many benefits to places and people. They help to reduce the risk and severity of collisions, encourage people to walk and cycle and spend more time in an area, boosting trade for local businesses.
The reduced speed makes it easier to cross roads, particularly for children and older people.
In preparation for the ‘go live’ on Sunday, large 20mph signs have been erected in Zone 1 over the past few weeks, marking the entrance and exit of a 20mph area where the speed limit is changing. These are supplemented by smaller repeater signs or road markings with speed limit roundels.
As part of the 20mph programme, existing signage is being reviewed and reinforced. Any existing signage which is no longer needed will be removed and reused where possible.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “Slower speeds bring many benefits to the urban environment, making streets more people-friendly, promoting active travel (and thereby improving public health) and reducing the risk and severity of road collisions. The majority of Edinburgh residents support our 20mph scheme and we know that other local authorities in the rest of Scotland are closely monitoring our experience.
“We’ve been working towards this rollout for a number of years now and I’m delighted to see the first phase going live. Changing driver behaviour is not an overnight thing, obviously, and it will take a bit of time for it to become second nature. Experience here from our South Edinburgh pilot and from schemes elsewhere shows that support for 20mph increases after implementation as people welcome the benefits.
“We’ll continue to help people adapt to the new limit throughout the rollout, through awareness raising and education campaigns.”
Chief Inspector Mark Rennie of Police Scotland said: “We remain committed to casualty reduction on our roads and whenever we observe motorists disobeying the 20mph speed limit, or where the public tell us there is an ongoing problem, we will respond appropriately.
“Changes to road layouts, proper signage and continued engagement with the public are the keys to ensuring the speed limit is adhered to, however, police will give due attention to areas around schools to ensure public safety.”
The Reducer will champion city 20mph initiative
Edinburgh is the first city in Scotland implementing a citywide 20mph network. The new limit aims to reduce the risk and severity of road collisions, encourage travel on foot and by bike and help make the city’s streets more people-friendly.
Continue reading Meet The Reducer!
Alison Johnstone pledges Green fight to redirect roads budget
Alison Johnstone, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Lothian, has told an audience of cycling campaigners that with more Green MSPs Scotland can improve public health and the economy by redirecting the roads budget to tackle the nation’s pothole backlog. Continue reading Pothole backlog: Johnstone pledges Green action
Lucky City Centre … but North Edinburgh will have to wait
A new initiative by the City of Edinburgh Council is set to tackle the capital’s worst potholes and road defects resulting from winter weather. A dedicated team of neighbourhood staff has been put together to coordinate an intensive programme of repairs concentrating on main arterial routes – but North Edinburgh won’t be seeing any additional pothole attention anytime soon. Continue reading Council sets up pothole posse
‘We desperately need housing but the local planning authority isn’t addressing the basics’ – Colin Keir MSP
Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has called for infrastructure to be put in place to allow sustainable housing development in Edinburgh. Continue reading Keir: Housing situation ‘pressing on being critical’
Twenty folk attended TCC on 9 November. Here’s an update … Continue reading Trinity Community Council: November update
City Council’s parking consultation closes on 31 October Continue reading Still time to have your say on parking proposals
