With the elections for Scotland’s local authorities happening on May 5th, it is important to emphasise the vital role councils play in helping blind and partally sighted people to live as independently and inclusively as possible.
People with a visual impairment are more likely to depend on services from their local council, for information that’s readily available in alternative formats, public transport that’s accessible, streets and thoroughfares that allow people to walk safely and without obstacles, education that allows every child to reach their full potential, and employment that’s informed by a better understanding of what those with sight loss can do.
Around 178,000 people are currently living with a significant degree of sight loss in Scotland, of whom over 4,000 are children and young people. Our ageing population and the increase in sight-theatening conditions such as diabetes means this number will, inevitably, grow.
Let’s make one positive legacy of the upheaval we’ve all been through a resolve to make sure we re-emerge as a society in which no one is left at the margins.
Our local authorities are absolutely key to this.
James Adams
Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland
Environmental campaigners say the upcoming council elections are going to be significant in tackling the climate crisis, and are calling on all parties to make policies on transport and waste management a priority.
The councillors elected across Scotland in May will be in their position for five years in what is a vital decade for action to avert climate breakdown.
The UN climate conference in Glasgow was a key moment for international action, but the powers held by Councils makes them pivotal when it comes to tackling Scotland’s emissions and building on the legacy of COP26.
Transport is the primary source of carbon emissions in Scotland, making up around a third of the total. While progress has been made in other areas, this has barely changed in the last three decades.
Councils have the power to set up publicly-owned bus companies which could make a significant difference here. They also receive funding, which will be increasing in the coming years as part of the SNP and Greens agreement, for cycling and walking, which some councils currently make use of more than others.
Scotland is now burning almost as much of its household waste as it is sending to landfill, while household recycling rates have fallen by 2.9% to 42.0% between 2019 and 2020. This means Scotland now has the poorest recycling rates in the UK. Councils are in charge of designing and providing waste collection systems for households and therefore have a key role to play in reducing the carbon impact of household waste.
Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “These elections are being contested against the backdrop of a climate and nature emergency. Many of the powers to drive action on the climate crisis sit with local councils, which is why this vote matters so much.
“Councillors must put people and the planet at the heart of all of the decisions they make. This means making it easier and more affordable to take public transport by running services in the interests of passengers rather than shareholders, helping people to reduce and recycle their waste, and planning for the vital phase out of incineration.
“Over the coming weeks, people can get in touch with candidates to hear what they have to say on these climate-critical issues and build pressure for ambition and urgency at the local level during the next five years.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland has set out a programme of priorities for climate action they want parties to champion, which can be downloaded below:
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.
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.
New report from Stagecoach sets out pathway to attracting over one million new passengers to the UK’s bus networks through the switch to Zero Emission Buses
New report sets out an ambitious national vision for achieving the introduction of 100% Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) across the UK
Independent research shows that over a million new passengers could start using buses if the transition to ZEBs is done right, having a significant impact on modal shift from cars to public transport
Research makes clear that the costs of the transition cannot fully be borne by passengers, with fare rises to finance the increased costs of greener buses risking a significant reduction in bus patronage
Report highlights significant operational and commercial challenges all bus operators face to introducing a full ZEB fleet
It sets out a detailed plan for introducing greener buses, with a series of recommendations for industry, government and local authorities to meet the practical challenges and deliver on passenger expectations, including securing a sustainable long-term funding model.
More than one million new passengers could be attracted to use the UK’s bus networks through the switch to zero emission buses, according to a new landmark report published today by Stagecoach, Britain’s biggest operator.
Road map to zero: the transition to Zero Emission Buses, what it means for people, and the journey to get there sets out an ambitious national vision for achieving the introduction of 100% Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) across the UK.
The independent research and recommendations build on Stagecoach’s target of achieving a 100% Zero Emission UK bus fleet by 2035 and are designed to support all bus operators in achieving this ambition as well as supporting the country’s net zero targets.
Looking at the challenge by focussing on the people who interact most with the bus network – both the public and the workforce – the report identifies the scale of the opportunity that electric buses present, showing how they can attract a new generation of bus users.
Over a million current non-bus users say they would start to use services if electric buses were introduced in their local area, as long as fares and frequency remain the same. What’s more, over nine million current passengers would expect to use the bus more often.
The research shows that almost one in five of people interviewed in Scotland would use the bus more if Zero Emission Buses replaced local diesel buses, with 73% of people wanting to see their local bus company move to using only ZEBs.
The report highlights the significant operational and commercial challenges that all UK bus operators need overcome to achieve this, including:
Upgrading infrastructure across the country, electrifying all vehicles and depots, recognising the increased space and longer charging times that ZEBs will require.
Upskilling the workforce and attracting a new generation of people to highly skilled, green jobs in the bus industry.
Developing a long-term sustainable funding approach which reflects the increased costs of a ZEB compared to a diesel bus.
Critically the research lays bare the importance of getting the approach to overcoming these challenges right.
Getting the transition wrong could have significant consequences for passengers and the sustainability of the bus network. Independent polling carried out as part of the report shows that if fares were to increase by just 10% to fund the transition to Zero Emissions Buses, more than 12 million passengers say they would use the bus less often, with 63% of people interviewed in Scotland agreeing with this stance.
If the introduction of greener buses failed to improve either punctuality, frequency or passenger experience, over 14.5 million people would be left disappointed.
The research highlights significant public support for the transition to ZEBs, finding that:
The public want to see the introduction of greener buses – 66% of the public think that the move to Zero Emission Buses is a good thing
Transitioning to Zero Emission Buses is likely to make the public have a more positive impression of their local bus operator – there is a likely 268% increase in satisfaction towards their local bus operator amongst non-bus users after the introduction of ZEBs
The public recognise the scale of the challenge – 53% of the public consider that it will be hard or very hard for bus operators to shift to 100% ZEBs.
To meet passenger expectations, Stagecoach has today proposed three core principles and 21 specific recommendations which will allow the industry to transition to 100% electric buses while increasing the number of passengers across the network.
Developed following a roundtable with industry stakeholders and policymakers, and reflecting the priorities of passengers, the principles identified from the report are:
Funding: The costs of the transition cannot fully be borne by passengers as patronage will fall further.
Customer experience: Passengers need to feel that the quality and reliability of service they receive when travelling by bus will improve with the introduction of green buses, rather than be put at threat.
Partnership: All stakeholders with an interest in delivering this vision need to work collaboratively to solve the barriers to rollout.
The report’s specific recommendations cover funding, infrastructure and operational changes, and workforce challenges, and include:
Bus operators, local authorities and national governments should work collaboratively to explore new or innovative long-term funding models, including local revenue raising solutions.
Bus operators should work with local authorities to promote the introduction of new ZEBs to ensure their introduction is effectively maximised as a potential trigger point for modal shift.
The bus sector should collectively promote new ‘green engineering apprenticeships’ to young people across the UK, securing a sustainable workforce of the future.
Local Transport Decarbonisation Partnerships should be established between different bus operators, Distribution Network Operators and local authorities to establish the gaps between existing grid capacity and that are required to achieve full ZEB rollout in each community
Government and Ofgem should assess the need for a new statutory duty on DNOs to prioritise grid infrastructure upgrades which have a significant social and community impact, such as bus charging infrastructure.
Martin Griffiths, Chief Executive of Stagecoach, said: “This report demonstrates the prize that is front of the country in terms of moving people out of cars and onto lower carbon forms of transport, if we get the transition to Zero Emissions Buses right.
“Not only can we reduce emissions by transforming the environmental footprint of the bus fleet, but we can build a new generation of bus passengers.
“This is exciting news for bus operators, the wider industry, government, local authorities and crucially for passengers. However, it’s clear that this is conditional on us all getting the transition right and ensuring that the priorities of passengers are put first.
“Our research makes clear that this transformational change needs to be done carefully. This road map is our contribution to the wider debate, setting out a plan that will support the whole sector make this a success.
“It’s clear that to achieve this we must take a collaborative approach that meets passenger expectations and focusses on improving the passenger experience. If we get this right there’s so much to gain, but if we don’t we risk setting back the transition to Net Zero.”
The recommendations in the report have been supported by leading voices across the sector including Scottish Government, Zemo Partnership, Campaign for Better Transport and Transport Focus.
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said: “I welcome this contribution from Stagecoach on practical actions that can be taken to decarbonise buses, putting workers and passengers at the forefront of considerations.
“Choosing bus is already a fantastic choice for the environment, but electric buses offer even more benefits for our air quality and climate.
“To respond to the global climate emergency, we all have to play our part. So I’m pleased that as well as producing this report, Stagecoach is active in our Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, where we are working together to agree a pathway to a zero emission fleet for Scotland.”
The Rt Hon Norman Baker, Campaigns and Policy Advisor for Campaign for Better Transport, said: “It is great to see the enthusiasm within the bus industry for a determined move towards a zero emission bus fleet.
“This reinforces the point that the bus is key to any strategy to tackle climate change and rightly positions the bus as part of the solution and a vehicle firmly grounded in the future. We welcome this report from Stagecoach.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “We are pleased to see this report and research from Stagecoach. Zero emission vehicles will be increasingly key to helping public transport play its part in achieving Government decarbonisation targets.
“More investment in buses is really welcome. New vehicles, plus a focus on passengers’ key priorities of reliability and value, will tempt more people to give bus a go.”
Andy Eastlake, Chief Executive, Zemo Partnership – the organisation working closely with Government and key stakeholders to accelerate the net zero transition in road transport – said: “This report shows the potential ‘win-win’ we could achieve from the transition to zero emission buses if we work together to get things right.
“Travelling by bus can already be one of the most sustainable and lowest carbon modes of travel and the rapid transition to zero emission buses – that we’re working hard with Stagecoach and others to achieve – will improve this further.
“The shift to zero tailpipe emissions buses is a great opportunity to transform the image of the bus and capture a whole new set of users who want to do their bit for the UK’s net zero ambitions. The smooth, quiet, efficient zero emission bus using renewable energy can be a compelling proposition and should be in the vanguard of the UK’s journey away from fossil fuels.”
Stagecoach has taken positive strides in moving towards a Zero Emission fleet in Scotland, and is in the process of introducing 46 new fully electric buses in its key Scottish transport networks in Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth as part of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.
Stagecoach launched its new long-term sustainability strategy last year; Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work – which sets out plans to decarbonise its business by around 70% by 2035 as well as targeting a Zero Emissions bus fleet across the UK by that date.
The roadmap to becoming a fully carbon neutral business will see investment in new Zero-Emissions fleets, such as electric buses, and other green technologies over the next 15 years. It follows a 14% reduction in carbon emissions between 2014 and 2019.
New electric vehicle chargers are up and running at Ingliston Park and Ride and work is underway to install chargers around the city as part of plans to introduce 81 on-street chargers (141 bays).
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes was joined by representatives of the Electric Vehicle Association and Scottish Electric Vehicle Drivers at Ingliston yesterday to try out one of 21 chargers – six rapid (six charging bays) and 15 slow (30 charging bays).
Another five rapid chargers (five bays) and 14 slow chargers (28 bays) will soon be operational at Hermiston Park and Ride.
Preliminary work is also underway to install an additional 41 rapid and fast chargers – amounting to 72 charging bays – at on-street locations in residential areas around the Capital. These will be complete and available for use by early summer.
The roll-out, designed to encourage and support the take-up of cleaner, low emission transport like electric vehicles, is being funded by £2.2 million awarded through Transport Scotland’s Switched on Towns and Cities Challenge Fund.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “These new chargers will provide convenient charging for people travelling in and out of the Capital, and very soon we’ll be delivering fast, accessible charge points in residential streets around the city too.
“The transition to clean, low emission transport like electric vehicles is critical if we are to meet our ambitious net zero 2030 target, alongside choosing walking, wheeling, cycling or taking public transport to get around. It’s our role to support and encourage this so it’s fantastic that we’re now rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Edinburgh.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “Today we marked the start of an ambitious, strategic programme to install charging points across the city which will soon benefit thousands of people.
“Electric vehicles both help to lower our carbon footprint and limit air pollution, so it’s really encouraging that more and more people are making the switch to electric cars.”
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said: “I’m pleased to see Scottish Government investment of £2.2 million deliver new electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Edinburgh.
“Our Switched on Towns and Cities funding is transforming Edinburgh’s provision of charge points, not only at key park and ride sites, but also through 72 new on-street charging bays at various locations across the city.
“This will improve air quality and protect our climate – directly supporting our commitment to phasing out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.”
While the use of existing chargers is currently free, charging tariffs, as agreed by Council as part of the budget-setting process, are to be introduced in May. Any revenue generated will be used to fund the ongoing costs associated with our electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The city council is currently looking at future locations for electric vehicle chargers using data from two Energy Savings Trust studies and have developed a scoring framework. As part of this several potential new locations for chargers have been identified for investigation, subject to funding.
Electric Vehicle Association Scotland Director Neil Swanson added: “What we are experiencing today is a seismic change towards low emission transportation.
“As Scotland forges ahead with ever increasing numbers of electric vehicle sales month-on-month, it is important that the country’s public charging infrastructure simultaneously meets the rising demand for a range of suitably located charge points.
“As the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have already indicated in their recently announced commitment to meeting these challenges, there is an urgent need to keep pace with the rapid uptake by those who see the financial as well as the environmental benefits of going all-electric.
“EVA Scotland welcomes this essential, indeed fundamental objective and is committed to working with all those who can make this happen. We cannot go forward in our climate change obligations without having our vital charging infrastructure in place.
“What we see here in Edinburgh today represents significant investment, realising a major step forward by Edinburgh to ensure there are adequate numbers of charging facilities in place across the Capital to meet the increasing demand by all those making the switch to electric powered vehicles.
“We hope to see this truly ambitious effort replicated across the whole of Scotland…it is essential.”
Dr Euan McTurk, Plug Life Television, said: “The long-awaited expansion of the electric vehicle charging facilities at Ingliston Park and Ride is exactly the level of ambition that Councils across Scotland should be trying to emulate.
“Ingliston’s original rapid charger was one of the busiest in Scotland, and the six new ones next to it – doubled from the originally planned three new chargers – will no doubt be kept equally busy by a steady stream of electric taxis, delivery vans and drivers from the M8, M9 and M90.
“The addition of 30 new destination charge sockets next to the original four, mean that commuters and visitors to Edinburgh who don’t have a home charge point will no longer face a lottery of whether they’ll be able to charge their car whilst they’re in town.
“It’s equally promising to hear that similar charging hubs are being built across numerous sites in Edinburgh for residents, businesses and commuters, and that this is just the first of three much-needed phases of charging infrastructure expansion for Scotland’s capital.”
A new, state-of-the-art bus station management system has been officially unveiled at Edinburgh Bus Station, transforming the passenger experience for those travelling to and from Scotland’s Capital.
The management platform is one of the most advanced in the UK and features real-time arrival and departure information on intelligent display screens throughout the station, along with live updates on disruption, delays and events.
Upgrades include larger displays for people with visual impairments, which connect via Bluetooth to the RNIB React smart device app to read out departures, and multiple languages on some screens. Interactive ‘wayfinding’ signage has been installed to help users plan their onward journeys, with routes, travel updates and tourist information.
On Tuesday, Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes was given a tour of the improvements at the station, where more than 9000 bus and coach services pass through every month, departing to destinations across Scotland and the UK.
Councillor Macinnes said: “There is no doubt the new management system at Edinburgh Bus Station will transform the experience for anyone travelling through it. Not only is journey information much clearer and more accessible, but upgrades will really help people making onward trips around Edinburgh.
“It’s really fascinating to see the difference the improvements are making behind the scenes, managing the bus station more effectively, supporting safer departures and monitoring performance.
“By delivering a truly integrated, efficient service, these changes make travel by bus an attractive choice, which is central to our net zero target.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “The use of new technology is helping to manage the bus station more easily and effectively. This means more accurate and more available information for passengers, including the automatic notification of any delays and incidents.
“We hope projects like this will give more passengers and visitors the confidence to choose travel by bus.”
The new management system also features a bus reversing facility, helping to manage departures from the station more effectively and safely, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to automatically log the arrival and departure of every bus in the station.
At the centre of the platform is a Content Management System (CMS) combining live bus location data with scheduled information to provide accurate real time passenger information. This is distributed to displays inside and outside the station, as well as to Traveline Scotland, neighbouring local authorities, bus operators and local business parks.
Work to upgrade the city’s on-street 400 real time passenger information signs at bus stops, including the addition of more signs, will also begin this year, as part of the same contract. The main contractor delivering the improvements is Journeo.
Science-based technology company 3M urges local authorities to address concerns felt by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians
Roads, transport and parking should be the number one agenda item for local authorities in 2022, according to almost half of residents living in Scotland (47%).
The new research from science-based technology company, 3M reveals that within the region, this is the area most in need of attention alongside housing (47%) and followed by jobs, business and investment (41%), and education (35%).
After more time spent working, travelling and exercising close to home in the past two years, 80% of people in Britain believe the pandemic has highlighted the need for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to be able to co-exist. However, there are specific factors preventing these groups from doing so in harmony.
Accessibility for cyclists in Scotland
It is estimated that one in five Brits now cycle in a typical week. However, in Scotland nearly a quarter of those who already cycle (23%) say that despite having access to cycle lanes where they live, they still wouldn’t feel safe enough to travel on a bike during peak times.
74% of this group don’t believe the right infrastructure is in place to allow them to ride safely and 62% say that their local authorities could do more to make the area more accessible to cyclists.
Drivers vs cyclists – the perception gap
The research has brought prevalent safety concerns and the contrasting opinions of road users to the fore, particularly when it comes to motorists and cyclists. Seven in 10 (70%) cyclists worry that drivers don’t know the correct etiquette when using roads with cycle lanes in their area.
Meanwhile, only 53% of drivers confidently say that they know the latest Highway Code rules in relation to cyclists, which at the time of the study had not been updated since 2015.
Outside of lane usage, overtaking is a bone of contention for motorists and cyclists alike; 93% of drivers say they leave as much room when overtaking a cyclist as they would a car whereas 73% of cyclists say drivers pass too closely.
In Scotland, one thing both parties do agree on is there not being clear enough road markings on cycle lanes for all road users – only 27% of motorists and 25% of cyclists feel there are clear visible markings in their area.
The lack of visual guidance could be part of the problem when it comes to navigating shared road spaces, easily improved by solutions such as better signage that incorporates retroreflective technology, while also improving education on the Highway Code.
Andy Fish, Technical Specialist for 3M Transportation Safety Division, said:“Its fantastic that investment in new cycle lanes, walkways and other infrastructure is being put to good use.
“This research shows that irrespective of mode of transport, the majority of people want to be able to share spaces with others safely, and they are looking to their local authorities for support.
“At 3M we are actively encouraging local councils and highway authorities in Scotland to participate in a pilot scheme that would allow their communities to benefit from traffic safety solutions designed to address some of the concerns expressed by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.”
Drivers’ admitted lack of understanding of the Highway Code could be to blame for some of the frustrations they have towards cyclists – 86% say seeing two or more ride side-by-side is frustrating and 72% say they become frustrated simply by driving behind one.
This is in spite of it being legal for two cyclists to ride next to each other unless on narrow or busy roads or cycling round bends, along with recent rule changes including cyclists riding alone being instructed to use the centre of the lane in slower moving traffic.
To find out more about 3M’s leading road marking and signage solutions, such as 3M Diamond Grade DG3 reflective sheeting. and 3M Stamark road marking tape, visit www.3m.co.uk.
Work got underway yesterday on the £19.4m City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), a major new cycling and walking route linking the east and the west of the Capital.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes was joined in Roseburn by Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, and Karen McGregor, Portfolio Director for Sustrans were joined by children from Roseburn Primary School and project managers to mark the occasion.
The project is funded by the Scottish Government via Sustrans.
When complete, the scheme will connect Roseburn to Leith Walk via Haymarket and the West End with a safe and direct cycle route, as well as significantly enhancing streets for those walking, wheeling and spending time there.
The project, overseen by contractors Balfour Beatty, is leading the way in sustainable construction, with measures to cut carbon emissions. Site compounds will utilise ‘EcoSense’ cabins in conjunction with an ECONET power management system, which significantly reduces energy consumption and water usage.
Project officers will also use e-bikes rather than cars to travel between the site compound and works areas wherever possible, and cycle training has been provided as part of this.
Construction is expected to last around 18 months, with full details of plans available on the dedicated CCWEL website. In the first phase of the section between Roseburn and West Coates there will be some lane closures and changes to parking and bus stops, though traffic will be maintained in both directions.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: I’m thrilled that we’re now delivering the CCWEL, one of the largest pieces of safe walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure the Capital has seen yet.
“It’s been really exciting to visit the site and see work get underway – before long, this route will benefit so many people walking, wheeling and cycling to and from the city.
“The CCWEL project is just one of a range of bold initiatives to transform the way we travel around Edinburgh. We are committed to becoming a net zero city by 2030 and a key element of this is encouraging and supporting clean and sustainable modes of transport through projects like this.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “CCWEL has been years in the making, so today marks a real milestone for Edinburgh. Once complete it will provide an essential link between key parts of our existing cycle network to and through the city centre, as well as significantly improving the streetscape along the way.
“Not only will the project impact on the surrounding environment, reducing traffic, air pollution and noise, but it will help benefit people’s health and wellbeing through active travel and relaxed surroundings to spend time in.”
Minister for Active Travel Patrick Harvie said: “I’m pleased to see Scottish Government funding enable the construction of the City Centre West to East Link. It’s a vital connection which will help people to walk, wheel and cycle in Edinburgh as the natural choice, leading to better health, less congestion and a better environment.
“I want to see many more schemes similar to this in communities across Scotland. That’s why we’re nearly tripling what Scotland invests in active travel over the next three years to at least £320 million a year.
“I’m committed to making sure those record levels of investment lead to real change in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods, delivering safe, attractive places for many more people to walk, wheel and cycle.”
Portfolio Director for Sustrans, Karen McGregor, said: “The City Centre West to East Link is a major breakthrough for active travel in Edinburgh. Not only will this deliver safe and accessible walking, wheeling and cycling routes for anyone travelling through the heart of our Scottish capital, it will play an important part in connecting communities in the city’s western and northern suburbs to make their everyday lives healthier and easier.
“The route will also link to several other ambitious projects Sustrans is working on with City of Edinburgh Council. These include the George Street and First New Town project and the Meadows to George Street scheme, which we believe will set the standard for active travel in Scotland going forward.”
Scott Ritchie, Senior Project Manager, Balfour Beatty, said: “We are pleased to be working with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver this incredibly important scheme which will transform the way people travel, moving from a reliance on cars to active travel.
“The City Centre West to East Link route will reimagine our public spaces in Edinburgh; positively impacting local communities and residents by reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in the city centre and driving down carbon emissions.”
The route, which will be delivered in three sections, will include two-way segregated cycleways from Roseburn to Haymarket connecting via quiet streets to one-way segregated cycleways on each side of Melville Street.
Two-way cycleways connecting George Street with Picardy Place via St David Street, Queen Street and York Place will also be introduced. There will be significant improvements to public spaces along the route, as well as new pedestrian crossings, enhanced pavements and street trees.
By supporting people to travel by foot, bike and wheel, the CCWEL project aligns with our City Mobility Plan 2030, which envisions a clean, connected and net zero carbon future.
It links into several other schemes to overhaul travel to and through the city centre, including the George Street and First New Town project and Meadows to George Street, both to be delivered as part of Edinburgh City Centre Transformation.
The £19.4m CCWEL project, which includes a £13m construction contract with Balfour Beatty, will be principally funded by Transport Scotland through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, with additional funding from the Scottish Government and the Council’s transport budget.
To minimise disruption, the programmed resurfacing of the A8 will be carried out alongside CCWEL construction, funded separately by the Council.
Find out more on the City Centre West to East Link website.
The Scottish Government published its blueprint for future transport investment last week.
The second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) makes 45 recommendations under six key themes which seek to make transport in Scotland more sustainable and support people to make better, more informed choices on how they travel.
When implemented, the changes and measures will play a key role in helping to make the country fairer and greener – by tackling tackle climate change, reducing inequalities and improving our health and wellbeing.
The recommendations include:
Mass transit in our biggest city regions of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen: Clyde Metro represents a multi-billion investment which, when complete, could better connect over 1.5 million people to employment, education and health services in and around the Glasgow city region. Plans for Edinburgh & South East Scotland Mass Transit and Aberdeen Rapid Transit will also be developed.
Rural transport and island communities: Continuing investment in ferry renewals, improving port infrastructure and connections from ferry terminals to other types of public transport to reduce car reliance, enhancing island connectivity and making safety improvements on rural trunk roads where accident rates and severities are typically higher.
Decarbonisation of public transport: Transport is Scotland’s biggest carbon emitter and the recommendations emphasise decarbonisation and behaviour change for ferries, rail and buses as well as increasing the shift to zero emission vehicles.
Improving active travel infrastructure: encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle more often; cutting carbon emissions and improving health and wellbeing, particularly of children, while supporting sustainable economic growth.
Transforming freight: developing a net zero freight and logistics network for Scotland that would encourage the switch from road to rail or water and reduce the overall distance travelled, including a review of rail freight terminals/ hubs.
These investments will help reduce overall demand for private vehicles; improve accessibility to employment, education, healthcare and leisure amenities; and strengthen strategic transport connections to, from and within rural areas, as well as across the UK.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson said: “The investment decisions we make now have never been more important. A green recovery from COVID-19 will set us on a path to delivering a fair and just transition to Net Zero.
“The pandemic has led to fundamental shifts in travel behaviours and we want to ensure that people continue to make sustainable travel choices, that they return to public transport and our economic recovery does not overly rely on road-based travel.
“The STPR2 recommendations support the measures set out last week in our route map to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030 and represent a major piece of work by this Government to make Scotland – all of Scotland – more sustainable.
“This review represents a repositioning of our transport investment priorities – the focus is firmly on how transport can help us protect our climate and improve lives. It takes a balanced and fair approach to all modes of transport, and all areas of Scotland.
“The recommendations set out in STPR2 will help deliver the four priorities of our National Transport Strategy – reducing inequalities; taking climate action; helping deliver inclusive economic growth; and improving our health and wellbeing.
“They’ll now go out for consultation and I urge individuals, community groups, businesses and public and third sector organisations to share their views with us so that together we can shape a transport system fit for a healthy, fair and green future.”
Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region City Deal Cabinet said: “Today’s announcement marks a major step forward in our commitment to creating a modern, sustainable, integrated public transport system for the city of Glasgow and its surrounding metropolitan region.
“Clyde Metro’s inclusion in the STPR2 report is a huge vote of confidence in the work done to date by Transport Scotland and the City Council in advancing the concept and the compelling case for it.
“Metro will be transformational – reducing social and economic inequalities, delivering on economic growth, better connecting outlying and poorly served communities and incentivising large-scale modal shift from private car to public transport.
“Over the past several decades, modern rapid transit systems like Metro are what Glasgow’s comparator cities across the globe have been busy constructing. We cannot continue to be left behind.
“More than arguably any other single intervention, Clyde Metro can help deliver a vibrant, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable city region, a transport system fit for our international standing and ambitions.”
Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway said: “I’m encouraged that today’s report recognises the major role rail will play in moving people and goods sustainably as we move towards a net zero Scotland.
“At Scotland’s Railway we are keenly focused on a number of clearly defined targets to achieve the Scottish Government’s net zero ambitions and we’ve already delivered a 38% overall reduction in carbon emissions in the last eight years.
“Looking ahead, the financial picture is of course challenging but it’s great to see STPR2 support the potential for even more rail passengers and freight being transported by rail.”
Karen McGregor, Director of Capital Programmes for Sustrans Scotland said: “STPR2 has the potential to shape the places we live in, how we travel, where we live and crucially how we decarbonise our transport over the next decade and beyond. Therefore Sustrans welcomes the prioritisation of sustainable, low carbon, forms of transport in the emerging package of interventions identified here.
“In particular, we welcome the recognition of the strategic role that walking, wheeling and cycling can play in achieving the Scottish Government’s objectives.
“This helps to demonstrate the step change in thinking that is needed to meaningfully tackle climate change, improve Scotland’s health and wellbeing, reduce inequalities and deliver sustainable economic growth.”
The next stage in the plan to introduce a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Edinburgh is expected to be approved by committee this week.
A finalised scheme was brought to October’s Transport and Environment Committee, when it was agreed that further analysis would be carried out on the LEZ’s role in reducing greenhouse gases, in particular carbon emissions, before final approval.
On Thursday (27 January) committee members will consider a report outlining analysis by SEPA via the National Modelling Framework. This notes that, while the LEZ will take significant steps towards tackling poor air quality caused by harmful NO2 and PM emissions, there are limits to how much the fossil-fuelled vehicles that are allowed within the zone will reduce carbon emissions.
Instead, the wider objectives of the LEZ scheme will help facilitate the Council’s actions toward achieving a net zero city. These include decarbonising transport and encouraging a shift away from private car use towards more sustainable choices of public transport or walking, wheeling and cycling.
It is recommended to proceed with the scheme with no changes to the boundary or grace period, meaning an LEZ would be introduced in the city centre this spring, with enforcement to begin in 2024.
A separate Air Quality Annual Progress report to committee shows a continued decline in air pollution across the city. As a result, one of Edinburgh’s five Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) declared for breaches of national NO2 objectives – Inverleith Row – is set to be revoked, after three consecutive years of compliance, which is a sign of progress.
There are, however, still areas of concern, especially the Central AQMA, though modelling predicts that actions such as introducing an LEZ will have a positive impact.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “The LEZ put forward for approval in October followed several years of planning, modelling and analysis, in line with national frameworks, as well as consideration of feedback received through a major public consultation.
“Additional work carried out since then to assess the scheme’s impact on carbon emissions, as well as the proposed boundaries and grace period, demonstrates that these proposals are appropriate for the city.
“The LEZ, alongside a range of ambitious projects to improve air quality, will encourage cleaner transport and support active travel, and is key to achieving cleaner air for everyone.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “It’s really encouraging to see a consistent fall in harmful air pollutants across the city, so much so that we’ll soon be able to revoke the Inverleith Row AQMA.
“Of course, there’s still work to be done and we’re confident that the LEZ, paired with companies committing to cleaner fleets, improved signalling and modal shift away from private car journeys, amongst other measures, will see the picture improve even further.”
Edinburgh’s city centre LEZ would apply to all motor vehicles, except motorcycles and mopeds, and with a two-year grace period.
An evidence-led approach was taken when developing the LEZ, adhering to the National Low Emission Framework and based on detailed traffic and air quality modelling and data. October’s proposals followed a major, 12-week consultation with the public.
The city centre boundary was selected based on various factors, including the expected limited impact of a larger zone and predictions that an alternative city centre zone would have longer lasting negative impacts on air quality at its boundary.
Once the LEZ is in place, vehicles must meet a minimum emissions standard to enter the zone freely, and those that don’t will be considered non-compliant and subject to penalties.
Penalty charges are set nationally at £60 for non-compliant vehicles (though halved if paid within 30 days), with the penalty rate roughly doubling for subsequent contraventions to a maximum level depending on the vehicle.
