Category: Travel and Mobility

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Links Place Bus Gate Open to ALL traffic

Duncan Place and Johns Place are currently closed for possibly the next 10 weeks for maintenance work on pavements.

The road network around and through Leith has had increased traffic volumes as traffic that would normally use the closed off roads attempts to find another route to destinations withing the ‘liveable neighbourhood’.

The Community Council asked council officers to consider lifting restrictions on Links Place until the road works have been completed allowing traffic to flow East and West along this road.

Council Officers responded that this was possible and the restrictions which includes the camera have been removed for the duration.

Hopefully we’ll be told before work is completed a date for the camera being switched back on.

 

More changes planned for our area…?

The Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood has now been made permanent  (and has apparently also been ‘renamed’ the “Leith Liveable Neighbourhood”)

But things have not stopped there. At the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee next week (6th March), Councillor Chas Booth is proposing a motion that signposts to further changes in our area. (See below) What do people think of these?

Can / should such steps just be imposed from ‘above’? Is it time for a public meeting, and a focused discussion with local residents, to explore the ideas Councillor Booth is pushing forward?

You can comment below, or email your views to: contact@leithlinkscc.org.uk

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Motion by Councillor Booth – Liveable Neighbourhoods

“Committee:

1)         Notes the decision of TRO sub-committee on 18 February to make the Leith Liveable Neighbourhood, introduced under ETRO 23/20, permanent; further notes that while the scheme was generally successful at reducing motor traffic, there was a traffic increase on Duncan Place and northbound on Salamander Place;

2)         Notes that while there is a commitment in the City Mobility Plan (CMP) to roll out liveable neighbourhoods, this work is currently unfunded within the CMP action plan (action 105) but this is being assessed as part of the CMP CIP review agreed by committee in December 2024;

3)         Requests a report to committee in 4 cycles setting out:

           a)         options to address the increase in traffic on Duncan Place and northbound on Salamander Place including, but not limited to, moving the bus gate to Links Gardens and introducing a full modal filter at either the north end of Johns Place or the south end of Duncan Place;

            b)         what further action can be taken to improve dropped kerbs, pavements camber and improve conditions for walkers and wheelers throughout the project area and in particular at Claremont Park/Gladstone Place, including the potential for a new pedestrian crossing near the nursing home;

            c)         what further action can be taken to improve conditions for those cycling in the area, in particular along quiet route 10 between Sandport Bridge and Links Gardens;

            d)         whether there would be advantages to coordinating the timing of any further changes to the Liveable Neighbourhood with rollout of the CPZ to the area south of Leith Links;

            e)         any lessons learned from the Leith Liveable Neighbourhood scheme, in particular on how the council can better engage with disabled people who might be impacted by a scheme at the earliest possible stage.”

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At the same meeting, it is proposed to launch proceedings to ban parking on a number of streets, by introducing new double yellow lines on both sides. Worryingly, according to a recent Evening News article, Claremont Park is included on the list – can this really be the case, given that it is a wide road with plenty room for buses to pass each other, and no record of pavement parking? Seafield Place, Seafield Road and Salamander Street are also listed. Further information urgently needed!

 

See the full meeting agenda here: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=7245&x=1

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Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood is made permanent

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Sub-Committee today voted to make all of the temporary traffic regulation orders of the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent. You will be able to watch a recording of the meeting by Thursday, when it should be archived.

The committee acknowledged that they had received a large number of representations from the public and from different groups, and thanked all who had made the effort to contribute. Their decision seemed to be at least partly based on the fact that ‘the majority’ were in favour (although one Councillor did remind them that this was “not a referendum”). They agreed that the current scheme is “not perfect” but felt that no scheme is perfect and that you couldn’t please everybody.

It took the Committee less than an hour to reach this decision. A lot hinged on the issue of increased displaced traffic on the boundary roads, the data on which none of them understood, but were happy to take the word of Council officers and dismiss the experience of people who live here. The Committee Convener said in conclusion that in relation to increased traffic displacement that she was “happy that’s being thingummied”.

This decision means that all the features of the LTN that people are enjoying and valueing will remain, such as quieter and safer roads inside the LTN that encourage active travel, especially for kids, so hopefully that is something that everybody can feel good about.

This Community Council had asked the Committee to make the measures permanent in part only but excluding the bus gate, however this option was rejected.

Making all the current measures permanent means that the current bus gate will remain. It means that in due course – perhaps in a few months –  the Leith Connections team will come back with a proposal to change its location and to move the bus gate to Links Gardens and to make it two way.

Meanwhile, thank you to all who got involved in putting their views forward.

 

 

Community Councils Together

The community council elections are taking place across Edinburgh. The three Leith community councils have a stall at Leith Market, today 15th February. If you want to find out more about what we do, please come along and speak to us. We’re always willing to listen to local residents.

Close off Links Gardens again?

URGENT

The Council’s TRO Sub-Committee meets in one week’s time (18th February) to take important decisions about the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood (whether to make all the changes permanent or not).

The Community Council has recommended that the bus gate be dropped from the scheme, allowing traffic to flow through from Links Gardens to Queen Charlotte Street, thus relieving pressure on Salamander Place, Duncam Place, Johns Place and on the narrow residential streets (Fox Street, Pattison Street, Elbe Street).

We now see in a newly published Report that has been sent to the Committee (by Council Officers) the recommendation that the bus gate be moved so that it blocks off Links Gardens (not just Links Place) to all traffic except buses. And that it would be made two-way, so that as well as forbidding traffic as at present from east to west, it would also block all traffic coming through from west to east.

The proposed new bus lane/bus gate would remove through traffic from the raised pedestrian/ cycle crossing point on QuietRoute 10 at Links Gardens.

This would be a re-introduction of the situation caused by the Places for People blocking of Links Gardens during the Covid period, which was massively unpopular because it caused huge increases in traffic and congestion all along Claremont Park, Gladstone Place, East Hermitage Place, Hermitage Place, Vanburgh Place and the junction with Lochend Road / Easter Road / Duke Street, and all along Duke Street and Great Junction Street.

This is something that would have a huge effect on the lives of all who live in the Leith Links Area. You can read the proposal in Para 4.70 (and elsewhere) in this Report to Committee (uploaded here, as it seems to ‘come and go’  a bit on the council website, but you can try via https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=645&MId=7581)

Closing Links Gardens couldn’t be decided at the meeting next week, it would require a new consultation, but local people need to be aware that this is a first step.

If you have a view on this proposal, please write immediately to all the members of the TRO sub-committee, whose email addresses can be found here.

And please copy to the three Leith Councillors who have been reported in the press as being ‘united’ on supporting these proposals.

chas.booth@edinburgh.gov.uk
cllr.katrina.faccenda@edinburgh.gov.uk
adam.nols-mcvey@edinburgh.gov.uk

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Make Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent or not? It’s Decision Time!

City of Edinburgh Council (TRO sub-committee) is going to take decisions on 18 February as to whether to make the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood permanent or not.

Lobby groups and press publicity so far have been very one-sided, insisting that ‘everyone’ is in favour. Is this true?

The findings of our own recent Community Council survey show that the local community is actually very divided on the issue (40% FOR, 34% AGAINST, and 26% MIXED FEELINGS). You can read our Summary Report of the survey findings here.

The Councillors on the TRO sub-Committee are still prepared to receive representations from the members of the public on the matter.

Please, if you feel strongly, will you email in to the councillors in question, to say whether you –

  1.  – want to the see the LTN, as it is now, made permanent.
  2.  – have suggestions to make about changes to make the LTN better (NB the committee can only make small changes or take things away, they can’t add new things at this stage).
  3.  – do NOT want to see the LTN made permanent, but would like to see the changes that have been being trialled taken away, so that things are back to where they were before.

You can find the email addresses for the members of the committee here, if you wish to add your views.

Please remember that this is JUST about the LTN measures that are still classed as ‘experimental’ (it is NOT about reversing the Controlled Parking Zone, or any of the changes linked to the tram). For example, it covers:

  • westbound bus gate on Links Place prohibiting entry tomotor vehicles other than buses and taxis
  • blocking off entry for motor vehicles at Tolbooth Wynd/ Water Street junction
  • making Tolbooth Wynd two way operation
  • blocking off entry for motor vehicles at Wellington Place into John’s Place
  • contraflow cycling on one way streets within the area – Water Street, Carpet Lane, Giles Street, Spier’s Place, Maritime Lane, Seaport Street.
  • restrictions on waiting and loading associated with new pavement buildouts

The Community Council finds that there are many mixed views about the LTN, particularly because of the additional traffic congestion which has resulted, especially at peak times, on the surrounding main roads. We are making a few Recommendations on the basis of the survey findings, including that the so called ‘bus gate’ be removed.

Read our Summary Report of the 2024 survey findings here.

Read quotes from the public collected at Gala Day, june 2023, here.

Leith Links in the news, next phase of Leith Connections

UPDATE

We have recently been made aware that the words of Transport and Environment Committee Convener Stephen Jenkinson quoted recently in the press about how keen he is to ‘press ahead’ with Traffic Regulation Orders for Leith Connection’ plans refers to the previous/current phase of Leith Connections (and not to the proposals discussed in the accompanying article).

He has now been made more aware of the newest proposals for the next, future, phase, and the controversy they are currently stirring up…

In a recent email to local resident Robert Drysdale, whose illustration of a potential alternative route appears below in this post, Cllr. Jenkinson said  –

“….the Hawthornvale to Seafield section is still in the design phase and…no traffic orders have yet been advertised. I can confirm that the Leith Connections project team are currently processing the feedback from the latest engagement phase and the outcomes on this will be shared in due course. The feedback received, including I’m sure yours, will help inform the way forward for this project so I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and your concerns.”

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Leith Links Community Council is in the news currently. The media has picked up the story of the proposed new cycle route from Seafield to Hawthornevale, which we objected to, in the recent consultation (along with Edinburgh Bus Users Group, Living Streets Edinburgh, and others!)

Read the 03/01/2025 Edinburgh Evening News article here.

Read the original, full LLCC response / objection here.

View the clip with LLCC input on STV News (on 7.01.25) here.

View another interview on the topic with EBUG, here, and also see here

The proposed Leith Connections scheme would run alongside the busy traffic on Seafield Road, Salamander Street, Bernard Street, Commercial Street and Lindsay Road. We think the proposed scheme is very bad for pedestrians, and for public transport users, as it means narrowed pavements, removal and relocation of bus stops, dangerous floating bus stops and removal of bus lanes. We also think that very busy and polluted arterial roadway is not a good or a safe route for cyclists!

Instead, we support an alternative route for cyclists, through the Links and the newly calmed Low Traffic Neighbourhood, as illustrated (in blue) below by local resident Robert Drysdale. After all, what was the point of closing off the roads in the Leith Low Traffic Neighbourhood in the first place, if not to provide a nice quiet and safe route for cyclists as well as for pedestrians?

Please keep yourselves informed about this scheme as it progresses, as there are still opportunities for local people to voice their opinions on the design.

 

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Cycle lane from Hawthornevale to Seafield

Leith Links Community Council has sent in a response to the consultation on the proposed changes to the road (A199) between Seafield and Hawthornevale path, incorporating a new cycleway alongside the road. We have concerns about the scheme as a whole, as it narrows one of the busiest roads in the city, and disadvantages users of public transport, while there is an existing alternative cycleway through Leith Links, which – although it needs to be improved and extended  – would keep cyclists safer. We have sent in a detailed comment addressing the whole scheme (i.e. not just commenting on small parts of the scheme as the Consultation Hub survey invites us to).

You can see our response here LLCC Response to Hawthornevale – Seafield route

The survey on the consultation hub closes today, 17th November, but comments will also be accepted by email, which may mean that you could squeeze a response into their mailbox a little past the consultation hub deadline: leithconnections@edinburgh.gov.uk

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Cycle lane from Hawthornevale to Seafield – Send in your views NOW!

If you do JUST ONE THING this weekend – please do this!

We have only until Sunday 17th November to respond to the current consultation on the proposals for a new cycle path to be built all along Seafield Street, Salamander Street, Bernard Street, Commercial Street, Lindsay Road, narrowing the road, removing or moving bus stops, removing bus lanes, and many other features such as new crossings, revamped junctions etc.

All the plans are here, in the form of very detailed drawings https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnections/supporting_documents/30197119ARCHGNZZDRHE00001to00023%20Updated%20Notes.pdf

It may be easier to make sense of them via the survey at: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnections/

You can respond with your views in two ways. Either fill in the survey at https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnections/

Or, send an email expressing your views to LeithConnections@edinburgh.gov.ukf

Or do both!

For the latest Newsletter with an overview of all the Leith Connections plans, see https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/35786/leith-connections-newsletter-october-2024

 

Major roadworks incoming…

The next phase of the Leith Connections work is about to start, so be prepared for significant disruption to pedestrians, traffic, cyclists and bus services…..

Work starts next week on Great Junction Street, and will work its way gradually down Henderson Street throughout winter, spring and summer 2025, to Sandport Bridge. At the same time, works will be taking place up from Commercial Street, Sandport Place etc.

Download a leaflet here that outlines the work.

Buses may go down Cables Wynd instead of Henderson Street.

It’s not going to be fun for road users or for pavement users, so you might want to start rethinking journey times and/or figuring out alternative routes….?

If you have concerns / problems, please email leithconnections@edinburgh.gov.uk
and copy to your Councillors:
chas.booth@edinburgh.gov.uk, adam.nols-mcvey@edinburgh.gov.uk, Cllr.katrina.faccenda@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

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