Latest news about the Easter Rd./Duke St./Lochend Rd. junction changes

Could YOU re-home an exotic plant from the roundabout?

LLCC is still awaiting confirmation of the start date of work (‘soon’) on the new junction. The latest designs have more or less sorted out most of the problems raised by LLCC and residents, with the exception of the loss of a right turn from Lochend Road into Vanburgh Place. This raises worries about development of a possible ‘rat run’ through Burns Street/ Industrial Road/the Colonies. Council has agreed to monitor traffic here and to review the situation after an initial period with the new junction in place.

Meanwhile:

  • Any residents wishing to re-home any of the Flax and Cordylines (the palm tree-like plants) from the roundabout should contact transportdesign@edinburgh.gov.uk before 19th August 2019, as these will soon become available.
    (Sadly – and we HAVE explored this –  they cannot just be replanted on the Links as the Council experts don’t think they’d thrive there, and can’t undertake to water and maintain them. Also they can’t be planted in pots as they are too big and also would need endless watering. But if any local people can take them for their garden, allotment, plot, community garden or wherever, and will commit to watering them, they are going free to a good home. Get in touch straightaway!
  • To make up for this (sort of…) the Community Parks Officer has suggested new trees at the entrance to the Links as a way of replacing the planting from the roundabout which will be removed. His vision is to introduce blocks of colour (see example images below). A cost is still to be confirmed and agreed and any trees would be planted young and so the full effect may take some time to develop but idea is for a more striking entrance to the Links through the use of colour. Your thoughts on this?
  • The Council has the idea of considering commissioning a local artist(s) to create a mural on the ground at the entrance to the Links off Vanburgh Place, similar to works created at the corner of Albert Street / Crighton Place (Leith Walk) but still needs to work out all the details and is very much just a concept at the moment. Ideas? Suggestions about possible artists and designs appreciated.
  • The existing eastbound bus stop on Vanburgh Place is going to be kept, but will be relocated into a new layby which will also include the procurement of a new bus shelter given the poor condition of the existing bus shelter.
  • During the recent site meetings/discussion with LLCC and local residents, the traffic congestion on Duke Street was raised with emphasis on the positioning of the existing bus stops (virtually opposite each other outside Tescos) being a potential cause. Lothian Buses are currently considering the positioning of the bus stops on Duke Street in a bid to reduce congestion and Council will relay their thoughts once they have carried out this exercise.

Council will provide a further update in due course  and in the meantime any questions or comments can be sent to transportdesign@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the picture for more information.