Edinburgh: Old Town Spaces for People measures
A bit quiet for a May bank holiday weekend.
Edinburgh during the easing of restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic (tier three).
Spaces for People measures on George IV Bridge. These were installed in the Old Town of Edinburgh during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Emergency Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) were used throughout Edinburgh to provide extra room for social distancing and cycle lanes.
Although these measures claim to improve mobility, there are complaints they have done the opposite and those with disabilites have been adversely affected. The floating bus stop outside the main central library on this street, and opposite the National Library of Scotland, has been amended. The council say they are no longer installing floating bus stops (they are intrisincally dangerous - particularly for the hearing or sight impaired - and probably contrary to the Equality Act).
The internal auditors gave the implemention of the scheme a 'red' rating in August 2021 (see below). In the wake of this, and the lack of public support for the measures, traffic experts at the council are proposing rebranding Spaces for People as ‘Travelling Safely’. It is also reported the Spaces for People measures on George IV Bridge are to be 'scrapped' although the measures in other areas are to remain (16 Aug 2021).
www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-cou...
Alternative infrastructure for cyclists will be put in place - let's hope it is better designed with people with disabilities in mind.
"...council officials said because a new scheme for George IV Bridge/Forrest Road had already been approved by the committee the legal advice was an ETRO could not be used in that case."
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-c...
The city council belatedly held a consultation on the Spaces for People measures and reported this to the council’s Transport and Environment Committee on 17 June 2021. An Evening News report stated 17,600 people responded to the online public consultation which resulted in "overall opposition for a majority of the proposals except those designed to make school areas safer and less congested."
The Herald reported: "...only 38% of the public support the council’s protected cycle lanes compared to 56% who oppose them. Only 37% of people support measures along shopping streets and 35% back leisure connections." Furthermore businesses overwhelmingly oppose the policy. (Most of the businesses on this street are restaurants and have supplies delivered through their front doors.)
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/spac...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/19345936.thousands-edinburgh-...
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/spaces-people-1
In early August 2021 it emerged Edinburgh City Council's internal auditors had given the council a red rating in relation to the Spaces for people scheme. The auditor's report said there was a lack of consultation with residents and "significant and/or numerous control weaknesses were identified, in the design and/or effectiveness of the control environment and/or governance and risk management frameworks".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-58160674
The report said the specific measures were based on suggestions from a relatively small group of officers and community stakeholders and the final prioritisation decisions were based the judgment of two of the project team.
www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/spaces-for-people-edinburgh...
UNESCO World Heritage site listing: whc.unesco.org/en/list/728
Old Town Conservation Area Character Appraisal: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory-record/1099435/old-town-co...
Edinburgh: Old Town Spaces for People measures
A bit quiet for a May bank holiday weekend.
Edinburgh during the easing of restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic (tier three).
Spaces for People measures on George IV Bridge. These were installed in the Old Town of Edinburgh during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists. Emergency Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) were used throughout Edinburgh to provide extra room for social distancing and cycle lanes.
Although these measures claim to improve mobility, there are complaints they have done the opposite and those with disabilites have been adversely affected. The floating bus stop outside the main central library on this street, and opposite the National Library of Scotland, has been amended. The council say they are no longer installing floating bus stops (they are intrisincally dangerous - particularly for the hearing or sight impaired - and probably contrary to the Equality Act).
The internal auditors gave the implemention of the scheme a 'red' rating in August 2021 (see below). In the wake of this, and the lack of public support for the measures, traffic experts at the council are proposing rebranding Spaces for People as ‘Travelling Safely’. It is also reported the Spaces for People measures on George IV Bridge are to be 'scrapped' although the measures in other areas are to remain (16 Aug 2021).
www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-cou...
Alternative infrastructure for cyclists will be put in place - let's hope it is better designed with people with disabilities in mind.
"...council officials said because a new scheme for George IV Bridge/Forrest Road had already been approved by the committee the legal advice was an ETRO could not be used in that case."
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/edinburgh-c...
The city council belatedly held a consultation on the Spaces for People measures and reported this to the council’s Transport and Environment Committee on 17 June 2021. An Evening News report stated 17,600 people responded to the online public consultation which resulted in "overall opposition for a majority of the proposals except those designed to make school areas safer and less congested."
The Herald reported: "...only 38% of the public support the council’s protected cycle lanes compared to 56% who oppose them. Only 37% of people support measures along shopping streets and 35% back leisure connections." Furthermore businesses overwhelmingly oppose the policy. (Most of the businesses on this street are restaurants and have supplies delivered through their front doors.)
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/spac...
www.heraldscotland.com/news/19345936.thousands-edinburgh-...
www.edinburgh.gov.uk/spaces-people-1
In early August 2021 it emerged Edinburgh City Council's internal auditors had given the council a red rating in relation to the Spaces for people scheme. The auditor's report said there was a lack of consultation with residents and "significant and/or numerous control weaknesses were identified, in the design and/or effectiveness of the control environment and/or governance and risk management frameworks".
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-58160674
The report said the specific measures were based on suggestions from a relatively small group of officers and community stakeholders and the final prioritisation decisions were based the judgment of two of the project team.
www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/spaces-for-people-edinburgh...
UNESCO World Heritage site listing: whc.unesco.org/en/list/728
Old Town Conservation Area Character Appraisal: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory-record/1099435/old-town-co...