http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: ‘New housing development in Edinburgh could pave way for footbridge across WoL’ en Tue, 19 May 2026 09:25:35 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327&page=2#post-336309 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 21:23:31 +0000 Rosie 336309@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is a shorter version of Spokes's submission:-</p> <p>WATER OF LEITH – NEW BRIDGE POSSIBLE – PLEASE HELP BY 25 AUGUST </p> <p>The consultation for proposals to redevelop the former 'Booker' site at Longstone, near the Union Canal aqueduct, close on 25 August. Spokes, the local community council, and local councillor Gavin Corbett (a Spokes member) are arguing for the development to include a bridge over the Water of Leith.</p> <p>Due to covid, there is not the usual public drop-in. The proposals are online at inglisgreenroad.co.uk until Aug 25. This is short notice, but if you are affected do reply, supporting a new bridge. </p> <p>Spokes supports the development in general because it is high-density and on a brownfield site, with good public transport and some connections to local cycling routes.<br /> The developers have proposed a footpath between the housing and the Water of Leith but are missing a trick by not including a foot/cycling bridge over the river.</p> <p>The benefits of a bridge would be:-<br /> For residents of the new development and of Longstone:-</p> <p>• quick and easy access to the Asda supermarket;<br /> • easy access to the Water of Leith Path - excellent for recreation, for residents especially;<br /> • WoL Path also connects to walking/cycle routes to the City and beyond;<br /> • easy access to New Mart Leisure Complex, including the Corn Exchange;<br /> • beyond the Leisure Complex, Edinburgh West Retail Park offers a variety of shops;<br /> • access to a river bank, for fishing etc (the bank on the side of the development is steep, making the river itself hard to access)<br /> • a pleasanter, less polluted journey for children in Longstone who attend St Cuthberts Catholic primary in Hutchison, also a quick walk/cycle to the Redhall Star winter football training behind the Corn Exchange<br /> For residents of New Mart (the other side of the river)<br /> • direct foot/cycle access to the Sainsbury's supermarket and to whatever new outlets/employment opportunities are built on the Inglis Green Road site. They could also access the canal towpath via Redhall Park; also children from the New Mart side could attend Longstone School, directly and via quiet roads.<br /> As an alternative to the Canal Aqueduct crossing<br /> • The aqueduct has a narrow, very uneven and tricky towpath as it crosses the Water of Leith, and alternatives to this busy route have long been sought. A footbridge at 'Inglis Green Road' could provide a solution. The crossing of Inglis Green Rd at Sainsbury's leads to Redhall Park, and from there to the canal, west-bound, and to the NCN75 old rail-path to Colinton, Juniper Green and Balerno. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336303 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 17:16:46 +0000 bill 336303@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWARTS @ejstubbs @Arellcat Thank you! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336300 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 16:31:52 +0000 Cyclops 336300@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I see the BT exchange in Pitsligo Rd has finally gone as well. When I lived thereabouts 25+ years ago there was a rumour that the security services used to listen to naughty phonecalls from there. It did seem to have rather impressive security for a telephone exchange! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336298 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 16:26:13 +0000 gembo 336298@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>BT exchange opposite Akva at Gardiner Crescent still there.</p> <p>The architects have acknowledged my feedback so I expect the bridge is a flyer </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336294 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:59:47 +0000 steveo 336294@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I totally forgot that office block was there! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336293 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:51:19 +0000 Arellcat 336293@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I am sure someone here knows what that was!</em></p> <p>BT office and computer centre, built in 1967, vacated in 1995 or so, demolished in 2014.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/cRTebs"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/8435/7784427802_de5f1357f8.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="https://flic.kr/p/cRTebs">Craiglockhart House - North Lodge</a></p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/o228gs"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5594/14451384948_1fab847495.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="https://flic.kr/p/o228gs">Build 'em up, knock 'em down</a></p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/oivys4"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3875/14637996735_8488158b98.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="https://flic.kr/p/oivys4">New view</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336292 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:41:05 +0000 gembo 336292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That iron engineer was the original Handy Andy (true fact I made up) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336291 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:18:48 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stuffduct could usefully be shortened to duct or 'duct for those who want to imagine a prefix without enunciating it. Good work. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336290 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:03:11 +0000 ejstubbs 336290@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS: <em>I think that was a BT office attached to a telephone exchange.</em></p> <p>I concur.</p> <p>I remember way back when I took Fred the Shred's shilling, RBS once having a "meeting without biscuits" with BT when the leased lines they ran their CHAPS service on, and for which they paid a handsome sum to have diversely routed, both failed when that exchange suffered a fairly serious fire. BT's excuse that they were routed through different floors of the exchange did not impress...</p> <p><em>Omniduct? Multiduct? Terraquaduct? Throw me a bone woncha?</em></p> <p>I propose "Stuffduct": a structure that carries stuff of unspecified nature across a void.</p> <p>I believe that Scottish Canals officially refer to it as "The Slateford Aqueduct". But what do they know?</p> <p>No doubt referred to by some as "that Victorian monstrosity*", despite the fact that it was opened some 15 years before Alexandrina Victoria ascended to the throne.</p> <p><em>* As also used to describe the Great Northern Railway's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friar_Gate_Bridge#/media/File:Friargate_Railway_Bridge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_356839.jpg">bridge over Friar Gate in Derby</a>: an (IMO) elegant, pleasingly decorated cast iron bridge designed by Edinburgh's own Andrew Handyside to be sympathetic to the surrounding Georgian architecture, although the local residents were apparently unimpressed. When I was living in Derby in the 1970s some people were still agitating to have it demolished - the railway having closed in 1964 - until it was Grade II listed in 1974.</p> <p>See also: the man who told his son that the Angel of the North was a "bloody great eyesore" as we passed Gateshead on the train once long ago. Each to his own, I suppose.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336289 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:53:34 +0000 neddie 336289@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>Today</strong> is the deadline for comments.</p> <p>Please submit them here: <a href="https://inglisgreenroad.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">https://inglisgreenroad.co.uk/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336288 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:45:44 +0000 chdot 336288@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Your search - amphibiduct - did not match any documents.</p> <p>“ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336284 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:37:28 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336284@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@bill</p> <p>I think that was a BT office attached to a telephone exchange. I feel old just typing that. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336283 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:37:08 +0000 gembo 336283@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Bill,oh yes, remember that office block. Student flats down at the Blue Goose and over the river at the Skip Hire place. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336281 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:33:11 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336281@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Moving dedication to the drowned youth. Very Victorian. Wobbly under tyre.</p> <p>That Wade bridge almost three hunner year al and still bearing traffic the like of which was ne'er in the compass of its designers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336280 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:32:14 +0000 bill 336280@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mildly off-topic:<br /> Was looking through the old Google Street View of the area recently and I was wondering what was in this building behind the Landrover shop:</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jzyppS"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50262881076_d9f7533702_w.jpg"></a><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2jzyppS">A70</a> by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147968794@N07/">Bill Harriman</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>This is from Oct 2008.</p> <p>Google Street View claims it was still there in May 2014 (though with broken windows) but not in May 2015. </p> <p>I am sure someone here knows what that was!</p> <p>I presume the new housing development will be at the site of the car shop, as it was demolished recently(?). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336279 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:23:06 +0000 gembo 336279@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Moving and wobbly?</p> <p>Generally Wade more sturdy?</p> <p>Interesting philosophical point @neddie</p> <p>This side of the river. Sainsbury’s - wide open aisles, no punters, not enjoyable but at least bearable</p> <p>Over the river Asda, crammed, rammed and very terrible </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336278 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:20:06 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The bridge over the river Tarf was moving and wobbly. Old Bridge of Tilt is a Wade bridge and you know how I feel about them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336277 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:57:13 +0000 neddie 336277@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>The Booker site is already over the river</blockquote></p> <p>That depends on what side of the river you're on to start with! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336275 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:55:50 +0000 neddie 336275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It seems sensible to have a new bridge, not least to allow residents of the new housing to directly access ASDA / Corn Exhange without enduring the wrath of carmaggedon and the narrow pavements of Slateford Rd </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336274 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:54:47 +0000 gembo 336274@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Booker site is already over the river so the houses they build would not require a bridge. </p> <p>The developers are merely floating the concept to try to help their planning permission like Sainsbury’s did?? Any of the big fallen trees would sweep bridge away.</p> <p>I would use the bridge and access the canal on skinny tyres rather than aqueMULTIduct</p> <p>But agree if just for me then a bit much. Who knew CCE didnt like bridges?</p> <p>I loved the one over the Tarff up Glen Tilt. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336273 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:52:20 +0000 neddie 336273@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>If you want to get from the new housing to the canal, using only left-hand turns and step-free access, there's a route for that</blockquote></p> <p>What about the blind and dangerous right hand turn into Meggetgate? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336272 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:40:18 +0000 Arellcat 336272@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No need for a bridge.</p> <p>If you want to get from the new housing to the canal, using only left-hand turns and step-free access, there's a route for that:</p> <p><a href="http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=831340" rel="nofollow">http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=831340</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336269 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:11:10 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336269@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Omniduct? Multiduct? Terraquaduct? Throw me a bone woncha? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336267 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:02:41 +0000 gembo 336267@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS I am happy with that but Stubbs might come back at you maybe suggesting you made that up? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336265 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:00:50 +0000 I were right about that saddle 336265@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo</p> <p>As it carries both water and land traffic, it is in fact an amphibiduct but I'll let that pass in my usual spirit of generosity and tolerance. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336263 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:58:31 +0000 gembo 336263@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@EJStubbs - does carry Traffic over water so could be a viaduct of sorts but I agree with you it is an aqueduct.</p> <p>I voted for the other bridge. It has been suggested before but not built I think when Band Q went and Sainsbury’s was built.</p> <p>Say you were afraid of heights or falling in the canal and were coming round the back of the jail and wanted up on to canal, you could use this magic bridge then go up through the park and onto towpath avoiding steps or aqueduct.</p> <p>Seems quite a bit of engineering for this. I predict it will not happen but I asked them to build it anyway. Agree also 40 grand is cheap.</p> <p>THere is a passenger and bike ferry over the Thames at Shepperton/East Mosley - you ring bell and ferry person comes over and picks you up. You can then have an argument about Gordon Brown with the landlord of the Kings Head who you have wound up merely by asking for ginger beer (he bought 24 cans, they were past sell by and he flung them out, next day I arrived by ferry). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336262 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:56:16 +0000 CycleAlex 336262@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>£40,000 for a bridge seems a bit... optimistic? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336261 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:51:08 +0000 ejstubbs 336261@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"...cyclists would have more options to cross the river instead of having to use the canal path over the viaduct which is rather narrow and cyclists are told to dismount but they often don’t so there are conflicts on that."</p> <p>Ahem: there is <em>already</em> a substantial pedestrian and vehicle bridge over the WoL at Longstone, with bus lanes that cyclists can use, and that doesn't currently tempt <u>anyone</u> away from the towpath.</p> <p>The <strong>aqueduct</strong> (not "viaduct") also crosses Inglis Green Road, as well as the WoL. The current junction of that road with Redhall Drive - which is where you'd likely end up if you come off the towpath at the bridge over the Lanark Road looking to cross the WoL at Longstone - is pretty poorly timed for any traffic coming from that direction so if it's going to become a useful active travel route that would need to be addressed IMO. (IIRC Kilncroft Side, which is the way you get from Redhall Park to Redhall Drive, is also not ideal as a shared use route so might need some work too.)</p> <p>In any case, a bridge over the WoL at river bank level is no help <em>at all</em> for folks who actually want to proceed towards town on the towpath, or anyone coming out of town that way. In both cases it would mean negotiating the steps on the other side of the river to get access to/from the towpath. The other alternative would be to join the Lanark Road outside the WoL visitor centre and negotiate the not very pleasant junctions at Craiglockhart Avenue and Allan Park Road before rejoining the towpath by the water main bridge* (or the reverse if heading out of town).</p> <p>Maybe with additional cash made available for proper cycling infrastructure that whole Longstone schmozzle could be sorted out but, on its own, a footbridge over the WoL from the old Booker cash &amp; carry site would contribute nothing of any great value.</p> <p>Basically, as an additional justification for said footbridge the aqueduct conflict argument is a non-starter IMO.</p> <p><em>* aka the last remnant of the tramway which was built from Slateford station to the site of Redford Barracks to carry materials for the construction of same.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336260 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:49:23 +0000 neddie 336260@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lonstone CC and Cllr Ashley Graczyk on the case as well</p> <p><blockquote>[A new footbridge] Could join up the quiet road cycle routes from Gorgie all the way through Hutchison/Chesser, through Redhall Park onto the Union Canal or over to Hailes Quarry Park. Reduce cycle pressure on aqueduct</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/Longstone_CC/status/1297575553059389441?s=20" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/Longstone_CC/status/1297575553059389441?s=20</a></p> <p>Note that I don't think the developers are proposing a footbridge. <strong>We</strong> need to campaign for one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20327#post-336259 Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:46:27 +0000 neddie 336259@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Submit your comments here: </p> <p><a href="https://inglisgreenroad.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">https://inglisgreenroad.co.uk/</a> </p>