http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-24999916
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Cauldhall opencast coal mine given green light"
(28 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
-
That'll be the Lasswade/Gladhouse/Penicuik triangle considerably more dangerous for cycling, then.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Really sad news, working near Penicuik I sometimes commute home that way, nice quiet roads and quite pretty landscapes. Will no longer be an option when this kicks off.
One truck every six minutes they say. That combined with the particulates and damage to the roads and it's really not going to be a viable route on the bike any more.
More than anything it also just seems so short sighted with our current climate change emissions targets.
I believe there's still a campaign to protest for anyone living in the area: Stop Cauldhall open castPosted 11 years ago # -
I hope they get enough money upfront to repair the site when the mining company walk away from it...
Posted 11 years ago # -
We've got to hope that planning is conditional on the mining company paying for the roads to be maintained, by which I mean annual resurfacing. You just need to look at the quarry site further up NCN1 towards Middleton to see how quickly heavy lorries destroy the roads, which would further damage any enjoyment cyclists might be able to take in the area.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Looks like this road is doomed. A real shame, as it was part of a very enjoyable 30 mile loop from Edinburgh that I regularly used to ride as I got into road cycling.
The alternative will now be a much longer section on the A6094 which will be right past the site entrance and so haunted by dumper trucks, no doubt with massive blindspots/inattentive drivers.
Posted 11 years ago # -
That's a real shame. I loved meandering round the roads in that area - I went past the quarry and the wrecked road on Sunday. I wonder even if we can't stop the mine, can there be restrictions on the routes that that lorries use. It would be such a shame to lose these beautiful roads, not to mention the wonderful wildlife that I always see.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
3.9 The development will require the loss of the farm house and associated buildings at Ankrielaw; the loss, for a specified agreed period, of the unclassified road crossing the moor from Reservoir Cottage on the A6094 to Mount Lothian; and the removal of the ancient woodland plantation south of Ankrielaw.
3.10 The applicants have committed to replacing the unclassified road at the conclusion of operations, although they have also noted that they may wish to seek a review of this requirement at that time.
3.11 All minerals would be dispatched from the site via the existing Newbigging / Shewington site entrance onto the A6094. Traffic would be routed northwards along the A6094 via the Rosewell and Bonnyrigg bypasses and the A7, to the A720 Edinburgh city bypass, and then on to the market destinations.5.24 The Council's Policy & Road Safety Manager has no objection in principle to the application but has concerns over the impact of the HGV activity that the open cast operation would generate on the existing road network, and recommends that the following conditions be applied:
1. Details of the proposed improvements to the existing site access from the A6094 should be submitted to the Council for approval.
2. The existing A6094 / Gourlaw crossroads has a poor accident record with 4 injury accidents recorded in the current 3-year period. Proposals to amend the junction and improve driver visibility are under preparation and the open cast operation should not proceed until these road safety improvements have been implemented.
3. The existing A6094 has a section of very poor horizontal alignment at the Shewington Farm junction with larger vehicles requiring to cross onto the other carriageway to negotiate the bend. Proposals to widen the road and reduce the severity of the bend are under preparation and the open cast operation should not proceed until these road safety improvements have been implemented.
4. The developer should enter into a legal agreement with the Council to cover the additional road maintenance costs which would arise due to the additional volumes of HGV traffic on the proposed haul route.
5. Although not on the proposed HGV haul route, additional site traffic may enter Rosewell to access local facilities. This will increase traffic levels on Carnethie Street and it is proposed that two raised zebra crossings be constructed on Carnethie Street, one at Rosewell Primary School and one at St Matthews RC Primary School. These pedestrian crossings would improve the road safety of children attending each school. Details of the locations and designs of the two crossings should be submitted for approval with both crossings being operational prior to the opencast site being brought into use.
6. Details of the proposed closure of the Cauldhall Moor Road (U72) should be submitted for approval. Plans should include the physical closure of the road at each end and the removal of existing road / direction signs.
7. The Council has a road safety improvement scheme to construct a public footway/cycleway on both sides of the A7 between Hardengreen roundabout and Sheriffhall roundabout. This would provide a safer walking and cycling environment, allow a review and possible reduction in the current 60mph speed limit and provide the opportunity to form bus stops for the existing bus services using the A7. As this development would increase the volume of HGV's using this route the developer should be required to enter into a S75 legal agreement with the Council to contribute to the overall cost of this scheme."
http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/3109/7b_cauldhall_moor_1300105dpp-report
More details at
Posted 11 years ago # -
Well that's a right bummer for wildlife photographers/watchers in the area, let alone cyclists. The Mount Lothian area is a wee gem for wildlife - as EddieD mentioned - most notably for the variety of birds of prey and I've spent many summer evenings strolling around there... a lovely area.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Looks like this road is doomed. A real shame, as it was part of a very enjoyable 30 mile loop from Edinburgh that I regularly used to ride as I got into road cycling.
A shame indeed. I use that route when heading south towards Broughton or Dawyck as it avoids the busy A6094 and A703, meaning that if turning right in Eddleston to head up over the Meldons, the only stint on the main road is a short section of A703. Not for much longer. Harumph.
Still, I can't complain too much as I type this on my laptop which must be powered somehow. Hopefully appropriate traffic measures will be in place on nearby roads though - I'm not a big fan of trucks thundering past on rural roads.
Posted 11 years ago # -
even more reason to push for the Peebles - Roslin path?:
http://eplanning.scotborders.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=KN2ZJBNT00800 see planning statement 20/07/09
https://planning-applications.midlothian.gov.uk/OnlinePlanning/caseFile.do?category=application&caseNo=09/00337/FUL see business case 17/08/09Posted 11 years ago # -
"even more reason to push for the Peebles - Roslin path?"
YES!!
Posted 11 years ago # -
Posted 11 years ago #
-
Does anyone know if they there is a link between Eddlestone and Portmore House, south of Mount Lothian Farm? I see there are roads up towards the Gladhouse reservour but google maps shows a break in the two roads.
It would connect the link between these two points:
Many thanks,
Dave C
Posted 11 years ago # -
The "road" from Westloch to Portmore Loch is a rough track. I am not sure of right of access either although I have walked up there. The loch is used by anglers.
Posted 11 years ago # -
The other end looks like the entrance to a house!
Posted 11 years ago # -
And looking at the sat pics - a very big house!
Posted 11 years ago # -
quote "The 'road' from Westloch to Portmore Loch is a rough track. I am not sure of right of access either although I have walked up there. The loch is used by anglers.
The other end looks like the entrance to a house, a very big house! "
Cheers Amir, this is a request for info about the Peebles to Rosslyn Thread as the person asking wondered if a route from eddlestone over the moor towards Dalkeith - perhaps picking up Route 1 might be a better route.
Oh and permission, should be imaterial as we have right to roam??
Posted 11 years ago # -
Not sure that I entirely see the point, although the excursion may be interesting to someone on a cross bike or MTB. Surely the proposal is to follow the old railway line.
As for alternatives from Roslin to Peebles, avoiding A roads, the "obvious" one is through Carrington and up over the Moorfoots to Innerleithen then along the railway line to Peebles.
Of the A roads in that area, some are definitely worse that others.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes, the route of the F2F Coast to Coast route proposed, the route we took went from Peebles to Innerleithen, and then over Moorfoots and Carrington as you have already said.
I sent the info about this new path to John Grimshaw who questioned the route ".. very contrived and fragmentated and I wonder how well it will be used?". He then asked about the alternative, I then asked about here.
I plan to try and cycle it either mtb or cyclocross and anyone here willing to accompany me would be very welcome. I need to take lots of photographs for John.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@DaveC the OS map (on StreetMap) shows tracks all the way through. Access Rights may depend on whether any of that area is designated the "garden" of any of the houses there.
(edited because url didn't get inserted properly)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Cheers Fi, I hadn't thought about this.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Nice hill fort near there
Posted 11 years ago # -
Yes I saw that. Fancy taking a ride along there sometime, one cold crispy day in winter? I have a large insulated flask. (and a hip flask)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Hah - not too cold - I've come off on the road there on black ice. My bikes are not that robust either, except for the MTB with snow tyres.
If you are going that way, you could take a nice "shortcut" past Edgelaw Reservoir. That's doable on a cross bike but not really with 25mm.
Posted 11 years ago # -
My idea is to drive most of the way and either MTB it or cyclocross. If you have a large loop we could do which takes in the route from Eddlestone to Near Dalkeith, I'd be up for it. I meant on a dry clear sky day with little wind.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"
Smith described the go-ahead given in November to a new opencast mine at Cauldhall in Midlothian as incredible. "There needs to be a national moratorium on new extraction until a new regulatory system is in place and there needs to be national action to restore the legacy of ruined landscapes created by the opencast coal industry," he argued."
Posted 11 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
