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CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".

IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
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It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.

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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

1. crowriver
   Member

   With the post this morning arrived a leaflet from LiDL outlining their proposal to redevelop the old vacant B&Q store into a new LiDL 'neighbourhood' store.

   There is a web site with more details and plans here: http://www.lidleasterroad.co.uk/

   Whether or not the area needs another supermarket is one issue. Also this development is likely to increase motor traffic levels in that part of Easter Road. However they at least have prominently featured in their plans bicycle parking: by contrast Tescos at the foot of Easter Road/Leith Walk has a rather improvised approach; and Sainsbury's Meadowbank has been criticised for first non-existent, then inadequate cycle parking.

   I don't know how many forumers live in the immediate area affected by these plans, but if you do you can comment on the web site above or (when the application is submitted in March) via the Edinburgh planning portal.

   Oh, and "Lidl will hold a community consultation on the 17th-20th February between 3pm – 7pm. The event will be held at the site of the former B&Q at 248 Easter Road. Members of our property team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have."

   Deliberations of Leith Central Community Council on the proposal here.

   Posted 10 years ago #

2. Arellcat
   Moderator

   St John's Church on Oxgangs Road North is also earmarked to become an Aldi. I'm sure that's exactly what the residents and the little shops nearby all want.

   Posted 10 years ago #

3. wingpig
   Member

   "I'm sure that's exactly what the residents and the little shops nearby all want."

   Two of my mum's cousins were visiting at the weekend and mentioned this, as they live out that way. They've had a bad experience with Aldi's courgettes in Berwick so weren't massively enthusiastic about these plans.

   Easter Road seems a bit close to the existing LIDL at the Kirkgate.

   Posted 10 years ago #

4. crowriver
   Member

   I'm sure that's exactly what the residents and the little shops nearby all want.

   Easter Road seems a bit close to the existing LIDL at the Kirkgate.

   On the oter hand,it could be argued that the development is useful because:

   - the area has the highest population density in Scotland
   - relatively low access to motor vehicles among residents
   - creation of employment
   - existing food retailers not that nearby

   On the latter point, while there are several small convenience/corner shop/newsagent retailers nearby, the nearest food retailer/supermarket is Scotmid further up Easter Road, then either the Tesco at the foot of Easter Road/Leith Walk or the Scotmid on Leith Walk. All the former independent butchers, fishmongers. fruit'n'veg shops at the top of Easter Road were killed off some time ago (before the recession) by the arrival of Sainsbury's Meadowbank. If the LiDL in Kirkgate is too close then arguablt the Tesco Metro on Leith Walk is too close to the bigger one at the foot.

   Tricky one. My instinct is to press for parking restrictions and more detail on access for active travel, ie. bike parking (not on the drawings yet).

   Posted 10 years ago #

5. SRD
   Moderator

   Having lived right in that area, I think crowriver gets it about right. The stuff at the foot of the walk is too far away for easy shopping on foot (although decent bus connections). We used to trek over to the sainsburys , but again, on foot not convenient and no busses that connect up.

   The B&Q there was very handy, and had excellent staff, but seeing that it has gone, I'd be thrilled with lidl opening there if I still lived there.

   Posted 10 years ago #

6. fimm
   Member

   The Lidl in Dalry has several sheffield stands right behind the trolley area. I've used them. I can't remember how well spaced they are. I can take a photo if anyone is really interested?

   Posted 10 years ago #

7. kaputnik
   Moderator

   If the LiDL in Kirkgate is too close

   I would think that Lidl and Aldi serve a common demographic and will poach customers off eachother and also Tesco, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. As Crowriver says there's not too many other local businesses for them to "put out of business" as they've already had that done to them. The Easter Road site will also I assume serve people further east towards Lochend and Restalrig

   Posted 10 years ago #

8. crowriver
   Member

   The Easter Road site will also I assume serve people further east towards Lochend and Restalrig

   There are a large number of new flats along Albion Road way that have been built in recent years. Ironically although they are very close to Meadowbank it is tricky to get to Sainsbury's from there (except by car, or possibly bike but I haven't seen many cyclists around that area).

   I would rather B&Q had stayed, it was convenient and the nearest is now at Powderhall. In its absence a LiDL will be quite handy. They sell a number of European foods that other supermarkets don't, for instance.

   Posted 10 years ago #

9. wingpig
   Member

   "...it is tricky to get to Sainsbury's from there (except by car, or possibly bike..."

   Weeeeelll...
   I was poking round there the other week and there is definitely a bridge over the railway at the back of the Lochend Butterfly/Chrysalis development, approximately mid-way between the Marionville Road bridge and the Crawford. Hazards such as Heras fencing and concealed dogturds notwithstanding (it was at night, so I didn't investigate further) it looks very much like it potentially links up with the delivery-vehicle road which disappears around the back of MeadowbankSainsbury.

   Posted 10 years ago #

10. chdot
    Admin

    "potentially links up with"

    For years I believe this was 'not possible' because Network Rail wouldn't allow access (without a bridge) over the non-existence loop that might be needed again one day.

    I believe a pragmatic agreement has been reached for a link.

    Don't know who is paying/progressing.

    Posted 10 years ago #

11. Nelly
    Member

    Cant remember if on a previous thread, but on subject of local shops being lost to Tesco/Sainsburys et al, the new Sainsburys Local is to open in March on Marchmont Road.

    Shops lost are Black Medicine Coffee and a Margiotta.

    Seems overkill in an area with lots of very good local shops and two decent CO OPs, one about a hundred yards away.

    Posted 10 years ago #

12. crowriver
    Member

    The development at the Lochend butterfly is called 'Urban Oasis'. 205 homes, a mix of 'colony style' and tower blocks at the corners. I think planning permission has been granted last year subject to some revisions.

    The only link that will actually be provided to this development is the existing bridge from Lochend. Originally it was proposed to have an entrance at the Crawford Bridge to the north west, but this has been dropped after the police raised security concerns. If you look at the master plan, 'provision' will be made for other access points to the 'cycle path' (at some future point pesumably) which is currently the disused western loop on the route to Powderhall, and a 'cycle and footbridge' to a potential future rail station at Meadowbank on the South Sub line (who knows when that might happen, if ever).

    However, the letter granting permission states:

    "The developer shall enter into a suitably worded legal agreement with the Council to fund the construction of an at-grade adoptable pedestrian/cycle link of minimum 3m width across the railway land to the west, opposite the end of Rossie Place. These links to connect to adopted pedestrian/cycle routes as shown in the approved plans."

    Now that could be great news.

    Posted 10 years ago #

13. chdot
    Admin

    "and a 'cycle and footbridge' to a potential future rail station at Meadowbank on the South Sub line (who knows when that might happen, if ever).

    Indeed.

    Since my post yesterday I've been informed that Network Rail has changed its mind about allowing a link to the shopping centre without a bridge.

    In the medium term it is still likely that the branch line to Powderhall will be replaced by a path.

    Posted 10 years ago #

14. crowriver
    Member

    Anyway, those planning permissions have been superceded/modified. The new scheme apparently contains a footbridge (with what appears to be steps) linking to the Meadowbank retail park area (north east corner). I think the entrance to Crawford Bridge may still be on the cards. Of the links to the west (cycle path, Rossie Place) the latest drawings only state "Opportunities for Long Term Connections to be formed to future cycleway and neighbouring new development" which I think is developer/architect speak for it will never happen, and even if it does we're not paying for it.

    All docs here.

    Posted 10 years ago #

15. Nelly
    Member

    Bringing this back up again - does anyone know if the bridge Wigpig spoke of a year ago is operational - even for pedestrians?

    Posted 9 years ago #

16. chdot
    Admin

    I think 'wingpig bridge' usable - problem is the need to get through a hole in the fence at the back of Sainbury's.

    Posted 9 years ago #

17. Nelly
    Member

    Ta, so not an actual official piece of infra then !!

    Posted 9 years ago #

18. wingpig
    Member

    One of the more puzzling things about those developments is where the tarmac path in Lochend Park swerves round into a stone wall a little way along from the more southerly access point from Lochend Butterfly Way.

    Posted 9 years ago #

19. Stickman
    Member

    'Wingpig bridge'

    I like the idea of naming parts of Edinburgh infrastructure after CCE members:

    Wingpig Bridge
    HankChief Chicane
    IWRATS aquaduct

    Posted 9 years ago #

20. chdot
    Admin

    "where the tarmac path in Lochend Park swerves round into a stone wall"

    I *think* the idea is that 'when the development is finished' there will be a hole put in the wall.

    Development delayed...

    Posted 9 years ago #

21. crowriver
    Member

    Oh and there seems to be a *lot* of earth moving activity going on in the Lochend Butterfly currently. I presume this stalled development is now active again.

    Also according the council planning portal LiDL have secured planning permission for their Easter Road store. When it will actually open is not clear, but the LiDL banner is still there on the old B&Q building.

    Posted 9 years ago #

22. SRD
    Moderator

    "It is understood that the company is in the process of putting together a proposal for a more 'grandiose' Easter Road scheme that could also see it expand into some adjacent light industrial buildings, currently used as a car repair garage."

    http://edinburgh.stv.tv/articles/314601-lidl-to-create-70-new-jobs-in-leith-broughton-and-craigmillar-stores/

    Posted 9 years ago #

23. SRD
    Moderator

    and on Logie Green:

    http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/logie-green-plans-still-changing-–-lidl-lidl

    Posted 9 years ago #

24. crowriver
    Member

    @SRD, A larger LiDL store would actually be an improvement in terms of the choice of goods on offer. Early 2016 opening eh?

    Posted 9 years ago #

25. wingpig
    Member

    

    Earthy movement between the Lochend Butterfly and Meadowsainsburybank.

    Posted 9 years ago #

26. chdot
    Admin

    And *when* Powderhall is shut (refuse taken to Millerhill) presumably line will no longer be needed and can (eventually!) become a path, this new development will be connected to it(?)

    Posted 9 years ago #

27. SRD
    Moderator

    "The increased space will boost parking for shoppers, from the original proposal of 27 spaces to 76."

    http://edinburgh.stv.tv/articles/1330195-lidl-releases-plans-for-new-expanded-easter-road-retail-development/

    Posted 8 years ago #

28. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The original store planes were fairly modest, serving an area poorly served by a Sainsbury's that's cut off from Easter Road by poor transport planning and a Tesco with a poor selection (but a giant car park).

    It's not an area with high car ownership levels and a budget supermarket aimed at walking/busing/cycling would certainly have fitted in well.

    I'd wager that the expanded parking is to try and lure in the "Lidl classes" on the hunt for bargain prosciutto, parmigiano and prosecco.*

    * best declare my conflict of interest here, I like their cured meats and continental cheeses... But I'm prepared to walk or cycle to get them.

    Posted 8 years ago #

29. Klaxon
    Member

    Eurgh. I did like the original plans, as you say modest. And convenient for me. But where they have large car parks a LIDL draws vehicle traffic from quite far afield and that's the last thing Easter Road needs.

    Posted 8 years ago #

30. SRD
    Moderator

    As you say, Easter rd cannot handle increased traffic, and would be most unpleasant for residents. What a shame.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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