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"Spokes canal discussion document"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The canal and its towpath are succeeding in attracting more and more users. How can the pressures be accommodated?…

    The towpath is already busy, but in the next few years its use will grow even more…

    • The new Boroughmuir school will be adjacent to the towpath
    • The vacant brewery sites are already being redeveloped with flats, shops, etc – and much more is on the way
    • New accesses to the towpath are being opened up – recently for example by the new student flats at Gibson Terrace
    • The Council is planning a much-improved link to the canal (and to south Edinburgh) from the North Edinburgh network, probably via Telfer Subway

    "

    http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2014/05/spokes-canal-discussion-document

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/bid-to-end-bikes-versus-walkers-war-1-3404744

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. AKen
    Member

    Interesting article but ruined by whatever idiot decided to put a 'bikes versus walkers war' headline on it. Jornalists who come up with needlessly inflammatory headlines should be dragged out and shot - in a 'AKen versus journalists war' stylee.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Dave
    Member

    Building a new NEPN / painted car park facility vaguely parallel to the canal isn't going to divert a significant number of current canal users off it, IMO.

    Obviously a Dutch-class facility would work, but there's zero chance of the council building it, since they weren't even willing to do so on Leith Walk.

    They'd be better off spending a relatively tiny amount of money just actually improving the canal, by widening / aligning the towpath under bridges etc.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "They'd be better off spending a relatively tiny amount of money just actually improving the canal, by widening / aligning the towpath under bridges etc."

    Probably.

    There are two problems -

    'Historic monument status' which inhibits/restricts/prevents a lot of improvements.

    There is a limit to how much towpath can be widened under bridges because of boats!

    However it ought to be possible to have 'boardwalks' ahead of some bridges to produce a new bit of path with better sightlines.

    Mirrors too.

    BUT, of course, that might make 'speeding issues' worse.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    @Dave, have you read the report? I suggest you do so, as the recommendations are more sensible than your criticism suggests.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. Dave
    Member

    Yep, I read it. Lots of "enforcement to stop anyone ever parking on this proposed bit of paint" (just like QBC?) or "ideally segregated" (aspirational to the point of hopelessness?)

    As I say, if somehow a Dutch-class facility was built, great, and surely we should ask for it. But even the comparatively tiny problem of connecting the Innocent to the Meadows is noteworthy for not removing more than a couple of parking spaces. A segregated route for several miles, knocking out hundreds of parking spaces? People can't even stop themselves parking on the double yellows *on* the roundabout at Polwarth, so I'll believe it when I see it...

    @chdot, agreed on the minimum width of the canal, but there are some bridges which have obviously reduced the width of the canal in favour of the general public (at the eastern end) and many further out where the canal is at least twice as wide as required. It wouldn't be hard to fix, except politically.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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