CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Post Powderhall (coming soon??)

(270 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Klaxon
  • Latest reply from Morningsider

123…9

  1. chdot
    Admin

    "So if the new plant is up and running by 2018, we could see the Powderhall line freed up after that..."

    That would seem to be logical.

    Think it needs a 'proper' campaign to highlight the benefits/opportunities and make sure some potential councillors talk about it before the May election - and CEC gets on with some design and 'how do we pay for it' work.

    Anyone in Broughton, Leith Walk, Abbeyhill, Meadowbank areas want to get things started?

    Obviously this link would be of use to many more than just 'locals', but I think a campaign that could point out some benefits to people who are probably unaware would be a good start.

    Bring it to the attention of CCs and existing councillors too.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Missing link, green corridor etc.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    It's the green slither between St. Mark’s Park and Lochend Park (and on to Meadowbank, the Velodrome and - potentially - Restalrig Rd S).

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. crowriver
    Member

    "Anyone in Broughton, Leith Walk, Abbeyhill, Meadowbank areas want to get things started?"

    I'm up for it. Might have to start a "working group" with Kaputnik. Liaise with Spokes on this too, perhaps, which will potentially get the matter raised on the Active Travel Forum?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "Might have to start a "working group" with Kaputnik."

    That would be a good start.

    See if you can get Sustrans interested too.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Given the proximity and convenience for us, I can't not volunteer!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    @kappers, can I suggest an inaugural working group meeting at the Safari Lounge sometime soon? :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. Klaxon
    Member

    Well I did write the OP so count me in too ;)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    I have PM'd both of you...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    Worth reading this thread from the start.

    More than a year ago I wrote "We need a site visit."

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. crowriver
    Member

    This thread is relevant:

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3556

    Also photos here:

    https://www.railscot.co.uk/locationnew.php?loc=Powderhall

    https://www.railscot.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=35610

    Site visit this weekend anyone? :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. robyvecchio
    Member

    Count me in too since it runs almost in my backyard. (does it exists a negative NIMBY? Please in my backyard? PIMBY?)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    Well in your new role as 'community representative' will be good experience/challenge to deal with people who don't want an access to this route near them.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    Powderhall to Porty?

    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17218737

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    @chdot think it's worth making a detour along back of the velodrome as you get the best view of the line up close at its eastern end, and it's the closest you can get to Craigentinny Junction where it joins the ECML. There's the potential here to bring access down to Marionville Avenue/Restalrig Avenue, except the obvious route for this is blocked by the car garage formed in the arch of the old bridge that took Clockmill Lane under the railway.

    This route seems to be the logical way to follow the railway as close as possible and tour most of the potential access points and to afford the best views; http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1321529389

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    @k not sure if your route is a plan for Sunday?

    No need to go all the way to Porty - my route was just to show the (mostly) off-road options this link would add.

    Might be worth extra detours to some of the housing developments existing on the rail route to see if any could easily be connected to a new path.

    Think it would be possible to get a ramp next to that garage - would be a bit like the one to Balgreen tram stop.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    "Might be worth extra detours to some of the housing developments existing on the rail route to see if any could easily be connected to a new path."

    Well Googol Streetview makes that easy from home.

    So there are some quiet streets and/or access roads/car parks which are ar the same level as the railway, presumably having been either railyards or warehouses/depots with direct connection to the rail network at some point in the past.

    Possible easily constructed access points would include:

    Dryden Gait
    Shrub Place Lane
    Dicksonfield
    Elliot Street
    Sunnyside (via one of the informal car parks either side of the Hibs Supporters' Club)
    Harrismith Place
    Albion Gardens
    Lochend butterfly/ Urbane Den development
    Abbey Lane
    Lochend Park View
    Dalgety Avenue
    Dalgety Road

    Unfortunately, further east easy access to the railway route becomes much trickier. Clockmill Lane north of London Road was closed off when they built the Meadowbank sports complex* and the adjacent Meadowbank House, though a remnant exists to take you to the velodrome. Interestingly there is talk of a route (for active travel) being opened up when Meadowbank is (eventually) redeveloped.

    Any other access points, e.g.. at the various road bridges across the railway, would require earthworks to construct suitably graded access ramps. The above are the 'easy wins' in planning speak that would be quick and cheap to implement should the railway be converted to a path.

    * As an aside, I'm constantly amazed how busy the Meadowbank sports centre car park is. Either the place is incredibly popular, or...?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. Klaxon
    Member

    Linking Allanfield Place and Elliot St would be one of the biggest wins as it for the first time ever would open up some pedestrian permeability between the north and south of the railway.

    Very likely to be objected to by the resident's association, as it would let the riff raff walk through their street.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "Well Googol Streetview makes that easy from home."

    Yes, done that.

    But some of the images are before some developments.

    Not always clear how many adjacent bits are at same level.

    But complete details for another visit.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "Very likely to be objected to by the resident's association, as it would let the riff raff walk through their street."

    Indeed, exactly why it's worth raising this now.

    Getting 'support' first.

    Local residents can decide later on if they want to be included!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  21. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Powderhall Link by andy a, on Flickr

    Map. Click to embiggen.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  22. Klaxon
    Member

    It links together so much useful stuff even if it didn't connect to the NEPN at one end.

    St Mark's Park:
    Water of Leith Path
    Playpark
    Onward links to Shore, Newhaven, Granton etc via NEPN

    Papermill Wynd:
    Quite a number of offices (including Ironside Farrar)
    That weird totally not a cult church thing
    Bus Depot

    Drydens:
    Fire station
    Huge amount of houses north and south

    Leith Walk:
    Library
    Lots of coffee shops
    I'm not going to name everything on Leith Walk ;)

    Dicksonfield/Murano Pl:
    Lots of housing. New north/south link via quiet streets.

    Allanfield:
    High density flats, new cala development

    Allanfield Place/Elliot St:
    New north/south link via quiet streets, potentially signpostable all the way to Gordon St (separate project)

    Sunnyside:
    Obvious local amenities on Easter Rd

    Crawford bridge:
    FOOTY! Currently people drive from all over Edinburgh. Potential for big bike park.

    Urban Eden:
    Would make the development less of a bubble (note. high elevation difference here)

    Lochend Pk View:
    Meadowbank Shopping, lots of Tenements
    Link through park to Restalrig Railway Path and onwards to Portobello

    Marionville:
    Taoist centre
    Sports Centre
    Easy to reach from all of Lochend

    Restalrig Rd Sth:
    Registers of Scotland + everything else in those huge offices

    Posted 8 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    Looks like we don't need a site visit...

    Posted 8 years ago #

  24. Klaxon
    Member

    Oh I was just listing sales pitch stuff. Site visits are very useful. It's much easier to spot problem areas like private land and entries that are narrower/steeper than they look on overhead maps. Even today there's loads of 'missing' ramps on the NEPN presumably too difficult or expensive to build.

    It be useful to do it in conjunction with someone who campaigned for and built the original network to get a feeling for what is achievable from day one and what might take longer.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    Easy access via Redbraes Park.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  26. neddie
    Member

    @kaputnik

    What about the branch to the South of Urbane Den - could that be connected to something?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    Should be room for a 6m path too - potential for lots of use

    Posted 8 years ago #

  28. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Oh yes I've left off the fork to Abbey Lane...

    Powderhall Link by andy a, on Flickr

    Posted 8 years ago #

  29. wingpig
    Member

    "Crawford bridge:
    [shoutball]! Currently people drive from all over Edinburgh. Potential for big bike park."

    Would need Lots of lighting and escape routes there to be/feel safe for all. Lots of scarvèd folk walk in along existing infra, sometimes after parking as far away as Leith Links. Crawford Bridge and the Restalrig path under Lochend and Restalrig roads usually have broken glass spattered there immediately following shoutball performances.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  30. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Crawford Bridge is the escape route for away support from Easter Road. The police like it as it makes it relatively straightforward to keep the home and away ends separated as far as London Road with limited numbers of tackety boots.

    When certain teams are in town they are a bit more relaxed about who wanders where. When its others they can be quite strict about making sure anyone with a certain colour of scarf heads straight for their coach on Regent Road or off to Waverley for the train and that they do not pass go, collect £200 or enter (or even hang around outside) any of the Easter Road boozers.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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