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Post Powderhall (coming soon??)

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

  1. chdot
    Admin

  2. crowriver
    Member

    ---
    The new stadium will echo the existing footprint of the current structure and is a “like for like replacement in terms of building mass and position”.
    ---

    Well that's just a bare faced lie.

    I hear the sound of steamrollers operating, much like Picardy Place...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  3. crowriver
    Member

    Apparently there was a public consultation event on the future of Powderhall depot and the bowling greens this afternoon, 3-7pm at Broughton Primary. I'm guessing only Broughton Parent Council members turned up, as it was scarcely publicised (one tweet from Broughton Spurtle at midday mentioned it). Seems there was also a "community" consultation yesterday, 2-6pm at McDonald Road Library. Did anyone other than selected invitees hear about that?

    Seems there will also be consultation events in August, but these will be about an "Architectural model and work-in progress". Whereas today's and yesterday's events were supposedly for local people to help "shape the vision" for the site.

    All this information and status update of the Powderhall site is here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/powderhall/

    No online consultation though. You have to go to an event, if you can find out about it beforehand. Hm, another CEC "consultation" held in nearly secret conditions.....I wonder why?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  4. neddie
    Member

    Now an online survey at the link below:

    https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/powderhall/

    Closes 16 Jul 2018

    Posted 6 years ago #
  5. gembo
    Member

    Submitted a response. It is all blank boxes but I could think of some words.

    e.g. (sorry about the double questions, not me, the cooncil to blame)

    4 Tell us your thoughts on places to live....
    Tell us your thoughts on places to live....:
    Nice use of multi-media in the consultation which shows just how nice Powderhall can be as an area now the industrialisation is over. Old pictures of the area
    show many heavy industrial factories/smog
    Streets & Open Space and Movement
    5 Tell us your thoughts for places to meet and gather and how you get around the area.....
    Tell us your thoughts for places to meet and gather and how you get around the area.....:
    Good idea to maximise segregated on street cycle lanes to join the residential areas to the North Edinburgh Path Network
    Work & Economy
    6 Tell us your thoughts for places to work......
    Tell us your thoughts for places to work......:
    Essential to any regeneration
    Opportunities, ideas and possibilities........
    7 Tell us what is great about Powderhall and share ideas you have for future opportunities and possibilities.....
    Tell us what is great about Powderhall and share ideas you have for future opportunities and possibilities..... Add text area:
    Well connected cycle paths - rurual suburban feel.
    Constraints, problems and challenges
    8 Please share any information you may have about any challenges and constraints about Powderhall and the site......
    Please share any information you may have about any challenges and constraints about Powderhall and the site......:
    Would it be feasible to close the road in front of the school and reroute traffic round the back of the school, like they do at Sciennes? E.g. at school opening times,
    play times etc??
    This would make the idea of new nursery on the bowling green an even more compelling idea.
    Any other comments?
    9 Is there anything else you feel that you would like to comment on?
    Is there anything else you feel that you would like to comment on?:
    Nil

    Posted 6 years ago #
  6. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Public Review and Workshop’, Community events - 28 and 29 August 2018;

    28th August between 2-6pm at McDonald Road Library (Nelson Hall)

    29th August 2018 between 4 - 7 pm at Drummond High School

    Collective Architecture will illustrate previous 'Tell us about Powderhall' consultation summaries. We will use physical model to explore building forms and uses for public discussion. Public comments will be recorded and fed back to the design and client team.

    http://www.ntbcc.org.uk/powderhall-consultation-ntbcc-thoughts-and-next-events/

    Posted 6 years ago #
  7. neddie
    Member

    Powderhall drop-ins Aug 28 & 29

    https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/powderhall/

    Thanks for your input into the 'Tell us About Powderhall' public survey. We will be holding further consultations events on the 28th and 29th August to present the findings of the public surveys and to further discuss ideas and opportunities for the project. Please come along, your contribution is welcomed.

    ’Public Review and Workshop’, Community events - 28th and 29th August 2018;

    28th August between 2-6pm at McDonald Road Library (Nelson Hall) & 29th August 2018 between 4 - 7 pm at Drummond High School

    Posted 6 years ago #
  8. crowriver
    Member

    Really interesting programme on BBC4 this evening "The Secret Life Of Landfill', which takes place at the Dunbar landfill site. Of course, waste no longer arriving by train from Powderhall, but in big container lorries instead...

    Catch it on the iPlayer, maybe you'll see something you chucked out on screen, coming back to haunt you.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  9. neddie
    Member

    Last chance today:

    Powderhall drop-ins

    https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/powderhall/

    28th August between 2-6pm at McDonald Road Library (Nelson Hall) & 29th August 2018 between 4 - 7 pm at Drummond High School

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. crowriver
    Member

    Alas could not make it today as have kids to look after. Ironic that I complained about consultation opportunities but then didn't make it to any events. Will see if there's an online thing...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. crowriver
    Member

    The Powderhall waster transfer site consultation is still open online until 31 December.

    Meanwhile in other news, Leith Central Community Council discussed Powderhall and the potential railway path in their October meeting. See below an extract from the minutes of the recent Leith Central Community Council meeting, held on Monday 15 October at 7:00pm. There are some interesting snippets of information regarding the progress, for lack of it, towards a railway path, and possible legal obstacles. (N.B.: I sincerely hope the date of expiry for DB Cargo’s contract with Network Rail is a typo, otherwise we shall have a very long wait indeed!).

    6 Parks & Green Spaces

    i. Situation

    H Tobermann noted that this line links only to the FRTS and so has been unused for at least 2 years. However, whenever any work takes place here, there must be observers to warn workers of the (non-existent) trains. Also, this asset is being wasted – it could become a path. Hence CEC has set up a Powderhall Railway Group, which has found it difficult to contact Network Rail (NR). HT found earlier that NR has a contract with DB Cargo until 2119. Hence HT contacted DB Cargo, who declined to disengage from the contract and hence enable the line to be repurposed. Hence item ii below

    ii. to agree: to seek LCCC representation on the Powderhall Railway Group

    In related news, this went (almost) unnoticed in the September business bulletin of the North East Locality committee (my bold):

    ---

    Motion by Councillor Staniforth – Powderhall Railway Path

    At its meeting on 19 February 2018, the Committee approved a motion by Councillor Staniforth requesting a feasibility study be undertaken regarding opening the Powderhall Railway Path as a walking and cycling route, with an update to be provided in September 2018.

    An officer working group has been established to progress the various aspects of this project, including undertaking a feasibility study. The group are meeting regularly and initial discussions have been held with Sustrans.

    The group has contacted Network Rail and is seeking to establish an agreed scope for a feasibility study, which is critical

    North East Locality Committee – 4 September 2018 Page 2 of 4

    if the study is to proceed. This has not yet been achieved and it is anticipated that agreement may still take some time. Unfortunately it will only be possible to provide a scope and timeline for a feasibility study once discussions with Network Rail are at a more advanced stage.
    An update meeting with the Powderhall Railway Group is being arranged.

    It is proposed to report back to the Committee once sufficient progress has been made in establishing the scope and brief for the Feasibility Study, or in any case by March 2019.

    ---

    An officer from CEC has indeed been in touch with the Powderhall Path Working Group with a view to a meeting. More news when there is some...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. acsimpson
    Member

    Should we know what LCCC is? Google suggests various county cricket clubs.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. Frenchy
    Member

    I presume it's Leith Central Community Cooncil.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. acsimpson
    Member

    Thanks.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    Should be a nice autumn ‘escape from the city’.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. crowriver
    Member

    @acsimpson, it's literally in the second sentence of my post. But hey, who ever reads these things anyway?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. acsimpson
    Member

    Read? I just look at the pictures.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. chdot
    Admin

    “I just look at the pictures.”

    Very wise.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. crowriver
    Member

    Three members of the Powderhall Path Working Group, accompanied by Harald Tobermann, Vice-Chair of Leith Central Community Council today met with Council officers at Waverley Court to discuss the potential Powderhall Railway Path.

    The meeting was constructive and covered quite a lot of the issues we have been looking at over the past two years. However as we’ve been aware for some time, the real stumbling block is Network Rail who own the railway line. Unless and until a deal is concluded with the Council to transfer ownership and management of the line over to them, there will be little practical progress. As we were also aware, Network Rail may want to retain the option of running trains via the Abbeyhill Loop line.

    We managed to convince officials to undertake a scoping study to look into factors such as land ownership; the contract with DB Cargo/Network Rail (see previous post on LCCC minutes); the work package required to undertake a full survey of the line (and structures such as bridges, retaining walls); and the proposed feasibility study. The scoping study, unlike a full feasibility study, would not require permission from Network Rail for track access, does not need major expenditure on surveyors and consultants, and could be completed relatively quickly.

    We also suggested that officers look at implementation in phases. This could mean that even if Network Rail decide they require the Abbeyhill Loop for future capacity expansion at Waverley station, the unused trackbed from Powderhall could potentially be converted to a path running as far as Lochend Butterfly/Lochend Park to the east, and Norton Park to the north.

    We have agreed to meet with officers again in February when they will update us on progress, and we will have the opportunity to comment on any proposals, prior to them reporting to the North East Localities Committee in March.

    So, still a long way to go but some small progress.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    Well done.

    What about the current/future plans for Meadowbank & Powderhall depot?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  21. crowriver
    Member

    Consultation still open on Powderhall site.

    There were some officers from Housing there. The Powderhall and Meadowbank sites were touched upon. I think the main points were just to "future-proof" any development so potential access points to a future path would be safeguarded, rather than high walls built, etc. (see Lochend Butterfly).

    Separately after the meeting proper I tried to convince the same officers to make Meadowbank housing car-free. Powderhall trickier as not much public transport but then it is right next to the NEPN.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  22. wingpig
    Member

    The white-topped mushroom building has been getting dismantled this week:

    IMG_20190322_173344526 by wingpig, on Flickr

    IMG_20190322_173428807 by wingpig, on Flickr

    https://youtu.be/IYqedzcbuJw

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=IYqedzcbuJw&app=desktop

    Posted 5 years ago #
  23. crowriver
    Member

    An update on this long-running saga.

    CEC has obtained funding for a feasibility study into turning the Powderhall railway line into an "active travel corridor".

    https://powderhallpath.wordpress.com/2019/10/11/sustrans-fund-powderhall-railway-path-feasibility-study/

    Posted 5 years ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

    Out to tender

    The City of Edinburgh Council requires professional services design support for the following two projects within its Active Travel Investment Programme: (1) Powderhall Railway Path (2) Dundee Street and Fountainbridge Cycleways Project. Please see attached documents for further information.
    CPV: 71530000, 71530000, 71530000.

    https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC374371

    Maybe ’we’ should put in a bid!

    III.1.2) Economic and financial standing

    List and brief description of selection criteria:

    Tenderers are required to have the following minimum “general” annual turnovers for the last two financial years:

    - Lot 1: Powderhall Railway Path: 60,000 GBP

    - Lot 2: Dundee Street/Fountainbridge Cycleway: 48,000 GBP

    Where a Tenderer does not have an annual turnover of this value, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition or may apply discretion seeking supporting evidence to determine the Tenderer’s suitability to proceed in the competition

    (My bold)

    https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC374371

    Posted 4 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, has welcomed a response from Edinburgh Council which confirmed officials they are carrying out a feasibility study for the proposal

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outdoors/green-corridor-call-for-powderhall-railway-line-3148968

    Posted 3 years ago #
  26. crowriver
    Member

    Good on Mr Briggs for raising the issue, presumably on behalf of a constituent.

    I haven't given an update here on the project because the feasibility study has been "ongoing" for a year. The first lockdown caused delays initially, and further restrictions may have prolonged these. However AFAIAA there's no report from the Council on any progress having been made on this.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  27. crowriver
    Member

    So if you ask me when will residents of Abbeyhill, Meadowbank, Hillside, Leith Walk and Pilrig get to enjoy riding a bike or taking stroll on the Powderhall green corridor, I refer the honourable gentleman to the remark I made some moments ago, i.e.

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Video Plugins

    Posted 3 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

  29. Dave
    Member

    I spent nine years commuting by bike to a job in Leith and would have got a lot of use out of the Powderhall path, but the article seems to miss the point.

    Spaces for People has delivered 40km of segregated cycling on some of the busiest, highest demand routes across Edinburgh. Powderhall would be 1.5 to 2km and basically saves people going from the north of the city towards Arthur's seat from having to cross Leith Walk / Easter Road.

    Acquiring the land and delivering a path would take another 5-10 years if the council went full steam, so yeah... glad they are focusing on Spaces for People really!

    Posted 3 years ago #
  30. Dave
    Member

    A bit rich for the Tories to spend all their effort whipping up bad blood and trying their damnedest to delay Spaces for People and then start running articles complaining that the difficulty delivering Spaces for People means the council has dropped the ball on other cycling projects that they also don't really support..

    Posted 3 years ago #

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