http://www.edinburghsgardendistrict.co.uk/charrette.html
"The masterplan will embrace the principles of 'Designing Streets' and the pedestrian and cyclist will have priority over the car."
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"we will be conducting the Edinburgh Garden District Charrette"
(58 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Interesting that the "garden district" is formed around the backbone of the M8 and the A720 City Bypass. One hopes this will be a stimulus to provide walking and cycling links bridging these 2 barriers
Posted 13 years ago # -
Believe it when you see it?
The implementation might just be, we'll let cyclists ride on any pavements they like.
The noises sound good though. Making things impermeable to cars but easy to cycle through is the way to go.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Believe it when you see it?"
Indeed.
It could be utopian optimism or PR cynicism - or some muddle in the middle.
(Murray plans to make money.)
Whichever way, not sure I'd fancy living next to the airport. Maybe the expection is that flying will soon become too expensive??
As of yesterday there is even more 'development potential' in the area.
http://news.scotsman.com/defence-cuts/Defence-review-Army-headquarters-has.6589984.jp
Perhaps there will finally be a path and routes along the Almond.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Whichever way, not sure I'd fancy living next to the airport."
But it's not all that close to the airport. Living next to the A720 and M8 would be a much greater concern for me. They'll have to do some fairly serious sound screening.
It's not entirely clear from their arty maps which bits will be homes. The yellow bits?I'd hoped that the bypass could constrain the ever expanding city so I'm not sure I like this whole concept.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I received this paper copy through my door. My partner was telling me about the Charette. looked at the paper, it is clearly just David Murray utilising the land he owns beyond the bypass. The foreign word is supposed to put you off the scent. No good can come of this.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I'd hoped that the bypass could constrain the ever expanding city so I'm not sure I like this whole concept."
"The foreign word is supposed to put you off the scent. No good can come of this."
We live in a culture and political climate where economic activity and 'development' and 'vital'. This has always gone on to some extent. Edinburgh's own New Town must have been very much the 'shock of the new'.
This afternoon's public sector job cuts will be 'replaced by the private sector'. Is that before or after it replaces other jobs in the private sector that fall out from the imminent spending cuts??
Such things mean that there is even more pressure on planning authorities to approve plans that will 'create jobs'. Governments (Westminster and Holyrood) seem inclined to speed up planning processes and disadvantage objectors.
Whether this development proceeds, is more likely to depend on whether it can be financed rather than its merits.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Fred Goodwin would never have stood for this encroaching on his country club at Gogar!
Posted 13 years ago # -
"But it's not all that close to the airport."
True.
For some reason I thought it was next to RBS. This site seems to 'involve' the canal.
I see that the person doing transport, Claire Carr, has Fort Kinnaird as a "current project".
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hmm. Sticking it next to the canal and reasonably close to the train and installing a transport spine is all very well but it'll still be temptingly close to two massive roads for people who are tempted by that sort of thing or to whom the excuses come easy.
Posted 13 years ago # -
oof:
Posted 13 years ago # -
"temptingly close to two massive roads for people who are tempted by that sort of thing or to whom the excuses come easy"
'We' all know that cycling could be a big part in the 'transport' mix' for schemes like this, (with the right infrastructure/encouragement), those who propose, masterplan and approve usually don't 'understand'/believe it.
Posted 13 years ago # -
reasonably close to the train
Like the new town planned for Blindwells, which claims "rail connections" through the fact that the ECML passes the boundary of the site, there aren't actually any easily accessible (by foot) stations in either.
The station at Edinburgh Park involes getting past the Bypass - and it's currently hardly a bike or pedestrian friendly route. The detour along the canal will double, even triple the distance.
The new station at Gogar involves getting past the A8 and/or bypass.Posted 13 years ago # -
"The station at Edinburgh Park involes getting past the Bypass - and it's currently hardly a bike or pedestrian friendly route."
YES
This should have been sorted when (before) RBS was built.
I suspect it could even have come out of the 'planning gain' money they would have paid towards infrastructure.
Clearly not a priority for CEC.
Posted 13 years ago # -
oof:
I observe a number of things;
* no tram depot
* no SCA corrugated cardboard factory at Maybury
* large parts of East Craigs and Corstorphine are being obliterated and returned to natureand does anyone remember "Arcologies" from Sim City 2000? Seems the Calder Roundabout is getting one!
The "transport plan" (picture) has no new crossings over the M8 - meaning there's really only 2 routes between the northern and southern halves (Gogar Station Road and Hermiston House Road). It appears that the "orbital bus route" (whatever that may be - 34? 45?) is passing under the bypass in roughly the location of the tunnel to nowhere that has featured in previous photos.
I also wonder what's going to happen to the smelly battery farms. Working at South Gyle, this place regularly STINKS, particularly on colder and stiller days and.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I also wonder what's going to happen to the smelly battery farms"
Ah yes, I think you've hit on the best objection yet!
Posted 13 years ago # -
Council unveils vision for world-class business hub in west of Edinburgh
There's no picture to go with the article, but in the paper version there's an artist's impression of what looks like the current business park with an MTB moving so fast through the crowds of happy people walking down the wide boulevards that it's been drawn in blurred
Posted 13 years ago # -
First comment on that story
"
Oh yeah. Nirvana.So many visions. So much empty space to fill. Now here's another.
But where will all the people and businesses come from?
"
Full list -
"The new blueprint, Delivering Capital Growth, envisages west Edinburgh as one of four key areas of growth potential, the others being the city centre, including Princes Street, the waterfront areas of Leith, Newhaven and Granton, and the south-east of the city, including the bio-quarter area near Edinburgh Royal Infirmary."
So, is this a fourth 'wish list' or is it more likely to happen because developers have already bought the land? More 'green belt' than the others too.
Oh and will they build the cycle paths first?
Posted 13 years ago # -
This'll be controversial...
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Murray39s-vision-sees-Hearts-share.6598848.jp
Posted 13 years ago # -
The land belongs to Sir David. I believe his empire is waning somewhat!? so this might be a 'dreamshot in the arm for them'!
Posted 13 years ago # -
It amuses / bemuses me in equal amounts that this is being seriously put forward like there is some sort of shortage of mixed housing / office / coffee shop / wine bar developments in Edinburgh at the moment. Inside the city limits (i.e. A720) there's volumes of brand new office and retail space lieing empty and large tracts of brownfield sites at Fountainbridge, Caltongate, Quartermile, Sprinside, Granton, Leith Docks etc. sitting and waiting for their similarly grandiose development schemes to ever get going or, where they have got going, for anyone to actually buy one of them. How serious this is I don't know, Murray could just trying to boost the value of his own silage fields and battery farms before he flogs the land on at a profit.
I do like the hot air balloon touch though :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"It amuses / bemuses me in equal amounts"
Me too.
There was a time when I would have got much more annoyed and even done something.
I was part of the action that 'saved' parts of Tollcross and the South Side from greater encroachment of the University and the ERI, and various road schemes.
It's hard to say how much difference the various protests made and how much it was down to a generally change of mood about the 'purpose' of cities. Or perhaps neither just 'economics' - land ownership and the money to be made.
Of course 'civic pride' (aka vanity) comes into it. Large institutions and companies are somehow more important than tenements with people in.
Things like motorways on stilts through The Meadows, (really - though before my time), were signs of a 'modern city'.
Edinburgh could have been like Glasgow... The closest it got was the completion of the St. James Centre.
This city was supposed to have a major road alongside The Pleasance under the Royal Mile and through Calton Hill.
It never got beyond 'a line on a map', but it was close. Fortunately a bunch of politicians put a stop to it and certain officials were paid off to retire early.
Posted 13 years ago # -
kaputnik: "and does anyone remember "Arcologies" from Sim City 2000? Seems the Calder Roundabout is getting one!" I eaned all four Arcologies in that game. Happy memories. It should be part of town planning training - teach them to recognise that "god-like" feeling and then avoid it for the rest of their professional lives.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Seems the Calder Roundabout is getting one!"
Photos please.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago # -
an 11 year old Kaputnik spent many happy months (years) playing SC2K. I liked how when you clicked on libraries, there was a button that said "ruminate" and it would give you some random, llama-inspired thought for the day.
Posted 13 years ago # -
ah Sim City, the original mac verson on the first colour macs saw me squander my breaks and lunches at school...
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Sim City, the original mac version"
Yeah we had that (and maybe an update or two). Was quite educational - factoring in various 'what ifs' - like 'build x houses here and you'll need another power station/sewage works etc. and the city taxes will be...'
I presume there's an Edinburgh developers' version which says 'let us build on the Green Belt, we'll add a football stadium (everyone will arrive by tram). You will provide all the infrastructure for free because we are building something iconic and world class which will enhance your city. As it will all be 'out of town' we expect low taxes. Also if you don't play ball, we'll take our ball to Glasgow (or anywhere else in the world that is desperate enough for inward investment that they'll pay us to come)'.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd rather they got out of the town tbh would mean using Gorgie/Dalry through the winter was less hassle also would much rather they moved instead of knocking down Tynecastle school (it must be listed)
Posted 13 years ago #
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