CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Matalan to become Lidl - Slateford Rd 15/05331/FUL

(15 posts)

  1. neddie
    Member

    Lidl have lodged a planning application to convert the former Matalan on Slateford Rd into a Lidl foodstore - CEC planning app 15/05331/FUL:

    Deadline for comments: 17th Dec (sorry about the short notice)

    https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=NY3X5ZEWJYH00

    I think there is potential here for a developer-funded foot/cycle bridge across the railway to connect the store (& Slateford Rd) to the stub end of the off-road path through the Shandon colonies. This connection would complete a (currently underused) off-road link between Fountainbridge/Dundee Tce all the way to Slateford Rd near the Maltings/Moat bar. (Approx. 1 mile of potential new off-road route).

    It would also save the people of the Shandon colonies a large detour ( >0.5 miles) around Shandon Pl & Slateford Rd, encouraging them to walk, rather than take the car on those 2 heavily congested streets. It would also be a great boost for active travel.

    If you agree, please submit an objection and make comments that the developer should provide a significant contribution towards a bridge. You can potentially object to the number of parking spaces allocated (120) versus a council maximum of 77 for a development of its size; the increase in congestion; the car-dependency etc.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "I think there is potential here for a developer-funded foot/cycle bridge across the railway to connect the store (& Slateford Rd) to the stub end of the off-road path through the Shandon colonies."

    Nice idea, but presumably you mean connecting to the single track road that is the access to the rail depot?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. chrisfl
    Member

    Is this the place point you're talking about: http://osm.org/go/evfKWiOjc-?m=

    Not actually sure how helpful it would be, from a Shandon Colonies perspective as things currently work?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Klaxon
    Member

    There's no existing link from the colonies onto the yard access road as it was historically a railway and, currently being a cul de sac, there would be no real advantage to it.

    If it was a through route at both ends, particularly the Slateford end, it may be advantageous for all residents to have link footpaths built. It would however probably need to be a council lead project with CPOs as the end terraces all have larger gardens meeting in the middle of the street.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. Chug
    Member

    It could provide a nice extension to the proposed segregated lanes on Fountainbridge. The railway path always feels like it is crying out to be used

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. Fountainbridge
    Member

    I've seen historical maps that show a bridge over the railway line linking the Meggetland bridge with Slateford Road in a straight line. I'd say that would be a more worthwhile route.

    Network Rail are very protective over that general area and will not allow any public access. Many have tried and failed, including Andrew Burns. NR have a big wedge of waste land that might be ideal for allotments etc.

    Lidls will be able to argue they're merely replacing an existing building on the same footprint. There's no net gain and as such should be exempt from any payements.

    In saying all that, here's a quick plan on creating an offroad Slateford route between Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart. 2 New bridges required over the railway.

    Capture by Paul fae Fountainbridge, on Flickr

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. neddie
    Member

    Well the Google car managed to get into the "heavily protected" Network Rail yard: https://goo.gl/maps/WTYQMVSHdAA2

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. neddie
    Member

    Also it looks easy enough to create a link to the NR access road from both Alderbank Tce and from Shandon Cres

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    I Managed to cycle along the muddy track at end of Dundee street and from there hit nice Tarmac that went on a good bit until finally big fence at railway. Had to then return to Harrison gardens. Google car maybe got in that way?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. Fountainbridge
    Member

    Interesting. Always assumed the network rail sign was a no-trespassing sign rather than a no-parking sign. Might have to go exploring.

    Links in to Alderbank Terr and Shandon Cres would have to go through peoples gardens which I can't see happening. There's also "the security of the estate will be compromised by creating a through route" (similar to Gibson Terr argument)

    Might be worth contacting local councillors Andrew Burns and Gavin Corbett as both live off Ashley Terrace somewhere (this is public info by the way)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Well the Google car managed to get into the "heavily protected" Network Rail yard

    Though the driver didn't dare go very far! I once investigated the bridge over the Suburban line for potential photographic opportunities, but I think NR has erected a more formal barrier across the route immediately before the bridge where Gembo's fence is. To be fair to NR, the road leads directy to open sidings which may or may not provide direct access onto the WCML if one was so inclined.

    But if the old Caley line to Dundee St could be made into a cycle path, perhaps involving a bridge over the chord from the Sub to Slateford Jn, and a bit of tinkering on Dundee Terrace, you could conceivably link it to the NEPN if that project ever went ahead, and you'd have a non-canal bicycle expressway all the way from Slateford to Fountainbridge to Leith. Shame though that the access at Meggategate is so horribly dangerous.

    I'd also like to see a diagonal bridge installed over the Sub to connect this hypothetical connecting route to the western end of Shandon Crescent.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. chrisfl
    Member

    There is usually a gate that is usually locked just before the bridge. Network Rail had an open afternoon for locals back in October and they had a guy in the car waiting to open the gate as we came up. Seems unlikly the google car would have been able to just drive right in.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    @chrisfl, I just cycled right in, they maybe sometimes leave gate open as they are coming back? Would have been bad if I had cycled in then they came back and shut the gate trapping me.?

    Maybe the Google car went along on a day the gate was open. How does a car get there in the first place? I was just checking where the path went from Dundee street.

    Curiously if heading to Harrison park from junction before caley brewery I cycled over the bridge for several years assuming it still had a train track underneath.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Well the Google car managed to get into the "heavily protected" Network Rail yard

    and

    Maybe the Google car went along on a day the gate was open.

    If you look back at the streetview, the gate was open as the car approached the gate (making an assumption based on the car's shadow that it was moving forwards at the time, and not reversing back up the lane!) So perhaps it was just open and they went through. I don't recall any big "keep out" signs there; chdot and I were able to freely roam big parts of the unused land of Millerhill Yard unchallenged and without passing a single sign asking us not to. We could easily have got onto the active running lines without ever passing a fence, barrier or sign to this effect.

    As to getting there, you go in from Harrison Park past the ruined Youth Club (Phoenix Club?)

    How does a car get there in the first place

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. Klaxon
    Member

    That gate breaks down not infrequently. Probably dog walker sabotage.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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