CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

What's it like living on Easter Road? (Also Lochend Butterfly to Meadowbank)

(56 posts)
  • Started 7 years ago by rob_88_rover
  • Latest reply from Nelly

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  1. Nelly
    Member

  2. Nelly
    Member

    "Dear Mr Nelly,

    In response to concerns raised by members of the community about receiving short notice regarding the closure of the link path to Moray Park Terrace for essential works, I can confirm that we have agreed to delay closure until later this month to allow you to make alternative arrangements if required. Once plans are finalised, the exact dates the route will be closed will be shown on noticeboards which will be erected at either end of the walkway. The path will re-open after three days.

    We also draw your attention to construction work taking place in the new year which will again result in closure of the path. We are working together with City of Edinburgh Council to establish measures we must comply with to ensure public safety throughout the construction phase. We will be able to provide you with full details of what to expect as soon as this programme is agreed.

    We understand that the footpath is a very convenient route for residents and, ideally, we would like to be in position to offer an equally suitable access link. A new link to Crawford Bridge could provide an alternative route, regrettably the delay in bringing this forward has been outwith our control. We will have been working closely with City of Edinburgh Council and Network Rail to try to resolve this prior to the commencement of phase 1, and we will continue to do so.

    We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the essential closure of the footpath, and going forward we will keep you fully informed of plans affecting your access routes using the site noticeboards.

    Yours sincerely

    Stephen Mason
    Quality Manager"

    Posted 6 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    “A new link to Crawford Bridge could provide an alternative route, regrettably the delay in bringing this forward has been outwith our control.“

    Unless I’m misunderstanding the geography, this would in no sense be an alternative.

    However would be interesting to know if this is a new new link or the completion of one ‘through’ a recently completed block - which it’s been suggested would be “residents only’.

    (Think details on Powderhall thread.)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  4. neddie
    Member

    Perhaps if they'd just written on the sign that the path would only be shut for 3 days, nobody would've bothered them...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  5. wingpig
    Member

    "Unless I’m misunderstanding the geography, this would in no sense be an alternative."

    Presuuuumably they mean linking reasonably directly along the Sainsbury side, perhaps using the large/wide track visible parallel to the trackbed from the Sainsburymost parapet of the Easter Road end of Crawford Bridge. That would still avoid Marionville. London or Easter Roads, but would involve an extra and yet-non-existent route up past the new "Downing" student shoeboxes off Bothwell Street. It would almost be convoluted enough to qualify for NCN designation.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  6. Nelly
    Member

    "Unless I’m misunderstanding the geography, this would in no sense be an alternative"

    Unless alternative meant completely different route which would take people onto Easter Road and not London Road..........

    "It would almost be convoluted enough to qualify for NCN designation"

    Agreed - although IIRC there was some chat that the Urban Eden people would do some kind of link to the Crawford Bridge to save the longish walk round to Easter Road - but thats an entirely different route to the Saisburys cutthrough.

    I believe that the original plans also make ped and cycle provision at some stage into Rossie Place, which (assuming all the links stay open) would be useful in cutting out (part of the) crappy Easter Road cycle for some commutes.

    What irritates about this entire situation is that, provision of the ped/cycle route to Moray Place (sainsburys end) is actually in the contract of sale for the land to the developers (well done council), but the current path is temporary, pretty badly drained and lit - and it feels like it will be the last thing to be built properly in the development, and as evidenced in this situation, not something prioritised by the builders.

    If it were a road..........

    Posted 6 years ago #
  7. crowriver
    Member

    "I believe that the original plans also make ped and cycle provision at some stage into Rossie Place"

    Scuppered by EGIP railway work I believe (EGIP was itself "re-scoped" ie. cut).

    Maybe get back to them asking for a re-opening date as they've neatly dodged that question...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

    Went to the Butterfly yesterday.

    Found a well used, unplanned for(?) desire line.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  9. Nelly
    Member

    In answer to my question re length of closure (he said this one would be 3 days, I queried next one)

    "We are trying to minimise this as much as possible, however there could be a much longer duration of closure when we begin major construction work next to the path early in the year. We are looking at all options to keep this closure as short as possible, however I cannot confirm exactly how long this will be at this stage"

    Magic.....

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The signs have been taped off to hide the dates, and small paper notices pasted alongside.

    The imminent 3-day closure has been postponed because of volume of concerns raised and the inadequate (<1 week) notice given. Another, longer, closure is expected next year. Working with council, health and safety, blah blah but nothing about trying to make sure a route is maintained here.

    The access on to the Crawford Bridge was an odd thing to raise given a/ it still results in a very long detour to get to London Road or Sainsburys and b/ according to the site manager that chdot and I spoke to it was always intended to be "part of phase 2" to actually make the connection and c/ anyone with half a basic understanding of structural engineering can see that if they cut a slot on the bridge to provide access to the Urbane Den then they fundamentally compromise the structural integrity of it.

    I note also that Lochend Park (one of the alternative routes to Sainsburys or London Road) from the Albion Road side of the bridge) has no lighting at night, the lamp posts in it having long ceased to function. I'll email the local councillors on this.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. Nelly
    Member

    Did the 3 day closure actually happen then?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. Nelly
    Member

    Just had an email from PfP

    Good Morning Mr Craig

    UPDATE ON FOOTPATH

    It is our intention to keep everyone informed with updated signs at the footpath regarding any new information we have.

    Closure of the footpath will take place, we expect in all 2-3 months, however it remains our aim to provide a temporary access next to the footpath in order to prevent any inconvenience.

    This temporary route will remain in place until we can re-open the walkway, following completion of the adjacent construction works.

    Your Sincerely

    Sounds like whatever works they are doing, that some temporary footpath (perhaps the current, litter strewn mess?) will remain.

    Perhaps a victory for common sense (after, no doubt a lot of emailing by residents and councillors)?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    Closure of the footpath will take place, we expect in all 2-3 months, however it remains our aim to provide a temporary access next to the footpath in order to prevent any inconvenience

    Seems odd that the path will be needed for development but there is room next to it for maintaining a route.

    Hope it happens.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  14. Nelly
    Member

    "Hope it happens" Indeed. I only use it occasionally, but would be a real PITA for residents at the butterfly.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. chdot
    Admin

    Bank of Scotland research states homes in the Easter Road area are priced the most expensive compared to property close to the 11 other Scottish top flight grounds.

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/hibs-edge-hearts-as-prices-soar-for-homes-near-scottish-grounds-1-4777964

    Posted 5 years ago #
  16. Nelly
    Member

    Such a silly article, just a cut and paste advert for BoS really.

    Its perhaps not surprising that Hibs abd Hearts are "top of this league" as they are located slap in the middle of prime residential areas close to the city centre.

    St Johnstone (Perth) relocated a number of years ago to a farmers field on the bypass so their data has little value, and Aberdeen stadium is on the beach........

    Was a bit surorised at the drop in average values near Celtic Park, as this was a very depressed area with a lot of poor quality council housing.

    That all changed recently as the Commonwealth games village etc went up in that area. Perhaps those are shared ownership / public mix which might explain the lower values over the last decade???

    Anyway, I meant to post a couple of weeks back that the temporary footpath is still open and showing no sign of being closed despite the work going on around it. Perhaps the builders have found a way for pedestrians to coexist with their project?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  17. wingpig
    Member

    2018-08-27_08-56-29 by wingpig, on Flickr

    This is why there need not be any footpath closures:

    2018-08-27_07-06-05 by wingpig, on Flickr

    Posted 5 years ago #
  18. Nelly
    Member

    @wingpig - yes I saw that on Saturday, incomplete as yet but looks like they are putting in place an improved temporary path - great news !

    Posted 5 years ago #
  19. wingpig
    Member

    Temporary path now active. There's a sign at the Sainsbury end saying "cyclists please temporarily dismount" and probably one at the other end which I didn't spot.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    Why is dismounting ‘necessary’?

    Is new path narrower than old one (which wasn’t particularly wide)?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  21. wingpig
    Member

    New path constant width, no narrower than narrowest parts of old path. No detectable wobble on the temporary path's supporting structure; perhaps a little give under the surface.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  22. wingpig
    Member


    Signs both ends. Two at this end.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  23. chdot
    Admin

    Is anyone going to contact Places for People and say “please be courteous” is good, but no reason why it should only apply to cyclists.

    “Please dismount” is counterproductive as someone pushing a bike takes up more room.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  24. Nelly
    Member

    Agree entirely re the width of mounted v unmounted bike.

    Have not seen the new path "live" as yet, however I would guess the issue is the right angle turn at Sainsburys end with poor sightline of any approaching pedestrians etc.

    They are probably just covering themselves in the event of any collisions.

    I imagine a few days use will determine if people actually feel the need to dismount.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    “I imagine a few days use will determine if people actually feel the need to dismount.”

    That’s fine, but it will ‘justify’ lots of (unnecessary) ‘you're suppose get off’.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  26. Nelly
    Member

    That’s fine, but it will ‘justify’ lots of (unnecessary) ‘you're suppose get off’.

    If previous experience anything to go by, the sign will last days, if that

    Posted 5 years ago #

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