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"City chiefs float ambitious plan to create 'canal quarter'"
(15 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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interesting. as a resident, my first question is 'will it include an access point from Yeaman place to the canal path'. In many ways it would be great to see sympathetic development down here, but the implications of more users will really need to be managed. It can already be pretty busy and crowded at times, both on water and on the canal path (and cyclists are often inconsiderate of elderly walkers and small children).
Posted 14 years ago # -
A young guy smacked into me on the canal path, he was coming out of the first bridge after you leave the 'little venice' area. He knew I was there as I had rung my bell and was slowing down. For some reason I was very calm and asked him, 'Are you in a bit of a hurry?' he said 'sorry, I am actually, and I've no brakes'. I find brakes work better than trailing your foot along the ground myself or smashing into things to stop yourself?
Given the canal path is a shared path, why would anyone cycle as if they are trying to beat their Personal Best? I know if you aren't using your foot to slow yourself and have purchased some nifty disc brakes then you can stop on a sixpence but the old dears don't know that and the kids, well they are just random.
Another guy came tanking passed me on the Aqueduct at Slateford, I was stopped and leaning on the fence as I had just let another guy passed me. Unfortunately, they both then collided with each other. The tanking guy then unfortunately fell in the canal, as did his bike. He then even more unfortunately swam across to the other side (avoiding swallowing the water). This of course meant he was going to have to get back in the water to get back to his slowly disappearing bike. I would have stayed to help but I had a PB to beat out to Linlithgow. I did ask a barge to go back and provide boathook to get bike out. THe day before I was castigated by a young man for cycling on the acqueduct path (he was quite right, tho I find I take up less room cycling it than getting off and pushing). The fact that the young guy was drinking buckfast from a large open bottle was I think irrelevant.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"The tanking guy then unfortunately fell in the canal, as did his bike."
shouldn't "unfortunately" be in quotes...
Posted 14 years ago # -
well it was unfortunate for him. What I couldn't work out was why he had forgotten there was a guy just in front of him (the guy who had come passed me). Apart from into the water, there were no other exits/entrances. If the barge had been slightly slower he might have landed in it. It was action packed that afternoon on the aqueduct. There is a huge sign saying Cyclists Dismount but we all ignore that. I have a very vague memory of when I first started cycling on the towpath that there used to be a requirement to obtain a permit to so do. Maybe this was like the big Cyclists Dismount sign - ignored. There was also the incredible guy who cycled backwards from Edinburgh to Glasgow on the canal. Quite brave actually, but I believe he had his daughter with him which would have been essential at the other end as arriving at Possilpark in Glasgow even cycling forwards requires you to have your wits about you.
Posted 14 years ago # -
At one time they wouldn't even let you have a permit for the Union Canal towpath - because it was 'too narrow'...
http://cyclingedinburgh.info/2006/09/13/permits-no-longer-required-for-scottish-canals
Posted 14 years ago # -
I collided with an idiot under the bridges at Meggetland where the mini Tesco is. He had no bell and apparently no desire to let me through after I rang mine, it gets very narrow on the exit on the West side and sadly my brakes were in need of fixing that day...
Posted 14 years ago # -
@SRD
"interesting. as a resident, my first question is 'will it include an access point from Yeaman place to the canal path'."
Posted 14 years ago # -
"£1bn plan to turn old brewery site into capital’s new cultural quarter"
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A huge derelict site in the centre of Edinburgh could be transformed into a new billion-pound student and cultural quarter under plans that would also see a hub for the performing arts and creative industries.
The former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery at Fountainbridge, which has lain empty for five years, is to be turned into a 13-acre canal district community with 900 student flats, 760 houses or flats for non students, a 250-bedroom hotel, offices, shops, food and drink outlets and sport and leisure facilities.
It would also have a large open public space, possibly for outdoor performances, with plans for an iconic building with performing arts facilities alongside Union Canal already considered for the site.
"
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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Demolition is well underway at Fountainbridge. The bottling / distribution plant to the west of Viewforth is completely flatenned. The central segment between Viewforth and Leamington Bridge is largely gone also.
I suppose the chimney will be next. Sigh.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Kaputnik/Cyclingmollie, seeing as how you're the CCE chimney experts, can you tell us if/when the thing might come down? One ought to observe such a spectacle.
Posted 12 years ago # -
You know I've no idea. I wonder if you bring down a metal chimbley differently to a brick / concrete 'un. I mean it's not going to be Fred Dibnah kamikaze style.
chdot will appreciate the lack of so much as a fluorescent vest.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Oh yes please! I'd love to see these if they're being blown up.
Posted 12 years ago # -
'Venice' images floated to spark ex-brewery deal
http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/39Venice39-images-floated-to-spark.6807782.jp
Posted 12 years ago #
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