@jdanielp - Absolution has been sought...
Robert
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Leamington Lift Bridge
(87 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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@Roibeard excellent :)
Posted 6 years ago # -
went over it this mornink
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yesterday -
Contributed
Posted 6 years ago # -
Edinburgh's Canal Champion Gavin Corbett yesterday posted on Facebook that the lift bridge "will be closed to all pedestrians and cyclists on the morning of Wednesday 26 September for a heritage assessment. Scottish Canals' Head of Engineering, Peter Robinson, will be on site on the morning of 26th of September 9.30-10.30am to discuss issues re bridge." He was also of the belief that it should be open again following its closure for windy conditions on Wednesday, yet it still remains closed.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It's quite enraging that the bridge has been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair. About a year ago, I had to wait while it was raised to let a barge through. The squealing it made was pretty horrendous. No working piece of machinery should sound so distressed.
I feel like something nefarious has happened regarding money. Otherwise why no fundraising or publicity that the bridge needs help BEFORE it became so bad. it's all a bit too cloudy.
The route around the basin isn't fit for purpose. I don't even like walking my bike over those setts.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Trixie indeed. If the cobbles east of the lift bridge were in a fair state of repair I wouldn't be concerned about the diversion. As it is, I prefer to avoid them.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I have had my suspicions about Scottish Canals previously when I repeatedly reported broken glass and broken tiles (which were white, so quite impossible to miss) on the towpath around Wester Hailes. Each time I was told that the team had been out to clear the path, yet nothing was cleared for several weeks. If a team was sent out it was clearly incompetent; if not, they either have a complete lack of internal communciation and/or were blatantly lying to me. I no longer bother reporting anything to them directly, instead communicating with Gavin Corbett who usually gets things done quite effectively.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“Gavin Corbett who usually gets things done quite effectively“
Good to know.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Interestingly @chdot's contributed photo from a couple of days ago is a b&w photocopy of the original colour notice that I photo'd on 1st September. So the story hasn't actually changed following 'assessment'.
@trixie, yes, I heard the squealing last year and it was painful; it should have been highly obvious that it needed to be looked at then.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hmmm. I went over it just after lunchtime. If it was closed it was closed very subtly
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hmmm. I went over it just after lunchtime. If it was closed it was closed very subtly
??? So.... if I'm picking you up right.... it's open then???
There was no doubting the 'closedness' of it a couple of days ago - done properly and securely.
Posted 6 years ago # -
It was open for me heading home.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Bit late adding this but yes, it was open yesterday. Proving to be somewhat unpredictable...
Posted 6 years ago # -
On a vaguely geographically related note, does anyone know what the empty rectangle of barriers blocking most of the path at Fountainbridge Quay is for? Been there for weeks, even months with no obvious purpose.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@DrAfternoon - Was asked about earlier in this thread I think (or a parallel one) - it's a fault in the new surfacing that emerged in the heat - raised blocks etc. Look closely when you pass.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“
However, The Scotsman has learned these do not include repairs to Leamington lift bridge, near the east end of the Union Canal in Edinburgh, which has been closed for months.
“
Posted 6 years ago # -
Sustrans are providing £350k of funding to repair the bridge: https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/news/christmas-comes-early-for-leamington-lift-bridge/
Includes provision of "alternative pedestrian access" during works.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Erm...
I like the lift bridge, I used to live near it. I also remember when it used to be open for cars, which probably did it no good whatsoever.
But a "vital part of the National Cycle Network"? No. Minorly inconvenient if closed. Short road/pavement detour.
I really don't see why Sustrans should be putting up 350k to repairing its boat transit function. That's squarely Scottish Canals' remit. SC may be boracic lint (not entirely convinced myself) but it's Sustrans funding which could otherwise be spent on, y'know, an actual cycling project.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I'd sooner they spent that money sorting out the hell-setts between there and Akva. That would be of more benefit to more people.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I've always been uncomfortable with Sustrans being both a charity and 98% funded by government.
It's a handy bridge right enough, but that's a lot of money.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Burnshot bridge is also applying to Sustrans for funding...
If in doubt get funding from Sustrans
Posted 5 years ago # -
I don't want to sound like a Stalinist but could there not be a plan for public infrastructure and an associated budget?
What is it with bridges applying to charities?
Posted 5 years ago # -
And why did they leave it so long that it needed a £350k repair?
If they'd spent maybe £10k a year on maintaining it, it wouldn't have got so broken and so expensive to fix.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@neddie I think it had an expensive repair to reactivate the lift function as part of the Millenium project to restore the canal to navigability, so worrying that it requires such expense again. If Scottish Canals/canal boat users want a bridge that lifts, they need to have a plan to pay for it.
What's Scottish Canals plan for the next repair in 2035, or (likely) sooner? Pick Sustrans' pockets again?
Posted 5 years ago # -
"Millenium projects aren't just for the Millenium."
Since the British Waterways Board Transfer Scheme 2012 removed responsibility for assets in England and Wales, thus making The British Waterways Board Scottish-only, and since Scottish Canals is simply the trading name for the BWB, they are FOIable, by way of BWB being listed in the FOISA 2002 as a public authority. A less charitable individual might ask the pertinent questions as to why a charitable organisation was stumping up to such a degree.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I don't want to sound like a Stalinist but could there not be a plan for public infrastructure and an associated budget?
Sidney and Beatrice Webb's The Story of King's Highway outlines the history of erratic road building - turnpikes run by committees and hit-and-miss required labour.
S&B Webb became notoriously attracted to Stalinism because they saw the USSR as a rational, planned society.
They were horribly wrong but I can see how they got to that point.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Rosie
Interesting book. I'm pretty sure we could plan transport networks without having death camps. Secret police we probably need.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@IWRATS - 5 year plan for a glorious cycle network!
Posted 5 years ago # -
Please describe your " Short road/pavement detour." Murun; I can't see one myself.
Posted 5 years ago #
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