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Meanwhile in Midlothian

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  1. amir
    Member

    Flat roads and Gorebridge are a rare combination. Still there are more and more ebikes.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  2. gembo
    Member

    I see a petition has erupted In Midlothian

    Posted 3 years ago #
  3. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I have been getting pelters from people for saying I supported the closures. It's motor city in Midlothian.

    Posted 3 years ago #
  4. gembo
    Member

    I noticed those Pelters on facebook but resisted saying the landslide was going to close the road.

    All sorts of nice places in Midlothian. Temple, Carrington, Fala. That have nothing. Maybe a church but no shop or pub and certainly no way to get to any facilities without driving, oh wait unless you cycle. But then you will be taking your chances.

    When the places do have pubs like Pencaitland or Roslin, the driving is worse. Then penicuick is wild with traffic and narrow road. Dalkeith also stinking, especially the Justin Lees roundabout well that is eskbank

    Posted 3 years ago #
  5. Frenchy
    Member

    The eastern end of the B7003 Roslin Glen Road will be closed from 13 September 2021 for 4 weeks. That's the section highlighted here.

    The western end will also be closed from 27 September for 2 weeks.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  6. edinburgh87
    Member

    Polton Brae (between Loanhead and Polton) closed during works on B7003 to avoid rat-running. Definitely a case for making it local access only permanently, was cycling up the Loanhead side today and it wasn't the most pleasant (and not because of the gradient).

    Tweet Here

    Posted 2 years ago #
  7. Arellcat
    Moderator

    "
    Midlothian Council invites you to take part in a consultation for the proposed A701 Relief Road and A702 Link Road. The consultation runs from Tuesday 5 October 2021 until 5pm on Tuesday 26 October 2021.

    An online consultation event will be held on:
    Tuesday 5th October 2021 – 6pm-8pm.

    Details here:
    https://www.a701reliefroad.co.uk/
    "

    Posted 2 years ago #
  8. chdot
    Admin

    Is this a new idea/alignment?

    Previously the plan was a new road parallel to the A701(?)

    Posted 2 years ago #
  9. ejstubbs
    Member

    Lamentable misuse of apostrophes in that opening paragraph.

    I don't see any plans for new roads on that web page, just existing roads highlighted. Am I failing to see a link to the actual plan?

    IMO the need for this is even less pressing than that for the Sherriffhall junction revamp, with pretty much exactly the same downsides.

    Posted 2 years ago #
  10. Frenchy
    Member

    First time in Dalkeith in a while, and noticed that the new toucan crossing at Melville Gate has finally been switched on.

    Far less praying to various deities now involved in crossing the road when headed west. Note that there's no dropped kerb on Melville Gate Road, so you're better turning right straight onto the road (I hope that made sense).

    Posted 2 years ago #
  11. Frenchy
    Member

    Pleased to see the short, but hopefully very useful, link between the Roslin/Shawfair path and Kaimes View has been built in Danderhall. Here (openstreetmap).

    Means you can get from the Roslin/Shawfair path to the Royal Infirmary without going on Old Dalkeith Road. Route involves Edmonstone Road, then a short section of shared use pavement on The Wisp to get to the toucan crossing into Little France Park.

    Edmonstone Road is busier than normal at the moment, since The Wisp is closed at the Old Dalkeith Road junction, but it's still been all right to cycle on when I've used it.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  12. urchaidh
    Member

    Excellent, saw them working on that when we were out that way in April. Via Little France is still the best (liesure) route out to Shawfair From Porty, but previously would loop back east to join up. Off piste route through field is optional.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    That’s some route.

    Is it adequately signed??

    Posted 1 year ago #
  14. urchaidh
    Member

    Is it adequately signed??

    Good question, I'm not really sure as bits of it I already knew well and other bits we made up as we went along (e.g. field excursion). Most of it is pretty obviious, apart from the cut through ant Newton Chruch.

    It's 'Quiet Route 61' between Porty and Little France, this is pretty well signed.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  15. Frenchy
    Member

    I checked what I think is the new best route through Danderhall this evening.

    There is new signage at either end of the new link, and nothing anywhere else.

    Also some missing dropped kerbs around here. Not so much of a problem for cyclists, who can follow the road round instead, but I can't see how a wheelchair user accesses the new path.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  16. Frenchy
    Member

    In Roslin, the relatively new cycle path will soon be bisected by a road. Chicanes and "Cyclists dismount" signs on the cycle path.

    https://twitter.com/two_truths/status/1534435393369677825

    Despair.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

  18. chdot
    Admin

  19. SRD
    Moderator

    hmmm....I hadn't seen that email. maybe more pressure on the university would be helpful.

    They are so hesitant about using their influence.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  20. chdot
    Admin

    “They are so hesitant about using their influence.“

    Isn’t this a case where some of the influence would be on themselves?

    Posted 1 year ago #
  21. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I don't think anyone in Midlothian Council, UoE, much less the developers, cares one bit for just how important this core path is for people in Roslin.

    It is this important: EXTREMELY.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    “It is this important: EXTREMELY“

    Agree

    How has it got to this stage?

    Posted 1 year ago #
  23. SRD
    Moderator

    Uni summary of situation:

    The University decided to sell part of our farming estate north of Roslin. It was zoned for housing in the local development plan.

    UoE took it through to outline planning permission, which was granted. This outline planning permission included consideration of how the core path/road crossing would work. However, these proposals (which placed more priority on core path users than road users) were just indicative.

    UoE then sought a development partner, which turned out to be CALA. They would then seek detailed planning permission from the council, which included a lot more detail on the development including final numbers of houses etc., and also the treatment of the core path/road crossing.

    UoE remained an interested party (we owned the land until detailed planning permission was granted). We therefore helped to facilitate consultation between the local community council and the developers, which included discussion of the core path. At this meeting we heard from CALA that Midlothian Council officers said that the proposed designs were not suitable, and provided feedback that led to the current design. This design was the one that was in the proposal that received planning consent in early 2021.

    CALA now own the land and are developing it. They have clearly reached the part with the road crossing, which is what has led this to arise this month.

    Proposed plans which council deemed 'unacceptable':

    Posted 1 year ago #
  24. chdot
    Admin

    SO

    UofE ’tried to do the right thing’

    MidL/Cala have less desirable priorities?

    ‘Real World’ says ‘too late to change’.

    Have latest SG guidelines been followed?

    If not, then?

    If so, need to be changed in line with new ‘plans’ to reduce traffic -

    https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/50872/a-route-map-to-achieve-a-20-per-cent-reduction-in-car-kms-by-2030.pdf

    Posted 1 year ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    Welcome to our new development in Roslin, Midlothian...Glenacre

    Posted 1 year ago #
  26. Frenchy
    Member

    https://www.midlothianview.com/news/sheriffhall-could-be-done-by-2028/

    Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh:

    I believe the majority of the objections have come from outside my constituency and the immediate area of Sheriffhall. There has obviously been a large orchestrated campaign against this project, and I understand that some cycling organisations have also geared up a campaign against the proposed works.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  27. chdot
    Admin

    Also

    We have put a huge emphasis on the environment, especially after COP26. However, the current proposals have been reviewed to see whether they needed to be changed to provide better facilities for active travel and public transport, and it was determined that the current design is the most appropriate. Transport Scotland further confirmed that there are extensive footway and cycleway facilities, which means that pedestrians and cyclists will not have to cross the roundabout physically.

    Is any of that true?

    Is he really saying that a bit of extra(?) AT provision ‘compensates’ for a allowing a major new road project to funnel yet more of ‘his constituents’ into Edinburgh??

    Posted 1 year ago #
  28. Morningsider
    Member

    @chdot - there was a review. However, its scope was severely limited, as described:

    Of critical importance is that the review treats the published draft road orders, compulsory purchase order and Environmental Statement (the draft consents) as limitations on the scope of any proposals.

    In effect, the review could not propose any meaningful changes. Which is exactly what it concluded:

    The review has concluded that any improvements to further enhance NMU [Non-Motorised Users] facilities to the Proposed Scheme would not be feasible as it would require significant redesign which would have an impact on adjacent land/properties, thereby resulting in the need for the republication of the draft consents.

    I don't mean to go all Scott Arthur, but the consultation carried out as part of the review involved a workshop attended by three local authorities and discussions with two bus companies. No-one representing pedestrians or cyclists were invited to take part. Perhaps they could have suggested changes that would have fitted within scheme boundaries and consents.

    This was clearly a paper exercise, offering a fig leaf of cover to Transport Scotland and obviously designed to produce a single outcome.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  29. chdot
    Admin

    Good summary/conclusion.

    The report also says “Of those invited, only representatives from MLC, CEC and SEStran were able to attend.”

    So either other LAs think ‘nothing to do with us’ or just didn’t want to be in the middle of the ongoing Ed/Mid not meeting of minds.

    In addition -

    City Region Deal Partner the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) have advised that their future public transport plans might include the extension of the tram line to Dalkeith, potentially along the A7 and through Sheriffhall Roundabout, and enquired whether the current design for the grade separation of Sheriffhall Roundabout would be able to accommodate this extension.

    How has it come to a situation where future transport options depend on CEC - which will never have the money on its own?

    What is SEStran FOR??

    ‘Obviously’ the answer to this is abandon the current Sheriffhall plans.

    But, apparently, the *only* people who think that are CYCLISTS.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin

    A report to the committee revealed that during public consultations no one route stood out and, instead, said “there was opposition to the project and any of the proposed route options”.

    However the report said the new A701 relief road and A702 spur road project would allow the continued expansion of Midlothian Science Zone and the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush as well as new housing. It added: “The A701 Corridor experiences significant traffic congestion which is likely to be exacerbated as a result of the development supported by the Midlothian Local Development Plan (MLDP).

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/ps33-million-funding-gap-on-midlothian-transport-plans-3831152

    Posted 1 year ago #

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