Posted by Rosie on Sheriffhall thread.
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Spokes members Cllr Claire Miller and Alison Johnstone MSP are organising a Green Party protest outside the Scottish Parliament this Monday 13 Jan at 11am. Spokes is not party-political but we support the aims of this campaign.
As part of the Edinburgh City Region Deal, the Scottish Government is providing £120m to rebuild Sheriffhall roundabout as a flyover. With the recently declared Climate Emergency, there are now growing calls for the £120m to be used for sustainable and active travel rather than to facilitate easier motor travel and thereby in-crease traffic levels (as has recently happened with the new Forth Bridge, which was intended – supposedly – not to increase traffic levels, but where traffic growth is happening).
The original plans for Sheriffhall were dreadful for walking and cycling but thanks to massive Spokes efforts (including appearing at the Scottish Parliament) the plans now include high-quality cycle/pedestrian crossings. A major problem still remains, however, as the Scottish Government is unwilling to include cycleroutes between the roundabout and important destinations, such as the Bioquarter and Midlothian towns – we call the scheme an oasis of cycling excellence in a desert of underprovision.
The campaign is fully aware that the current plans for Sheriffhall include high quality cycle facilities, and will call for high quality active travel crossings (and routes linking Midlothian, the Bioquarter and other destinations) to be provided even if the motor flyover is scrapped - costing only a fraction of the £120m.
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