CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Polwarth roundabout row/scandal

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    Something kicked off on Twitter yesterday (no surprise) by a CCEer (no surprise) with others joining in (no surprise).

    “
    Hard to believe that the council rebuilt the Polwarth roundabout without putting people ahead of traffic. It's almost an exact replica of what was there before with new railings. We could have had space outside Florentin & Margiotta?

    “

    https://x.com/laidbackbikes/status/1799789044764991718

    In short, CEC fixed a bad road layout and public space by doing things that have resulted in little change.

    No surprise there.

    BUT

    This is after a lot of work by local people (through Merchiston Community Council) and a considerable amount of local consultation resulting In some good, innovative and practical suggestions.

    Full report - https://merchistoncc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/POLWARTH-PAVEMENT-PROJECT-Roundabout-FINAL-REPORT-updated-March-2024.pdf

    More info - https://merchistoncc.org.uk/projects/the-polwarth-pavement-project/

    It seems that CEC just (in practice) ignored/rejected it all.

    (No doubt ‘there’s no money’ was mentioned.)

    It’s no wonder campaigners give up (not just cycle ones).

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Great work by @MerchistonCC and PAS volunteers to gather views from the local community about safety and amenity near Polwarth roundabout. You can have your say by completing the survey – find out more at http://merchistoncc.org.uk/polwarth-roundabout-have-your-say/

    “

    https://x.com/pas_tweets/status/1591806256632983553?

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    For those who don't know, this route is well used not just by bus and bike but also very busy with kids to local schools and bigger kids to universities. there is also a sheltered accommodation just before the roundabout and a high proportion of elderly residents.

    A councillor could have taken this on as a big flag project - supporting the local community and showing how community councils can be effective.

    It would be interesting to know why that hasn't happened. I suspect part of it is the individuals and that this is a rather marginal bit of the ward. The tory councillor comes across as pro-car and she didn't reply when I emailed about another issues. Labour councillor not on social media and I've had rather dismissive replies to emails or no reply at all. Green and Lib Dem at least answer emails.

    It probably doesn't help that some of the issues I raise are just outside the ward, but affect those of us in the ward. eg the dalton's scrapyard redevelopment canal access, Kings junction etc.

    But this is also a classic case of 'local demands' perhaps conflicting with the great god traffic flow. The proposals are not anti-car in any sense, BUT, they do suggest cars not being able to run from Dundee St up Yeaman place, and then turn right onto Merchiston Ave.

    I can only assume that someone in the transport department said that this rat run is absolutely essential and cannot be limited at all. Even though it is precisely these vehicles which make it very dangerous to children and other vulnerable users. [vehicles often exit Merchiston Ave aggressively, because the sightlines are terrible if heading north ).

    Posted 1 year ago #

  4. neddie
    Member

    Isn't this because the council agreed to "resurface roads back to the way they were" and to suspend the previously agreed requirement to incorporate active travel improvements when resurfacing?

    Purportedly to speed up "fiX thE pOthoLEs"...

    A win for the Tories / LibDems - well done them for holding the city back in the 20th C !!!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    @neddie yes. That seems to have been why they said they couldn't consider any alternatives.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Crazy

    Posted 1 year ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Merchiston Community Council have published a report on Polwarth Roundabout which it has taken a year to produce with funding from the council.

    The community council has produced a report on the mini roundabout declaring that it is unsafe for pavement users and cyclists.

    “

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2023/08/polwarth-roundabout-community-council-makes-recommendations/

    Posted 1 year ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    Trying to find the exchanges where we all said "what do you mean you're updating it to exactly the same layout as before?".

    Can't find that. But is interesting (but not surprising) to see that the only councillor who promoted the local consultation was the Green councillor. [Scott Arthur tweeted the report after it was completed].

    Posted 1 year ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Nice to see @CllrScottArthur promoting this report. But can he explain why the roundabout has instead undergone months of work to reinstate it in exactly the same layout?

    “

    https://x.com/srdorman/status/1800123929681678448

    Expect he’s too busy trying to become an MP to respond…

    Posted 1 year ago #

  10. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    The rat running though Yeaman Place and Merchiston Ave doesn’t just ruin Polwarth but the stream of turning traffic both ways makes Dundee St and Merchiston Cres/Place a more dangerous place for active travellers.

    A pox on this lousy council.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Yes @MerchistonCC was very disappointed that the resurfacing works made no concessions to the fantastic work they did on the 'roundabout project'. @Edinburgh_CC seems to have no way to reward real community-driven placemaking initiatives?

    “

    https://x.com/dvrh9/status/1800144864790839435

    Posted 1 year ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    “

    So much money spent, so little achieved

    “

    https://merchistoncc.org.uk/whats-happening-to-the-pavements-in-polwarth-an-update-on-the-polwarth-pavements-project-and-the-councils-work-along-polwarth-gardens/

    Posted 1 year ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Apologies to be late to the thread -- yes, several ward Cllrs very disappointed with this (and it wasn't for want of trying). The Local Traffic Improvement programme is the way to push on now -- we've had the project specifically listed, but awaiting further info ...

    “

    https://x.com/cllrbenparker/status/1801274695439810568?

    Posted 1 year ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    https://merchistoncc.org.uk/community-council-recommends-design-option-1-for-enhanced-pedestrian-safety-at-redesigned-polwarth-junction/

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

  15. SRD
    Moderator

    AS a local resident, I'd be grateful if you all completed this. It should make it better for cyclists and pedestrians.

    but I'd be grateful if you also asked them to consider the knock-on impact on neighbouring streets.

    1. the recent increase in vans using temple Park Crescent as a short cut seems like to increase after this change, since drivers will see it as a way of avoiding a right hand turn. I'd like to see good data collected on vehicles travelling the length of Temple Park, and calming measures (preferably permeable access).

    2. the long standing issue of vehicles turning left at the junction followed by a right up Merchiston Ave. This is a major issue for local people, but also for anyone cycling up or down Merchiston Ave. Also can make for dangerous encounters for cyclists moving from Gilmore Place to Polwarth Gardens. And especially bad for school children trying to cross Merchiston ave. t he narrowed road entrance and raised table is an improvement, but not sufficient.

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

  16. neddie
    Member

    I’m so angry they haven’t done anything to address rat-running

    That, and the other local missed opportunities, like failure to widen pavements and do placemaking at Leamington Tce, and now Whitehouse Loan.

    Plus the ramps at the junction of Leamington are too shallow to have any effect (as at Sauchiebank on the Roseburn extension)

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

  17. ejstubbs
    Member

    @SRD: For clarity, in your point 2 I assume you mean Gilmore Place, not Gilmore Park. Is that correct?

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

  18. SRD
    Moderator

    yes! apologies. now corrected.

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

  19. bakky
    Member

    Fun factoid; me and a pal did the current MCC logo (and formerly, website)

    Posted 3 weeks ago #

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