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This is a message from Spokes to emailable members known to work in health, together with members living in a wide area around and on the approaches to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. If not relevant to you, please just delete this email.
PLANNING APPLICATION FOR RELOCATION OF ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR SICK KIDS TO LITTLE FRANCE SITE
IMPORTANT DATES
*** [By 26 August] Final date for comments to the council (may be extended)
*** [By 20 August] If possible please also send or copy any comments to spokes so we can consider including them in our own submission. Please send them to peterhawk@phonecoop.coop and copy to me DaveduFeu@gmail.com.
THE PROPOSALS - PLANNING APPLICATION 11/02454/PPP
NHS Lothian has just applied for planning permission to build the new RHSC at Little France Royal Infirmary campus. You may remember that a pre-application consultation was held in Spring 2010 - we notified Spokes members such as yourself at that time. THANK YOU if you made comments then - the planning application now submitted is a big improvement!!
[In case you are interested, our 2010 circular can be found at the link in 'Other related info.']
The infamous stepped path up to Craigmillar castle is to be replaced by a proper ramped path, which will link into Edinburgh Council's recent work to connect to the Innocent railway path. Cycle parking will also be improved [we don't know whether these parking proposals are adequate in terms of quantity, design, management etc - users (i.e. you!) may have a better idea].
You may wish to comment to the council on the detail of the ramp and/or the bike parking, and to suggest any additional connections/facilities that should be provided. If possible, please also copy your points to Spokes (as above) so we can include them in the Spokes submission.
It is worth noting (and possibly quoting) the planning application's Transport Assessment (below) which states, "The development proposals aim to maintain and where possible enhance the
pedestrian, cycle and public transport linkages between the RHSC and DCN and surrounding residential catchments, as well as within the RIE site itself."
OTHER RELATED INFO...
The above Transport Assessment document contains a very useful summary of existing cycling facilities and opportunities in and to the RIE site. We'd be interested if you note any flaws in this summary.
Quite separate from this application, the council is planning to build in 2012 a bus-only road, with adjacent pedestrian/cycle route, from the RIE to Greendykes, so there is no point suggesting that to the RHSC developers.
Another connection which might be valuable (and which is not currently planned) would be a link to Queen Margaret University (which apparently runs paramedic courses). If the RHSC plan included a path to the Jack Kane Centre, that would provide much of the missing connection needed for a full link to QMU, as well as being a useful access to RIE from Newcraighall, Fort Kinnaird, etc.
For other Spokes background on earlier RIE cycling developments see...
http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/downloads/members-campaigning/edinburgh/royal-infirmary/.
VIEWING THE PLANNING APPLICATION 11/02454/PPP
On paper:
To see the (many) documents, go to the Council Offices at Waverley Court, 4 East Market St.
For more info, opening times, etc, phone: 0131 529 3550 or email: planning@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Online:
a. Go to the Council's Planning Portal
http://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/tdc_home.aspx
b. Click application search
c. Enter application reference 11/02454/PPP then click Search
d. Click to view
e. Associated Documents
f. View associated documents
g. You are now presented with a vast number of documents. We have not looked at every one, but the following are very relevant...
(i) Background paper - transport assessment (1) - very useful. See particularly pages 17-23, and figures 4 and 5 (which are near the end of the document).
(ii) Drawing 16 - public transport + cycle
(iii) Drawing 26 - proposed cycle path
HOW TO COMMENT
Online: Follow steps (a)-(d) above then click 'submit comments' near top of the page.
On paper: Write to...
Head of Planning, City Development Department
Level G3, Waverley Court
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh EH8 8BG
HEAD YOUR LETTER: 'Planning application 11/02454/PPP, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Little France'
Please if possible please also copy your comments for possible inclusion in the Spokes response. Send them to peterhawATphonecoop.coop and copy to me DaveduFeuATgmail.com.
With thanks
Dave du Feu
for Spokes
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