CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Cheers chdot. The bingo hall stands in sheds on the site of the old Foundry. This shed is in the photo I have in the book at home. I can only assume then that Gardners Cres was built after the map was produced.
Edit: I stand corrected, Gardners Cresent used to end hal way up before it reached Fountain Bridge. Great link chDot.
@chdot @DaveC - DaveC you are right there's a drawbridge marked on map above too, with the footbridge in the correct position as the current location. The 1:2500 maps I consulted don't have this information.
There is also a lift bridge on Semple Street. And a missing street called Semple Court. And the current site of Scottish Windows was a "Lard and Tallow Manufacturey" in 1894.
The book I have and can lend you, also stated the bridge was moved from its original location to where it stands now. Perhaps the original was not as substancial? or was removed and then replaced later with the one which stands there now?
Oh great. More obstructions aimed at frustrating cyclists. Why?
So are they actually closing off the flat bridge bit completely as a through route (they can't have someone on the gate the whole time) and just having the steps over?
On a National Cycle Route?
Right, did we get to the bottom of who is actually responsible for the bridge to find out exactly what and why?
Perhaps the intention of the gates is to only close the route when the bridge is open.
According to the Council's list of public roads the bridge is privately owned and maintained by British Waterways. Details under the Gilmore Park entry at:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/1108/list_of_public_roads_d-k
You can contact British Waterways at:
Perhaps but its an awfully big gate to just be left swinging. Can't imagine "they'd" want people going up the stairs, only a matter of time before some one slips and sues them. If it was only a pedestrian gate why is it so big...
"Perhaps the intention of the gates is to only close the route when the bridge is open."
That was the impression I got from what the blokey was saying to the couple as I approached and that they were only closed and taped-off whilst the paint dried (as they weren't there this morning when I went through on the way in).
To the above email address;
I cycle across Leamington Lift Bridge across the Union Canal at Gilmore Park in Edinburgh each day. You may be aware that this is the path of a number of signed cycle routes, including the National Route 75 and some other local routes.
There is some concern amongst cyclists about the new barriers and gates that have been put across the bridge.
I wonder if you can confirm if the purpose of the gate is only to be closed when the bridge is raised.
As there are already bollars to stop cars getting across the bridge, I wonder if you can confirm what the logic is of restricting the width of the bridge to cycling and pedestrian traffic by 2/3 is - as this appears to be a deliberate attempt to create a pinch point where one is not neccessary. Instead of there being plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the bridge, it is now significantly restricted to bridge users making conflict of use much more likely. This seems a very short sighted decision on part of British Waterways, particularly when it is on a signed cycle route and where there is currently not a problem - unlike the narrower sections of canal further along the canal.
P.S. no I didn't proof read my own email. Didn't think that BW really deserved it. If they can't be bothered to think through their plans, I can't be bothered to proof read my emails.
Email sent a little earlier:
"Dear Sirs
The Leamington Lift Bridge on the Union Canal in Edinburgh has, in the last few days, gained some new barriers. It’s unclear at the moment whether the barriers are to remain permanently closed, with the canal then only able to be crossed by the narrow steps on the bridge, or if they will be open, with a much narrower opening to the bridge.
In the former case this makes the bridge impossible for disabled or infirm pedestrians to use; in the latter (which I’m presuming is the case as this would be more logical) a bottleneck has been artificially created, placing pedestrians in a narrower place alongside cyclists, as this is a signed National Cycle Network route. There are currently ‘Cyclists Please Dismount’ signs which look temporary, but I would be grateful if you could confirm if this is to be a permanent feature. Obviously such notices can only be purely advisory, and have no legal force, therefore the pedestrian/cyclist conflict may remain. And frankly it remains the case that on a signed cycle route a requirement for cyclists to dismount is depressingly typical.
Any information on the intended future layout would be most welcome, and I look forward to your response.
Regards
Anthony Robson"
"Dear Mr Robson,
Thank you for your email. I have forwarded it to the relevant regional office who will look into the matter further and be in contact.
You can contact the local office directly on enquiries.scotland@britishwaterways.co.uk
Warm regards"
Dear British Waterways Scotland,
As a frequent user of the towpath of the Union Canal in Edinburgh, I noted last week the recent installation of new fencing across the road crossing of the Leamington Lift Bridge, with provision for swing gates. I understand that this may be to replace the chains formerly strung across the access when the bridge is in operation and thus improve safety, especially for children.
However, it is a surprisingly bold development because the permanent fences on both sides of the bridge occupy roughly two-thirds of the width, which has immediately created a high risk of conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge is known to be a very popular route between Fountainbridge and Viewforth for everyone on foot and on bicycle, and it was already closed to motor vehicles.
From the recently published 'The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy' (as made available from:
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/198/planning-long_term_and_area_policies/1094/edinburgh_canal_strategy ) I read on page 17 under the 'Canal User Management Strategy' project that an objective was the "development of signage and traffic calming measures such as chicanes, speed bumps and other hard measure where appropriate."
On page 37, in the section 'The Canal Hubs - Lochrin Basin' there is an objective to "improve links to existing cycle networks", and on page 41 in the Delivery Plan, City of Edinburgh Council and British Waterways Scotland would "investigate and implement access requirements with stakeholders to improve accessibility onto the canal from main thoroughfares including potential new bridges across the canal."
From these I'm concerned that the works at the Leamington Lift Bridge have fallen rather short of the objectives to improve access. Indeed, the bridge in its earlier bollarded form was particularly good! As a frequent user of the bridge I am therefore a stakeholder, and I was not aware of any planning proposals.
I would like to ask why the new fences were installed in such a manner as to obstruct so much of the bridge's width; what regard was given to user conflict; and why British Waterways did not seek to repair the original barriers that have remained locked in the open position for a number of years.
I am also copying this correspondence to Craig Wood at City of Edinburgh Council for his interests.
Not a complete disaster. They are double hinged back in on themselves and locked to the other bit of fence on both sides with a bollard installed in the middle for car traffic.
http://t.co/EVhG0CG2
Hi there, I'm new to this site and to posting/blogging in general, but the Leamington Bridge debacle (and Mike) motivated me to sign up. As a result I've emailed British Waterways - thanks to whoever provided the address. I hope lots of other cyclists and pedestrians do too - after all a dismounted cyclist takes up double the width of a mounted cyclist (or more depending on body shape...)
Welcome Alejsgirl.
"a dismounted cyclist takes up double the width of a mounted cyclist"
As I said to a policeman at Leuchars Station a couple of years ago.
I also added that I was more in control too as it had heavy panniers on the back.
But...
P.s.
"Mike"?
if they didn't need to consult us about the lighting on the canalpath, are they likely to be required to consult with neighbours/users about gates?
I also added that I was more in control too as it had heavy panniers on the back.
I was in a hurry to catch a train on Wednesday at Leuchars so cycled across the bridge rather than walked it. Was good fun.
I'm new to this site and to posting/blogging in general, but the Leamington Bridge debacle (and Mike) motivated me to sign up. As a result I've emailed British Waterways - thanks to whoever provided the address.
Great! 4 in a day is probably 4 more than they expected, I hope it opens their eyes a bit to the utter pointlessness of what they've achieved
I took the lift bridge route to and from Haymarket today. Heading home reminded me why I don't bother coming this way as I feel compelled to push along the one way street (getting in way of pedestrians in the process).
The new fence installation looks a bit low budget to me.
Dear Sir,
Could you please tell me when you are going to be removing the dangerous new barriers on the Leamington Lift Bridge in Edinburgh? The bridge was far better and safer without them.
Thank you,
cc.
It'll just be the 'normal' H&S - stop people falling in canal when bridge is up!
The 'dismount' signs are just too much.
I suspect H&S again - wet wood can be a bit of a bicycle slip hazard.
Maybe the notices are temporary because it's about to get a non slip surface like at Powderhall(?) -
A few years ago they put stupid speedbumps on the towpath which were more like mini-Ziggurats. I complained my arse off about it and they changed them within a couple of weeks.
chdot: I'm Mike! (guess my cover's been blown!)
re BW: I've written an email too.
Alejsgirl: Hope to see you again soon! (we'll have to organise something...).
"guess my cover's been blown!"
Think you did that Mike (aka Mr. Alejsgirl(?)).
heh. nice guess, but nope: I'm not Mr. Alejsgirl.
I've just had a reply from the canal quango.
Thank you for your email.
It is not our intent to cause restriction to access through the installation of the new gated access at Leamington Lift Bridge.
However, the bridge is an operational structure on the Union Canal and, as such, there were safety concerns regarding the potential for pedestrians and cyclists to inadvertently fall into the canal while the bridge was in the up or open position.
I can confirm that the gate will only be closed when the bridge is in operation and we will respect the periods of particularly high pedestrian/ cyclist use to try and avoid any conflict.
I appreciate you may have reservations about the installation but can assure you that we have sought to find a compromise which will enable us to operate the bridge safely while also addressing the needs of our regular pedestrian and cycling users.
Regards
Alasdair Smart
Waterway Manager, Lowland Canals & The Falkirk Wheel
Lime Road
alasdair.smart@scottishcanals.co.uk
Falkirk FK1 4RS
01324 676 901
07917 636 052
scottishcanals.co.uk
I wonder if they can provide figures for the numbers of people who have fallen in while the bridge has been raised, with a chain across, in recent years. Compared, say, to falling into the canal which is not fenced off on either side...
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