I think this is important. It would be such a shame if this opportunity's missed and Leith walk is just put back how it was.
@SRD: I wonder if the POP crowd would be interested (is there an email list for that?).
For anyone who uses (or wants to use!) Leith Walk...
From SPOKES:
Following cancellation of tram plans for Leith Walk (or, at least, postponement for many years) the road is in need of major repair, and the council has allocated a large sum (£3m+) with the work expected this autumn or winter. The council's initial proposal was merely to resurface the road exactly in its previous state (including the uphill coloured cycle lane for much of the way). When Spokes last year originally raised the possibility of further cycling improvements we were told firmly that the decision was to reinstate things exactly as they had been.
However, the spending of so much money is a big opportunity not just to resurface the Walk, but to get many other improvements at the same time. Therefore, as you probably remember, the Greener Leith community group organised a major consultation on the future of Leith Walk. Gathering replies at a public meeting, at Leith Festival, and online, over 450 people voted in all, and improved cycling conditions came top of the list.
The report of the Greener Leith public meeting is here...
http://www.greenerleith.org/greener-leith-news/2012/6/7/15-ideas-for-revitalising-leith-walk.html
The overall survey results can be seen here...
http://www.greenerleith.org/greener-leith-news/2012/7/5/vision-for-leith-walk-the-final-top-20-ideas.html
[Note that the total is much higher than 450, because each person was allocated up to 10 votes, of which not more than 3 could be for any one topic].
For cycling, many people suggested this should be Edinburgh's first onroad segregated cycle route - there would be many difficulties implementing this, including at junctions, and probably the need to relocate much onstreet car parking, but it's what would happen in Netherlands or Denmark. There are also some major danger/fright points at present - notably when cycling uphill at London Road roundabout - an ideal solution there would be traffic lights with an advance cycle light - signalising the roundabout would be costly, but something needs done.
THE COUNCIL CONSULTATION - JULY 16 AND 17
The council has now decided that it wants to check if the right views are coming through. They say, "It is important that we check that we’ve heard correctly what is needed, and that our proposals reflect local priorities." They are therefore holding their own consultation, which will include display boards, and council staff will be present.
Please go along and leave your views - leave written comments as well as speaking to the staff present.
Where: MacDonald Road Library (Nelson Hall)
When: Mon 16th, 4-7pm and Tue 17th 10-12am
We don't know what they will be proposing but we are not expecting any major improvement in cycling conditions - probably just reinstatement of the previous uphill onroad cycle lane with a few tweaks and more bike parking.
The proposals will also appear online at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk from 16 July - we don't know the exact link, but hopefully there will be a link from the home page in the 'Have Your Say' box.
If you can't attend the consultation or if you have further ideas or questions, email...
leithcitycentreteam@edinburgh.gov.uk
or phone Loraine Duckworth 0131 529 6194.
If you are emailing suggestions/comments, wait till Monday so that you can see what they are proposing, preferably at the consultation event, but online if not.
Note that this consultation includes the future of CONSTITUTION STREET as well as Leith Walk.
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