Help us stop ANOTHER Cammo housing development

Sign our petition to stop even more building at Cammo here

Cllr Kevin Lang, Christine Jardine MP, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Cllr Louise Young want to stop the loss of even more greenbelt at Cammo.

Housing developers are pushing Edinburgh Council to turn over more greenbelt land at Cammo for even more new housing.

This would on land just to the south of where hundreds of new homes are already being built next to Maybury Road.

Sign our petition to stop the loss of even more Cammo greenbelt to housing

Local Liberal Democrats opposed the first Cammo development. We think it would be madness to turn over more local greenbelt land for even more housing at this location. Additional housing should be focused on the many brownfield sites sitting empty or unused.

Edinburgh Council will have to agree a new local development plan later this year. This will decide what areas are kept protected in the greenbelt and what areas are released for more homes.

We think it is critical this area at Cammo is kept in the greenbelt. Please sign OUR PETITION today to add your support to our campaign.

Help us protect this local greenbelt by signing our petition.

Major new housing plan for Craigiehall / Burnshot

A new planning application has been submitted for over 1,000 new homes on and around the Ministry of Defence land at Craigiehall just to the south of Burnshot Road.

Plans for housing on the site were first suggested back in 2016.  The new application includes;

  • a total of 1,151 new homes, including affordable housing
  • retaining the existing homes on the site including Hillisde Road and Riverside Road.
  • a possible new primary school
  • a park and ride facility at the north east of the site nearest to Burnshot Bridge

You can see the full plans here.

The Council has now commenced the statutory consultation period for people to lodge comments. You can submit views by Sunday 24 February via the online planning portal.

Because this development is proposed on land currently designated as green belt, the decision will be taken by all 63 councillors and not just the planning committee.  This means we are not allowed to express a view at this stage. If we do then we will not be able to vote on the application when it comes to full Council.  We hope our constituents understand this.

We would encourage constituents to have a good look at the plans and make their views known by the deadline.

Airport update on ‘offset arrival’ flight path

Over the last year, we have been working with Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, Christine Jardine MP and a number of local residents in Cramond to get Edinburgh Airport to look at possible changes to its flight path for arriving aircraft.

The change being considered was a so called ‘offset arrival‘ which would see aircraft (when arriving from the east) approach from a more northerly direction to avoid Cramond and Barnton, The aircraft would then make a right turn to land.

The airport commissioned a detailed feasibility study to look at this option.  They also conducted a number of trials and consulted widely with airlines.

The report of the study has now been published and can be seen here. 

For a number of reasons, the airport has concluded this offset arrival path is not feasible at this time.  It would only be possible for some of the aircraft using the airport.  Plus weather and other operational issues means this route would be significantly less safe than the current straight arrival route which allows aircraft to ‘lock on’ to a signal which then brings them in at a steady angle of descent.

We realise this news will come as a disappointment to our constituents in Cramond and Barnton who had hoped a change might be possible.  We are satisfied the airport has looked at this in depth and considered all options.  We hope this can be looked at again in the future as aircraft and airport technology improves.

Meanwhile, the airport has now submitted its final plan to change the eastbound departure route which would, if approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, take aircraft slightly further away from Cramond.

We are also continuing to push or a limit on night time flights and hope to see progress on this by the end of the year.

Campaign for a new Cramond-Gyle bus link

Add your support to our campaign for a new Cramond-Gyle bus link here.

We have teamed up with Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP to launch a new campaign for a Cramond-Gyle bus link via Maybury Road.

We know many local residents are frustrated that areas like Cramond and Barnton are so poorly served by Lothian Buses, with only the 41 and 43.  Compare this to Leith which is served by no fewer than eight different services.

Just look at how Cramond and Barnton is served in comparison to Leith.

A Cramond-Gyle bus link is one of the most commonly requested services.  That is why we have launched this new petition campaign to show the local support for a new service.

It takes just two minutes to add your name.  You can support the campaign by clicking on this link.

The more people who back our campaign, the better chance we have of getting action from Lothian Buses.

Add your support to our campaign for a new Cramond-Gyle bus link here.

Good news on the Barnton junction

Back in March, we brought forward a motion to an influential new committee of the Council, calling for action to tackle the congestion at the Barnton Junction.
We know the junction is already gridlocked at peak periods and this is before the plans for almost 700 new homes at Cammo.
At this month’s North West Locality Committee and in response to our motion, Council officials agreed to look at a series of improvements and changes to try and improve flow.
Yellow “no waiting” hatching paint marking will be painted on the junction to try and prevent vehicle blocking.  Officials will also look at the option of building in a third southbound lane on Whitehouse Road and a third northbound lane on Maybury Road.
We are pleased that Council officers have now agreed to consider a number of changes to the junction. These could certainly help to ease some of the congestion in the short term. However, we know there are much bigger and wider issues that need to be addressed and before potentially thousands of new homes are built nearby.
It is clear we need a proper strategic plan for the whole A90 corridor. It must look seriously at public transport improvements and how current and new bus services can be prioritised along the A90. We also need to open discussions with other councils like Fife where decisions around charging for park and rides will only add to the congestion we face.
We also want to say a huge thank you and well done to the chair and secretary of the Cramond and Barnton Community Council who attended the committee and gave a presentation on why action at the Barnton junction is so desperately needed.

Major road works for Queensferry Road / Quality Street, Davidson’s Mains

A major programme of road works are due to start from Monday 18 June affecting Queensferry Road and much of Davidson’s Mains village.

The works by Scottish Power and their subcontractor Clancey Docwra are part of a major project to upgrade their power cabling. To do this Scottish Power need to open cut the road from their substation on Quality Street to another substation on Clermiston Road North.

Traffic management will be placed on Quality Street from early on 17 June in preparation for the work starting the next day.  (The work has been moved back from the original 16 June date in order to avoid any impact on the Davidson’s Mains Gala Day).

  • First phase (Two weeks from 17 June) – Quality Street will be closed northbound.  Traffic will not be able to exit onto Quality Street from Queensferry Road.  Southbound traffic will continue to be able to access Queensferry Road from Quality Street.  This will impact on the eastbound Lothian 21 and 41 bus services which will be diverted (details still be to published).
  • Because of the diversions along Corbiehill Road, there will be three way temporary lights at the Main Street/Corbiehill Road junction to assist traffic and public transport.

  • The second phase (likely starting from 30 Jun / 1 Jul) – The contractor will work along Queensferry Road from Quality Street heading westbound towards Clermiston Road North. Queensferry Road will be down to a single lane in each direction with Clermiston Road North closed to aid traffic. The pedestrian crossing at Davidson Mains park will remain in operation.
  • Scottish Power have four weeks to finish their works in Queensferry Road and must be off the road by the end of July. If Scottish Power has not completed their works they will return during the October school holidays.

Even with the traffic management arrangements, we know this work will cause significant delays and inconvenience.

We have been assured that Scottish Power will be working on site seven days a week and working long shifts to get the works completed as quickly and safely as possible.

Council officers will be closely monitoring the works throughout but especially during the first few days of each phase when traffic is adjusting to the traffic management arrangements.  They will look to make whatever changes that are necessary.

You can see the letter which Scottish Power are delivering to those living closest to the affected areas.

Letter for letter drop Davision mains project

New parking restrictions in Cramond and Barnton


Last night’s meeting of the Council’s North West Locality Committee approved set two new sets of parking restrictions.

1. BARNTON AVENUE WEST
This TRO followed a consultation back in Aug/Sep 2016 and came on the back of concerns about day time parking from school drop offs and pick ups as well as obstructions to household driveways.

The TRO delivers;
• Double yellow (no waiting) lines at the turning circle at the eastern end of Barnton Avenue West,
• Single yellow (no waiting between 07:30 and 18:30 Monday to Friday) lines along the south side of the road, from 10 Barnton Avenue West along to the turning circle.

We tabled an amendment which requires Council officials to carry out a full review, 12 months after the new lines are put down. The results of that review will have to come back to us and other councillors to consider. That way, we can decide whether additional restrictions are needed.

You can read the full committee report here.

2. CRAMOND GLEBE ROAD
Concerns were raised that, when the Cramond Car park is full, drivers often park on Cramond Glebe Road. Due to the busy nature of the area local congestion often occurs and
emergency services access has been affected.

The introduction of the double yellow lines in part of Cramond Glebe Road will prohibit parking between the Car Park and the Kirk and should provide safe access for visitors, residents, businesses and emergency services.

You can read the full report here.

The new lines should be painted in the next few months.

New campaign for airport night flight limit

We have launched a new campaign with Christine Jardine MP and Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP to introduce a new limit on the number of night time flights at Edinburgh Airport.

Edinburgh Airport has launched a new consultation on a draft noise action plan. This includes a range of measures to minimise and mitigate aircraft noise.

However, the draft plan retains the current practice of an unlimited number of night time flights (between 2330-0600). Other major airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted already have limits imposed on night time flying by the UK Government.

 In launching the campaign, we know Christine Jardine will be writing to households around the airport to encourage residents to respond to the consultation and support a new limit. 

Limits on the number of night time flights been in place at a number of other major UK airports for many years. However, there are no such restrictions at Edinburgh Airport. Whilst we all want to see the airport thrive, that can’t be at the expense of those living in the community and their ability to get a good night’s sleep.

 The airport is forecast to grow considerably over the coming years. A new limit on night time flights would go a long way to show that growth will be managed responsibly.

The airport does a lot of good work to mitigate the noise from aircraft.  However, the latest traffic figures show the number of night time flights are increasing. This is often the most disturbing parts of the airport’s operation.

 As councillors, we will be bringing forward a motion to the next meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council in a bid to get cross party councillor support for a new limit.

 Given its commitment to being a responsible neighbour, now is the time for the airport to adopt a new night time limit which is at least as stringent as seen at other major airports. We hope other councillors will support this later this month.

Getting action on pot holes and broken pavements

Today was budget day in the Council. Along with our fellow Liberal Democrat councillors, we proposed an extra £4.5 million to sort out the disgraceful state of roads and pavements in the city. This was 5 times what the SNP/Labour administration were proposing in terms of additional investment.

Kevin used his budget speech to talk about why this investment was so important to sort out pot holes and broken pavements in many of the areas we represent.

Unfortunately, SNP and Labour councillors running the city rejected our proposals. We will keep fighting to get action in our communities but that job has been made more difficult by the refusal of the administration to invest the money needed.

Major roadworks planned for Barnton junction and Queensferry Road (Feb/Mar 2018)

We have been informed of major road works to resurface parts of the Barnton junction and Queensferry Road.  These will start on 26 February and involve closures, temporary traffic lights and diversions so it is important for people to plan ahead.

The works will take place in the evenings and at night in order to avoid the busy peak traffic periods.  The roads should be open as normal during the day.

Details of local bus diversions can be found here

 

  • 26 February – 11 March: Barnton junction resurfacing

 

The junction carriageway on the Queensferry Road at the junction with Whitehouse Road is to be completely resurfaced. These works should take around two weeks to do but could be completed earlier if there is good weather.

The works will start at 7pm each weekday evening with the noisier operations stopping at 11pm.  Quieter work will continue into the early hours of the morning. This will allow the works to be carried out during times of low traffic volumes and therefore reduces the risk of congestion and delay.

The junction will be open to traffic from 7am-7pm each day as normal.  However, when work is being carried out in the evening and at night, the junction will be closed to east bound traffic along Queensferry Road.

A diversion system will therefore operate along Whitehouse Road, Gamekeeper’s Road and Cramond Road South when the east bound part of Queensferry Road is closed.  Residents here should therefore expect a significant increase in city bound traffic during this time.  You can see a detailed map showing the diversion arrangement here.

Map showing the diversion during Barnton junction works

  • 12 – 25 March: Queensferry Road surfacing

The second part of the resurfacing works will take place on Queensferry Road near the Parkgrove shops.

These are due to start on 12 March and will take two weeks, subject to weather.  Just like the Barnton junction works, the resurfacing will take place each weekday evening from 7pm and with the noisier operations stopping at 11pm. Again, this will allow the works to be carried out during times of low traffic volumes and therefore reduces the risk of congestion and delay.

The junction will be open to traffic from 7am-7pm each day as normal.  However, when work is being carried out, the entrance to Barnton Park Drive from Queensferry Road will be closed off.  Access to and from the Barton Park estate will have to be via Barnton Grove and Whitehouse Road.

The flow of traffic along Queensferry Road will be controlled using temporary traffic lights and a contraflow.  You can see a detailed map showing some of these arrangements here.

Map showing works and contraflow arrangements on Queensferry Road

Whilst we are pleased to see that works are being timetabled to try and minimise disruption, the nature of the junction and the Queensferry Road means we still expect delays.  We would encourage all our constituents to plan ahead and allow more time for their journeys.