We have now received the latest update from the project team working on the Burnshot Bridge.
Work on the technical feasibility of the new bridge design is virtually complete. Consultants are now being appointed to work up the detailed design with construction expected to start early in the New Year.
You can read the full report here.by clicking on the link below.
One of our major criticisms of last year’s Pedal for Scotland event was the lack of consultation and information for local people impacted by the road closures. This was particularly important for people in Kirkliston.
We are pleased that the event organisers have been much more open this year and have engaged local groups like the community council.
This year’s event will take place on Sunday 9th September.
The event organisers have created a dedicated information booklet or residents in Kirkliston. You can get all the information here.
Hard copies of these are being delivered to the village.
As a result of feedback, it’s important to note that the last cyclist now leaves Glasgow Green 30 minutes earlier than previous years meaning that roads can be reopened earlier. The letter drop to residents is being sent out earlier than in previous years.
For people with priority needs, most importantly such as social care visits, managed access plans can be put in place if Pedal Scotland are contacted at info@pedal.scot If people are unable to access the Internet or email, they can phone 0333 300 3485.
Our local campaign to secure a new secondary school in Kirkliston has had a major boost after Council officials announced they had identified a possible location.
Papers for this week’s Education Committee of Edinburgh City Council show a secondary school could be built on land just to the east of the village, off Burnshot Road.
Last year, Council education officials published proposals for a new West Edinburgh High School, with an initial site located near to Gogar. Following objections from the Scottish Government, an alternative site was identified just to the east of Ratho Station on the A8.
However, many parents raised serious concerns about transporting a large number of children between Kirkliston and Ratho Station in congested commuter traffic each morning.
That is why we worked together and intervened, proposing an amendment at the Education Committee to look seriously at locating a new secondary school in or around the village. Six months on, education officials have said they have identified a possible site and are in discussions with the land owner.
We now need to progress the discussions as quickly as possible so we can end the uncertainty.
Click here to sign our petition to save the 22A bus to St. John’s.
First Bus has announced proposed changes to its services in West Lothian. These would end the current 22A bus service between Queensferry, Kirkliston and St. John’s Hospital.
We think it is unacceptable that these communities could be left without a regular and reliable bus service to and from St. John’s. With rising populations, Queensferry and Kirkliston need this important link now more than ever.
Even those who don’t need to use the bus themselves will know others who depend on this bus to get to and from our important local hospital.
First Bus say they are consulting and want to hear local views before a final decision is taken. We need to send the company a message – loud and clear – that the 22A must be saved.
This is why we have launched a new petition. It takes just five minutes to add your name. Please add your support today. Thank you
We have received the latest briefing on the work to build the new Burnshot Bridge. More detailed timescales for the construction work is expected in May with the expectation still that building will commence in the autumn.
White line painting next to the newly built pavements for cyclists and pedestrians will soon allow for the traffic cones to be removed.
You can read the full briefing here
The Burnshot Bridge project team has issued its latest briefing update.
You can see the full report here.
We recently met with the new director of First Bus to discuss issues with the 38/X38 in Kirkliston.
We covered a huge amount of ground including ticket costs, reliability issues and late running of certain services, inconsistent ticket charging and driver confusion, timetable errors, frequency of evening services, issues with general driver attitude and much more.
There were two positive areas where we can expect early improvements.
BUS TRACKERS AND REAL TIME INFO
The current bus stop trackers display times according to the listed timetable and *not* real time information. This means trackers can suggest a bus is close by when it is running very late. The director has committed that 38/X38 buses will be equipped with new technology in March to ensure they properly will link up with bus stop trackers and show real time information.
CARD PAYMENTS
The director also confirmed that contactless payment machines will be installed on buses in April. Even though buses currently offer change, we know it is still frustrating for many to have to use cash. The new machines will mean credit/debit cards can be used going forward.
We have also had further updates following our meeting
PUNCTUALITY OF SERVICES
The director came back to us to say that the reliability of buses between stops was running at about 86%. They suggested this had improved since the timetable was altered at the beginning of November.
He has asked us to highlight specific problems that arise so if you have a very late running service or if a bus simply does not turn up, let us know and we can further investigate the reasons why.
ISSUES WITH DRIVERS AND COST OF TICKETS
The direct has admitted there had been confusion among some drivers because of recent turnover of staff. They have assured us that this resource challenge has now been addressed so the knowledge of route and ticket pricing should be more consistent. Again, please let us know if there are further problems.
USE OF DOUBLE DECKER SERVICES
We asked about this. However, because of the low bridge in the first part of the route at Linlithgow, double decker buses cannot be used on the route.
INCREASED EVENING FREQUENCY
They are going to look at this and possible increased frequencies over the summer period. We should get an update on this and we’ll pass on once we have it.
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.
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
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
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.
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