In December, we carried out a survey of houses in the Dalmeny Park housing estate .  This was in response to concerns raised by many residents about the the traffic problems being seen.

Part of this was provoked by the recent closure of Hewlett Way which changed the flow of vehicles through the new development. However, the opening of the road at Sandercombe Drive/Bourdock Road (so you can get all the way to Dalmeny Station) has clearly made the local area more attractive for through traffic to and from Scotstoun Avenue.

To our mind, the root cause of these issues is the new Queensferry Crossing and the closure of the A90 slip road from the old Forth Road Bridge roundabout. This has resulted in many more cars entering and exiting Queensferry to the east via Dalmeny Station.

The key question is what can be done to try and address the problem. That is why we are keen to hear what local people thought.

We received well over 100 responses which we are now collating and analysing.  We will be publishing the results along with our follow up actions in the next few weeks.

Meantime, they have provided us with a detailed newsletter which we have provided below.

South Queensferry to Newton Blackness OHL Rebuild flyer V2

We have been alerted to major roadworks to facilitate the instalation of new water mains around Bo’ness Road.

It means there will be parking and loading restrictions from 6am on Monday 4 December until 11.59pm on Friday 8 December on the following stretches of road:

• Bo’ness Road, From the junction of Walker Drive to junction of Hopetoun Road
• Hopetoun Road , From the junction of Farquar Terrace to the junction Morison Gardens
• Stewart Terrace, from the junction of Hopetoun Road both sides for a distance of 100m

There will also be four way temporary traffic lights operating.

You can view a more detailed version of the map above by using the following link.

HOPETOUN ROAD SOUTH QUEENSFERRY water mains works

Every month, we receive positive feedback on the Lothian 43/X43 service which started serving Queensferry, Dalmeny and Barnton in June.  We know people still value the decision of Lothian to provide the service, especially after Stagecoach withdrew its services.

There were also some rumours going round, suggesting the service could be changed to a single decker bus.  We have had it confirmed from Lothian management that there are no plans to do this.  We certainly would have been very surprised with any such a change, especially given current passenger numbers.

If anything, we believe there is a strong case for increased frequency during the morning and evening peak periods.  We know  city bound buses are often full, even before reaching Dalmeny Station. Equally, west bound buses in the evening can often go past bus stops at the West End and Dean Bridge because they are full and cannot accept any more passengers.

We have written to the managing director Lothian Buses to ask for further services to be considered.  We have also passed on some feedback received over issues around some city centre bus stops, especially those on George Street.

Proposals have come forward to open a new pharmacy at the Scotstoun shops in Queensferry.  However, the plans are only likely to proceed if enough local people respond to the consultation being run by NHS Lothian.

We have long argued that Queensferry needs improved services and infrastructure before additional housing is agreed.  The latest figures suggest that Queensferry is already undeserved when it comes to pharmacy services.

NHS Lothian is now undertaking a joint public consultation with Samson Ferry Limited (who would open and run the pharmacy.

If approved, the pharmacy would operate 9am-8pm Mon-Sat and 10am-4pm on Sundays.  These are longer hours than the two Lloyds pharmacies already in Queensferry.

It is the NHS Lothian Pharmacy Practices Committee (PPC) which decides whether to allow the pharmacy to open and all local views must be considered.

You can get all the details and see how you can feed in your views here.

The closing date for comments is 26 March 2018.

The planning application to build a new artificial grass rugby and football field (3G pitch), just to the south of the Sports Hub on Ashburnham Road in Queensferry, has been approved by the Planning Committee.

The new pitches will be built on the site of two smaller natural grass pitches and will also include a sports fence that will surround the pitch and restrict access.

It is expected the pitch will be used primarily by the school and the community and will upgrade of the existing natural pitches which can be in poor condition for extended periods of time.

The proposals primarily come from the planned re-development of Queensferry High School, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020. With the school to be relocated onto the existing playing fields, an alternative site is required until the school building is completed.

Over 120 people submitted comments during the consultation period, with over 85% in support of the plans.  The proposals was backed unanimously by the Planning Committee.

The new facility will be used as ‘rugby and football’ pitch. It would be surfaced with the latest 3G artificial grass with a sand and rubber infill and would be ‘let’ outwith school hours through the South Queensferry Community Hub.

Many local people in Queensferry have been frustrated by the delays to the much promised project to improve the High Street.

Kevin raised the matter at the last Council and secured some important information.  See below for the written answers received and the video of his follow up question with the Finance Convener.

Question (1) When was the £1m funding agreed for the redevelopment of the High Street in Queensferry?
Answer (1) This scheme budget was first approved at the Transport and Environment Committee on 12 January 2016.

Question (2) What progress has been made in the delivery of the project since this date?
Answer (2) Procurement is progressing for the appointment of a consultant to carry out consultation and design for the project. This appointment should be made by early 2018
and it is expected that the scheme will commence on site in late summer 2018.

Question (3) What specific improvements are expected to be delivered through this project?
Answer (3) The scheme is for sett renewal however it is recognised that this is an opportunity to improve the local infrastructure, parking control, traffic management and pedestrian areas.
A local project board will be appointed to oversee the consultation and design phases to ensure that the scheme takes account of all feedback provided.

Kevin then followed this up with these questions.

At the September meeting of the Council, Kevin raised the problem of the flooding at the Binks Car Park.  Just a few weeks later and in response to Kevin’s intervention, work started in the car park.

Whilst the problem was more complicated to resolve that first thought, officials are now confident that the new line put in between the gullies on the east side of the car park and the main sewer pipe have resolved the problem.

Officials have also arranged to resurface the whole of the east side of the carpark.  This will be done over Sundays 29th Oct and Sunday 11th Nov.

The Council has also received a permit application from Bellway Homes who are required to install a large surface water storage tank in the west side of the Binks Carpark. These works are being planned for January 2018. Officials are looking to keep funds aside to allow them to resurface the west side once these works are complete.