The 2017 Pedal for Scotland event takes place on Sunday 10 September. This will involve a number of road closures in Kirkliston along with other parking restrictions.
Importantly, the Kirklands Park Street/Eilston Road traffic camera will be switched off from midnight until 8pm on 10 September.
You can see all the road and traffic changes by clicking on the document below.
One of our key pledges at the recent council election was to fight to get money raised from the traffic camera on Kirklands Park Street allocated for spending in Kirkliston.
The good news is that, after pressing the Council’s new Transport Convener today, she agreed to look again at the option of ring fencing future money into a dedicated fund for the village. There are obviously no guarantees but we are pleased to have at least got the promise of a review and a process started.
In response to our questioning, the Council Finance Convener admitted that almost £380,000 has been raised from the camera since it was installed. Tens of thousands of pounds are raised every year. Just think what we could do with that money in Kirkliston.
At the June meeting of Council, Louise also managed to secure agreement from the Transport Convener for a transport study to look at the village crossroads and what solutions may exist to alleviate the congestion. This was confirmed in a motion which was passed at the August Council.
A separate suggestion of opening the Kirklands Park Street to vehicles owned by people in the immediate vicinity, using ANPR technology, was also debated at Council. We moved an amendment saying there should be a feasibility study (there are serious questions over whether such a change would be legal under traffic laws) and a full resident consultation before any decisions were taken.
One of several brown field sites which the Council is looking to transfer over to housebuilding is the are on and around the former Silverlea Care Home at Muirhouse Parkway.
The site is approximately 2.3 hectares and consists of the former Silverlea Care Home and grounds, Craigroyston Boys Club changing/clubroom facilities, mature trees, shrubland and open space, which contains remnants of former riding stables. Part of the site is within the Green Belt.
AHR Architects has been appointed by the Council to undertake a feasibility study for mixed tenure housing on the site. The estimated development capacity of the site is around 140 homes.
The scope of the study includes, but not limited to, archaeological, ecological, topographical, transport and utility surveys and assessments, intrusive site investigations and preparation of concept development plans, drainage and energy strategies.
In parallel with these studies, preparatory plans are well under way to demolish the former care home. The ground floor doors and windows have been fitted with security panels and safety fencing erected around the building. It is expected the building will be demolished before the Spring 2018.
An initial meeting has been held with members of the Craigroyston Boys Club committee regarding the relocation of the club’s facilities which occupy part of the site. Consultations will continue with them throughout the redevelopment process.
During the next 8 months the following activities will be progressed:
We will make sure to keep local people informed as this project moves forward.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Christine Jardine and I met with representatives of the airport today. This included a discussion on the changes to flight paths which have been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for approval and involve a new departure route over Queensferry called D0.
This caused a lot of concern, with over 1,000 residents signing our petition in the space of just a few weeks.
Today’s discussion with the airport allowed us to get some additional important information;
1. The decision of the airport to change their plans and only use the D0 flight path 6-10am means they are limited to 7 flights a day near Queensferry. This is down from the 56 flights a day which the airport had initially proposed.
2. The airport will have to consult and, more importantly, get CAA approval if they want to increase this number in future.
3. The flight path will only be used when aircraft are departing to the west, approximately 70% of the time. For the other 30% of the time, there should be no flights routed over Queensferry.
4. Aircraft are to bank more steeply on departure, at 15 degrees, as opposed to the current 8 degrees. This will mean the aircraft which do fly near Queensferry will be much higher, at 5,000-6,000 feet up, helping to reduce noise.
To be clear, we continue to believe the airport should not be flying over Queensferry. This is what the initial consultation proposed. We will continue to make this argument.
However, thanks to community pressure, it is clear the noise impact of any change in operation will be massively reduced to what was feared.
Kevin
Earlier this month, we received an update from officials on the works for the Burnshot Bridge. This is provided below.
Monthly Inspections
These inspections are ongoing to closely monitor the condition of the bridge. Inspections will continue until the bridge is demolished.
Traffic Diversion
Installation of the new semi-permanent signage is planned to be completed in September 2017. Some local diversion signs will be installed in advance of this. Consideration is being given to the additional complexity associated with the opening of the Queensferry Crossing.
Demolition Works
Following completion of the Contractor’s Feasibility report and input from Council Engineers and our advisors, a decision has been taken to fully demolish the bridge with a view to constructing a brand new structure, for which the programme is yet to be confirmed. A Project Order has been signed by the Council giving its commitment for the demolition, and also for the design of a new structure and some preliminary investigative and survey works. Capital budget to the value of £1.1m has been assigned for these pre-construction works, Council staff costs and contingency. This does not include for construction of a new structure and the costs for this will be determined towards the end of 2017. All costs are market tested where appropriate, to ensure value for money for the Council.
The Contractor has been assisting the Council with various aspects of planning the upcoming Works. To date, this help has been free of charge, but now that the Project Order has been signed, the Contractor will be paid for subsequent professional services and physical construction work.#
Public Utilities (PUs)
A temporary service bridge will be installed alongside the existing structure, with Works for this commencing in late-September 2017. Temporary foundations and vertical supports will support a latticed steel structure. This bridge will be used to suspend service ducts and cables in advance of the demolition of the bridge, currently planned for late-October. No pedestrian access will be permitted on this structure, and the diversion route through the underpass will remain. This solution is much more cost effective and less disruptive than a permanent diversion of the services away from the bridge.
The Council and Contractor have met with one utility provider on site to agree the methodology for suspension, and discussions with the other providers are now well advanced.
There is a Scottish Power cable crossing the bridge which requires diversion onto the temporary service bridge. Some small trenches will be dug adjacent to the bridge in advance of this diversion.
Local residents should not experience any major disruption in advance of the demolition. Further consultation with residents will be undertaken in September once the arrangements for the demolition have been confirmed.
New footpath / cycleway
A new permanent footpath/cycleway is currently being designed which will replace the temporary contra-flow and traffic barriers currently in place on the Northbound slip lane. This new path will provide a continuous link between Burnshot Road and the A90 into Edinburgh, without having to cross Burnshot Bridge, so will also be of benefit to pedestrians and cyclists following the construction of a new bridge.
One important issue for parents in Kirkliston is the uncertainty over the secondary school which children will go to in the future.
With the growing population in Queensferry and Kirkliston, the High School won’t be able to accommodate the increasing school role at Kirkliston Primary. It is expected that this year’s new P1s will be the first year to attend a different school.
There are two options on the table at the moment:
Parents have raised concerns with us about transport to school and older siblings already at QHS. As the Education Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and as a member of the Education Committee, Cllr Louise Young is ensuring that parents concerns are at the forefront of Council officers and the Education Convenor.
At the first Education Committee of the new Council, Cllr Young secured the commitment to consult on these concerns and also to provide an update at the October meeting of the committee.
The building of the new Queensferry High School offers us a huge opportunity, not just to provide a fantastic new educational facility but also to deliver improved facilities for the local community.
With only weeks to go until Council officials submit the final plans for the new school for approval, there has been a real community campaign to get a six lane swimming pool rather than the current four lane pool. This would help ensure the pool is available during the week, even when the school is in session.
We were pleased to get the Council’s new Education Convener and Vice Convener to agree to come to Queensferry to meet with us, the community council and parent council to discuss the plans. This took place in mid August. The head teacher and deputy head were also present.
It’s safe to say that we all left Cllr Perry and Cllr Dickie in no uncertain terms as to the need for improved sporting facilities in Queensferry. We emphasised the huge opportunity that the new school presents in terms of providing better swimming facilities which the wider community can use throughout more of the week.
Cllr Perry promised to look in detail at the option of extending the number of lanes. He accepted that operational issues around shared use of the pool were surmountable but, inevitably, much of the concern comes down to cost. One promise Cllr Perry did make was that, whatever happens, the new pool would be available during school holidays.
There are obviously no guarantees as what will be brought forward next month. However, we feel we all made the arguments as best we could.
Kevin also highlighted the issue at the full meeting of Edinburgh Council, saying it was time for Queensferry to get the kind of swimming facilities that many other parts of Edinburgh take for granted.
Officials still plan to submit the school planning application in September so we sit at a critical stage of the process.
We’re delighted that Edinburgh City Council unanimously supported Kevin’s motion today in praise of the police’s work to tackle motorbike crime in north west Edinburgh.
The motion also called for a new report on what more the Council can do to support the police as well as invest in education and community activities.
The horrific events from last weekend involving a motorbike hit and run, which left a 10 year old boy in Drylaw in hospital, shows why more work is needed and needed now.
Here is Kevin’s motion which all political groups in the Council supported.
“Council recognises:
a) the ongoing problems of motorbike crime and other antisocial behaviour which blights many communities in the north and north west of Edinburgh,
b) that such disorder is caused by a small number of individuals who are not reflective of the wider community,
c) the commitment, professionalism and bravery of police officers who work hard to provide a visible police presence and have often been victim to violence or attempts at violence,
d) that the success in tackling these issues will depend, not just on effective policing but also on improved education and community support.
Council commends Police Scotland for its work as part of the Stronger North campaign which was re-launched in June.
Council welcomes the additional national policing resources which were deployed in local communities to bolster this campaign, and in so doing recognises the positive impact of a visible on the street police presence in areas affected by crime.
Council notes that over the course of the campaign, there were:
i) 71 arrests with 15 stolen motorcycles and 5 stolen cars recovered,
ii) 28 vehicles seized and impounded whilst drivers were charged with corresponding offences,
iii) 9 misuse of drugs warrant executions resulting in the recovery of £9000 of drugs.
Council welcomes the cross-party support which exists for the campaign and the collaboration between local councillors, MSPs and MPs with local police, council officials and community representatives.
Council commits to continuing to support this campaign by working with the police, voluntary organisations and the wider community, providing the necessary support and resources where required.
Council commits to further tackling these issues through education in schools and community based activities which can help reduce situations which lead to antisocial behaviour.
Council therefore calls for a report to be made to the Corporate Policy & Strategy Committee within two cycles on what further action the Council can take to address the underlying issues which lead to crime and antisocial behaviour as part of a longer-term strategy on these issues.
As you will know, we have been campaigning hard against the airport’s plans to change its flight paths and route thousands of aircraft directly over Quensferry, including Echline Primary. Well over 1,000 people in Queensferry signed our petition against the proposals.
We have been working hard on this issue with local MSP, Alex Cole-Hamilton. Our new MP, Christine Jardine has also been a terrific help and support since she was elected in June.
The airport has now submitted its proposed new flight paths to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) tomorrow.
These plans continue to involve flying some planes over Queensferry. However, the airport has made a number of important changes from what was proposed at the beginning of the year.
Critically, the airport says the proposed new flight path will not come in before Spring 2019. If approved by the CAA, the new flight path over Queensferry would only be used 6-10am.
With Edinburgh Airport being a 24 hour operation, getting them to agree to restricting this flightpath to a few hours each day is important progress.
Let’s also be clear – this has only happened because of the huge objections which were made by local people.
However, our work must go on. We continue to believe the proposals are wrong and that other, more sensible alternative flight paths exist. Along with Alex and Christine, we will now take our arguments directly to the CAA, not least because of the many flaws in the airport’s own consultation.
A number of residents in Davidson’s Mains and Silverknowes have contacted about HGV’s using the bridge at Main Street, Davidson Mains.
We raised this with the local police who have also discussed with the Council.
The bridge restriction relates to a maximum weight limit of 7.5t on Main Street. It is not due to any weight limit on the bridge, which has a maximum limit of 20t. The road weight restriction is in place for the length of Main Street due to control exhaust emissions through the village.
Authorised Roads Policing (traffic) officers are trained to carry out checks on a vehicle’s weight. The process involves the HGV being stopped and taken to a weighbridge for the weight to be established, this evidence would be required for any formal enforcement.
If any resident observes any HGV go over the bridgr and they suspect it breaches the weight limit they should contact the police on 101 at the time wit’s the details of the HGV.
Of course, an empty vehicle may not be over the weight limit and therefore would be permitted. The same HGV carrying a load may be over the weight and would constitute an offence. The only way to confirm is by having the vehicle weighed. Larger articulated vehicles would likely be over weight either way.
Concerns have been passed to the Roads Policing branch wits a request that they keep in the area in mind for proactive patrolling.