The City of Edinburgh Council is set to keep the city moving throughout wintry conditions forecast this week.
With freezing temperatures, snow and ice expected, plans are underway to minimise any resulting disruption.
Temporary traffic management measures, such as traffic signals, in place for inactive road and pavement works will be removed by the Council and public utility companies where possible, allowing the smoother flow of traffic.
Gritting teams are also out night and day treating and monitoring priority routes, while the Council’s severe winter weather tactical response team are on standby should a weather emergency strike.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “Our priority is to keep the city moving whatever the weather, and our team has already been out around the clock ensuring roads, pavements and cycle paths are gritted and safe to travel on.
“In light of the latest forecasts we’re making arrangements to clear routes of obstructions where possible, opening up the network and making it easier for the public to get about during the cold spell.”
The 939 miles of roads plus additional pavements and cycle routes in Edinburgh are treated on a priority basis, with important principal roads, bus routes and roads and pavements leading to hospitals, care homes, schools and fire stations amongst those gritted first.
The public can find out about priority road, cycle path and pavement gritting routes by visiting the Council website’s live winter weather pages which include an interactive map so that residents can locate their nearest salt bin.
If and when severe weather strikes, the Council will use its social media channels, website and local radio stations to keep residents updated on any impact on services.
Residents, businesses and other interested parties are being given the opportunity to influence a future design for George Street and the surrounding area.
Design consultants WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd, in collaboration with LDA Design, are set to hold the first in a series of public drop-in events today (Monday, 15 January) and Tuesday (16 January) to learn more about the needs and views of individuals, community groups and stakeholders.
Participants will help shape clear design objectives for the ‘First New Town’, which encompasses George Street, Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street. Objectives will build on stakeholder engagement and a set of design principles adopted by the Council last year following a year-long trial to increase pedestrian and cyclist provision on George Street.
The output from these events, against which future designs for the First New Town will be developed, will also feed into the Council’s wider context of the Central Edinburgh Transformation project.
Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “George Street, as part of the First New Town, is one of Edinburgh’s key thoroughfares and is central to the way our city centre operates. That’s why it’s essential that we involve as many people, organisations and businesses as possible in the discussion about its future.
“Throughout the initial George Street trial we worked with the public to explore needs and desires for the street. We want to reflect this approach with the broader, longer term Central Edinburgh Transformation, creating an overarching plan for a more welcoming, accessible city centre.”
Held throughout 2014, a temporary scheme to transform George Street enabled the close study of its use alongside regular engagement with stakeholders. Outcomes helped to inform the creation of detailed design principles to guide its future development.
WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd and LDA Design were appointed by the Council in October to draw up a long-term vision for the historic First New Town streets.
Once developed, the new, preliminary design will take into account George Street’s interdependence with intersecting ‘First New Town’ streets Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street, as well as Charlotte and St Andrew Squares.
January’s drop-in events are open to all members of the public and will be held on Monday 15 (1pm-6pm) and, Tuesday 16 (3pm-8pm) January at The City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE.
An Economy Strategy to build on Edinburgh’s success to tackle inequality and poverty in the Capital, was published by the City of Edinburgh Council today (Friday, 12 January).
The draft strategy, which will be considered by councillors at the Housing and Economy Committee on Thursday, 18 January, recognises that although Edinburgh remains the second most prosperous UK city outside London, jobs growth alone has not been sufficient to tackle poverty and deliver sustained improvements in living standards for everyone.
Consultation carried out with all political parties and businesses, as well as local communities and the third sector, revealed a consensus of opinion that Edinburgh’s economy should aim to create jobs and inspire innovation but that it should also do much more to ensure that the benefits of that prosperity are accessible to all residents across the city.
It has been created around three themes – innovation, inclusion and collaboration and includes ten steps to achieve this goal. The council alone cannot achieve this and needs ownership and leadership from other city partners such as the Edinburgh Partnership and Edinburgh Business Forum.
Cllr Gavin Barrie, Housing and Economy Convener, said: “Our Economy Strategy sees an important shift in the focus of our work to help Edinburgh’s economy to grow. It is going from strength to strength and has shown great resilience during tough economic times. The time has come, however, to take a good look at why there are still people living in Edinburgh who are not sharing in this prosperity.
“We need to grow our economy so that it is fair in terms of wages, opportunity, access to housing, education and good careers. Much of that work has already started through our commitment to build 20,000 new affordable homes in the city and the £1.1b Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region deal, which will provide £300m for world leading data innovation centres, £25m for regional skills programme to support improved career opportunities for disadvantaged groups and £65m of new funding for housing to unlock strategic development sites.
“The strategy also fits in well with the most recent Scottish Government Economic Strategy and UK Industrial Strategy, both of which have placed increasing emphasis on the need for inclusive growth for our economy.
“Locally, the strategy also represents one of the first major practical steps towards achieving the City Vision for 2050 that we have been developing with contributions from people across the city since September 2016.”
Hugh Rutherford, Chair of the Edinburgh Business Forum, said: “To stay ahead of our global competitors, Edinburgh needs a laser focus on our world leading sectors – financial services, tech, life sciences, creative industries and tourism. But we need more than sectoral growth – we need responsible and sustainable ‘good growth’, making sure everyone benefits in a way that’s not happened before. Crucial to the success of this will be the private sector, all levels of education, and the third and public sectors working together to achieve this common goal.”
Ella Simpson, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council, said: “I am pleased the Strategy explicitly acknowledges poverty and inequality in the City and highlights actions which aim to reduce the impact on people’s lives. The strategy needs to recognise the existing communities and people as the bedrock for fair growth in the city and it is important that we provide support to business, from all sectors, to be the best employers they can be.”
The Strategy’s ten steps, which all have their own actions plans.
– Establish Edinburgh as the data capital of Europe.
– Develop Edinburgh as a city of resilient businesses with the space to grow.
– Create a step change in the growth of green and socially responsible business in Edinburgh.
– Deliver new approaches to tackling the barriers that reinforce worklessness, poverty and inequality.
– Reform Edinburgh’s education and skills landscape to meet the needs of our changing economy.
– Deepen our relationships with employers to unlock good career opportunities.
– Create a transformational city centre fit to power Scotland’s economy.
– Build a world class Waterfront, and deliver business and residential growth in West Edinburgh.
– Build affordable places for people to live and work.
– Deliver sustainable and inclusive growth in our world leading culture and tourism sectors.
That’s the question posed in a new consultation being run by the City of Edinburgh Council as it carries forward Edinburgh’s Parking Action Plan.
As part of the Parking Action Plan, the Council is reviewing parking permits in the Capital in a bid to improve air quality and enhance quality of life.
The three-month consultation, which went live today and runs until 28 January 2018, seeks feedback on a proposal to add a surcharge on to residents’ parking permits for diesel vehicles.
Diesel vehicles work best for longer journeys on motorways, but are not well suited to shorter and slower trips in built-up areas like Edinburgh’s city centre. There is growing evidence to suggest that diesel engines:
– contribute to poor air quality
– increase the risk of lung cancer
– can cause heart attacks and
– reduce life expectancy
Major European cities such as Paris and Madrid have pledged to ban diesel vehicles entirely by 2025 and at least nine London Boroughs have already introduced a diesel surcharge on residents’ parking permits.
With an estimated 8,000 diesel permit holders’ vehicles in Edinburgh, the Council needs to consider how it can tackle pollution, enhance air quality and improve the health of people living and working in Edinburgh.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport Convener, said: “Evidence is mounting that diesel emissions are causing serious health problems and worsening air quality in cities across the globe and many cities are already taking steps to combat this. We’re keen to see what people in Edinburgh think of the idea of adding a surcharge to residents’ parking permits for diesel vehicles.
“I’d urge everyone to take a few minutes to complete the online consultation and to let others know about it as well. After it closes on 28 January, we’ll review the consultation feedback in a report to a future Transport and Environment Committee before deciding next steps.”
Find the consultation on our Consultation Hub. All current holders of residents’ parking permits will be contacted directly about the consultation and paper copies will be available in libraries and local offices.
The Outline Business Case (OBC) for taking Edinburgh’s tram service down to Leith and Newhaven has been published on the Council’s website today.
The comprehensive document sets out the findings and recommendations resulting from a 20-month programme of very detailed work assessing the benefits, impact and likely timescales and cost of completing the remaining 4.6km of tramline 1A.
The OBC has been available for councillors to scrutinise in a specially set up Data Room at the City Chambers, with officers and an independent advisor on hand to provide further information or clarify points.
A report accompanying the OBC will now be considered at a special meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on 4 September, before going to Full Council on 21 September.
The report seeks authority to commence a procurement exercise to identify a potential contractor for the project, with a final decision on whether to go ahead with taking the tram to Newhaven, and with which contractor, to follow in autumn 2018.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Edinburgh is growing faster than any other city in Scotland and our current road network and public transport provision simply aren’t sustainable given the number of new residents we’re expecting to welcome here over the next two decades.
“Rather than exacerbating traffic problems on our already congested roads, trams allow far greater numbers of people to travel, while creating employment during construction, boosting development along the route and connecting people to centres of employment, leisure and retail.”
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes added: “Given the experience of the last tram project, we’re acutely aware of the need to scrutinise this business case as rigorously as we possibly can – residents deserve nothing less. We won’t take any decision on completing the line to Newhaven until we are 100% confident that the project can be delivered, financed and managed effectively.
“Councillors from all parties have been taking up the opportunity to fully examine the business case over the past weeks and will use this special meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee to quiz officers further on the detail and make a recommendation on whether to progress to the next stage.”
Key points included in OBC:
Rapid population and economic growth
• Over the next decade, Edinburgh and surrounding area expected to be home to faster growing population than anywhere else in Scotland. National Records of Scotland projections published in 2016 suggest city should be planning for an additional 47,000 people by 2024 and additional 102,000 by 2039 (20% increase)
• Number of households forecast to increase by over 38,000 (16%) by 2032. A quarter (25%) of this growth is forecast to occur in Leith Docks and Western Harbour area
• Employment levels in Edinburgh are projected to grow by 7.6% between 2013 and 2022
Costs & benefits
• Capital Cost estimated at £165.2m, including risk and inflation
• Patronage forecast to almost double in opening year to 14m, reflecting high population densities along the route
• For every £1 spent the economic return to the city is £1.64
• OBC includes wider economic benefits, including social inclusion, and completing the line will provide access to jobs and support business and opportunities in the area
Construction work to take three years
• Estimated three-year construction period, including 18 months on Leith Walk, followed by approx four months of testing and commissioning on new line.
• Significant proportion of major utility works have already been carried out – remainder carried out in conjunction with main infrastructure works, meaning no ‘double dig’
Carefully planned traffic management
• Diversions, road closures, access and crossing points thoroughly planned and modelled
• All key stakeholders, including residents, businesses, emergency services and Lothian Buses will be consulted on the traffic proposals set out in the OBC
Support for businesses
• Customer and service access to local businesses maintained at all times
• Compensation and support scheme for affected businesses along the route put in place
• Logistic centres and dedicated crossing points provided at 150-200m centres on Leith Walk
• Logistics officers deployed throughout the day to help businesses with deliveries
Lessons learned
• OBC recommends industry-standard contract with rigorous project governance
• Traffic management would give contractor expanded sites and provide flexibility if problems encountered
• Project would benefit from industry networking with other cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin) to ensure best practice
• Consultation with the market and incorporating input from Tram Inquiry
The City of Edinburgh Council are about to launch an Active Travel Challenge which is open to everyone working or living in Edinburgh.
The challenge is free to take part and runs for 6 weeks from Monday 31st July for 6-weeks, ending on Sunday 10th September. You can sign up to the challenge at any point during the 6 weeks. All you need to do is log your time spent travelling actively for both your commuting and leisure trips each week – once you sign up you will receive a weekly email with a link to log your trips.
Whether you walk, cycle, run, hop, skip, jump, scoot or skate your way around the city you could be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes including a GoPro Hero and a Garmin Cycle Sat-Nav worth £150 each!
There are also various spot prizes on offer including zoo tickets, Go Ape and gym passes.
To register just fill in a few brief details here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/EdinburghATC_SignUp.
The organisers will send you an email to confirm that sign up has been successful and provide you with any information you need to participate in the Challenge including information on the prizes up for grabs each week of the Challenge.
If you have any queries about the challenge contact the organisers directly on: edinburghtravelplanning@sweco.co.uk
