The thorny matter of the cycle route which the council plan to create between the west and east of the city through Roseburn to George Street and east to Leith came up for discussion at the council’s Transport Committee earlier. It now looks as though it will eventually go ahead, but there will be more discussion before any route is formed. We reported yesterday on the 200 strong pro-cycling group which rode the route.

Following much prior debate and deputations from SPOKES and Roseburn Cycle Route Group as well as The Roseburn Vision Group, Murrayfield Community Council and Central Taxis, the councillors put forward their political groups’ points of view and then came to their decision. The options in the original report were to adopt either Option A or Option B, but the Capital Coalition introduced an amendment which was eventually approved by everyone except the two Green Group councillors.

The recommendation subject to a slight amendment to 1.1.9 which delegates the final decision to the Director of Place is contained in this tweet:

Local councillor Jeremy Balfour who represents the Murrayfield ward asked council officers what discussions the council had with Lothian Buses or emergency services, and also enquired what affect the loss of parking would have on elderly and disabled people.

The council official confirmed that both Lothian Buses and the emergency services had been consulted, and that disabled parking will reduce from 92 to 68 metres.

Cllr Balfour mentioned later in the debate the fact that there was great division between the two sides here. “I would look at the traffic modelling. Traffic is very, very  heavy at peak times. I think that Option A would still cause problems, and I still have fears about emergency services. Many people live in West Lothian and more will live in the new developments planned to the west of the city. It was interesting that I have only had two public meetings during my 11 years as a councillor and one was about this scheme. It was clear that the majority of people were against the scheme and I look forward to working with the group and finding a solution.”

Transport Convener Cllr Hinds called the proposals ‘exciting and transformational’. She said : “I think that there are opposing views on Roseburn Terrace, but this is one small part of a larger scheme. You only have to look at the big gap in the city centre, and we  want to join up the east and west.  Strong arguments have been put forward on both options, so we have to work together to try and deliver a scheme such as this. We did it on Leith Walk with discussions among people who at first disagreed.

“The stakeholders group will include taxis, Lothian Buses,  Trams with regard to Haymarket,  SPOKES,  Active Travel, Sustrans, councillors and community councillors. I hope everyone will look to resolve the differences taking everything into account. When I came into this job four years ago, Sarah Boyack told me that it is a job which  never pleases everyone. But I am convinced that we can get the best solution for the city if we sit around a table and discuss matters.

“At the moment I do not think that Haymarket is the best design but we can work on that. My view is that any stakeholders must come to any meeting with their own views but also to listen to others. I am disappointed that the Green Group is using gesture politics and that they cannot agree with us, but continue to support Option A. Our continued investment has meant more cyclists on our roads, and looking at the number of cyclists on the roads this is the kind of thing we should be encouraging.

“A Portobello resident summarised the idea for me in an email. He got out of his car and got on his bike and he wants this for other people in the city. I genuinely believe that the way  forward is by discussion. Perhaps I will be able to take my grandchildren on a bike in the future.”

She was later scathing of the Green Group who decided to move an amendment of their own rather than supporting the Capital Coalition motion. “This is transformational and we have to look at the bigger picture. It is for people who do not feel safe on the roads to use, not the Lycra clad cyclists.”

Pro cycling groups organised a cycle yesterday to Ride the Route from Charlotte Square to Roseburn where they were met with boos from the local shopkeepers and residents gathered there. That group said they were pro cycling but against the plans for a segregated route travelling along Roseburn Terrace as it would undoubtedly lead to shop closures there.

Deputy Convener of Transport, Cllr Adam McVey who also joined the cycle yesterday morning said that there are surprisingly few areas of conflict over the entire stretch of road. “I support direct and on-road cycleways. That his how you get people to ditch the car and go for active travel. Having experienced Roseburn with Pete Gregson, and having been on the cycle yesterday morning I fail to see how the street is optimal for the businesses and local residents.

“We do not have to look at how fast vehicles can get along a street. This is a way of getting people round a table to discuss plans here, and I echo what Cllr Hinds says. It would be helpful to have all-party support as this would give the right message to the stakeholder group. I hope all groups will engage in the process with as good faith as possible. We have to make sure that we get the safe accessible cycle route we want, and focus on the needs of local residents and shoppers.

Cllr Bagshaw in disagreeing with the Capital Coalition’s motion, said he believes the plans can go further. The polarisation of the debate is very unhelpful. We find ourselves in a perverse situation where the majority of councillors say that they support Option A but will not vote for it. This is a test of where we want to go in the future. Over time we can build up a network of segregated routes but we have to start somewhere, It is time for us to step up to the mark. There will always be opposition to change and right to listen to all sides, but we have to move forward now. We will not support the coalition motion.

Councillor Booth said: “If we go back 50 years cities like Amsterdam needed reform. They then started sustained investment in cycling and invested money in their vision of where they wanted their city to be. Years of investment and political leadership have resulted in Copenhagen and Amsterdam becoming what they are today. We know that this administration can show political leadership. We supported you on the 20mph matter but we cannot support you today. A compromise route will not attract cyclists. We have not heard any evidence from the local businesses that the cycle route will affect their businesses

“Transformational change is not easy and needs strong leadership It is absolutely clear that the leadership points to Option A. A fudge and a compromise will not deliver a transformative route. Leith Walk has been quoted here today but it is not transformative cycle infrastructure.

Leith Walk councillor Nick Gardner confirmed that he thought that Option A was the best way to increase active travel. He said: “What we can say is that behaviour can change. Already on Leith Walk there is a change. However good Option A is though, I feel it would be wrong to railroad that over the needs and views of the local businesses. I think that the Capital Coalition motion is a very good way forward.”

Although he admitted that he usually disagrees with the Transport Convener on most matters, Cllr Nick Cook said that the Conservatives would support the Capital Coalition motion. He continued: “All councillors do want to deliver a cycle route from west to east across the city, but there are many unanswered questions. As a city we need to come together to address these. I believe that there are not so many differences between Option A and B, but as politicians we have to create the right conditions for a vibrant economy. I think it is important to bring people with us and this will depolarise the debate.”

Cllr Gavin Barrie, the Economy Convener, said that the taxi presentation proved to him that there is a huge problem in either of the schemes proposed. He said: “The Greens appear to have chosen to ignore a substantial part of our citizens, in the elderly or the disabled.”

Cllr Aldridge paid tribute to the council officers who have put so much work into the scheme. “Neither Option A or B is perfect. I welcome the fact that we are taking a little extra time to get the best option which balances everyone’s needs. We must make sure that buses move freely through all areas, and pedestrians must be protected too. I don’t think any polarisation is helpful in this matter. There has been little controversy about increasing the portion of our transport budget year on year, and what we have to do now is find the sustainable option which will work for the future.”

Another local councillor Allan Jackson said: “It has been said there was no proof that small businesses will close, but I have a lot of sympathy for the traders. If one or more shops close then it affects the rest. It is a cumulative process.”

So all groups will have the chance to have a further say in this matter. Recommendation 1.1.9 was amended so that the decision will be delegated to the Director of Place and Cllr Hinds also confirmed that meetings will be public to allow for discussion.

The Green Group are not entirely happy with the decision however and have described the decision as a transport and political failure.

Read more about that here.

 

 

 

 

Phyllis Stephen
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

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