In early 2021, The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) gathered feedback from residents in the East Craigs/North Gyle/Craigmount and Bughtlin area – collectively referred to as East Craigs for the purposes of this proposal – to inform the development of a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN).
The objective of the East Craigs Low Traffic Neighbourhood was to create a safer and more comfortable street environment for residents, businesses and visitors walking, cycling, wheeling and spending time in the area. It would:
- Protect the streets from the traffic impacts of the new development sites in the West of Edinburgh – currently expected to include nearly 10,000 new houses, of which approximately 2,300 of these are currently under construction
- Create safer routes to school
- Address the speed and volume of traffic in a number of residential streets
- Improve cycling routes and access in the area including the West EdinburghLink project
All the information about the East Craigs LTN was included in the publication Community Engagement: Informing the scope for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs.
In June 2021 CEC announced that during the consultation a majority of respondents in East Craigs reported that traffic levels were not significant on most residential streets. However, some residents did indicate that there are issues with high traffic volumes on selected streets and as of 3rd June CEC propose to have a further discussion on targeted traffic reduction with the East Craigs community at a later date, with a view to bringing proposals back to a future meeting of Transport and Environment Committee.
For definitions and myth-busting related to LTNs, see FAQs about Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
CALL TO ACTION
All the information you need to respond to this consultation is included in the publication Community Engagement: Informing the scope for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in East Craigs. The survey can be found here and needs to be filled in by 28th February.
There is plenty of room within the survey to emphasise your own experience of travel in the area. You could think about the journeys you make and how they could be improved:
- Are there dropped kerbs at crossing points?
- Are you worried about the speed of traffic on your journeys?
- Are the pavements wide enough for you to walk and talk side by side with a friend or with children?
- Is it safe for your child to walk or cycle to school, shops or the bus stop unaccompanied?
- Is there anything that you would like to do but currently feel you can’t? For example, cycling with your child to the park, crossing roads safely, cycling to the shops or to visit friends.
The survey is focussed on people who are resident within the area, however you may live just outside the map, but still have frequent journeys walking, wheeling or cycling to school, work, or other addresses that are within the consultation area. If so, make it clear why you feel your response is still relevant.
As an alternative to the online survey, you can email the council directly: Kevin.Gauld@edinburgh.gov.uk and Martyn.Lings@edinburgh.gov.uk
If you are broadly supportive of the proposals, please make this clear in the subject of your email.
The deadline for responding to the survey is 28th February 2021 – if you are a resident of the affected area, we hope you can find some time to put your views across.
ONGOING ACTION
We will continue to communicate with our local councillors and politicians to show there is strong support for the East Craigs LTN amongst all groups of stakeholders: residents, children and parents at the school, people who work in the area, regular visitors and family members and areas bordering the LTN that are affected by traffic cutting through the East Craigs/Craigmount/North Gyle area.
It’s important to make sure our voices are heard. One of the most effective things you can do if you are in favour of the East Craigs LTN is to engage with your local representatives by writing to your City of Edinburgh Councillors, the community council, MSP and MP, and by attending your local Community Council meetings.
If you’re keen to support these aims, please consider taking a few simple steps.