Glasgow City

Thornwood Roundabout and NCN7 Project

A long overdue project for active travel improvements around Thornwood Roundabout and National Cycle Network Route 7 (NCN7). The roundabout plans are for new crossings and pavements/shared paths (widened onto verges). Crossings at north and east are 2-stage but close to ‘desire line’, with a few pinch points at corners. Crossings at west and south are set much further back (on existing paths). Sawmill St has a shared path south to crossings to a bi-directional cycletrack on South St/Castlebank St. That protected route runs most of the way to Pointhouse Place where there’s a shared path from the corner at the Riverside Museum. There’s a useful fly-through video of the route on the council webpage (and many visuals, which show cyclists riding on the right!). The cycletrack continues west along South St to the crossing at the end of the old railway path on the north side (near Dilwara Ave). While Thornwood roundabout is still car-dominated the plans are an upgrade for active travel. The cycletrack would be a very welcome improvement compared to NCN7’s current shared pavement.
Links: Thornwood-NCN7 consultation, Thornwood-NCN7 survey, Thornwood roundabout plans (PDF) and NCN7 plans (PDF).
Deadline: Sunday 17 December 2025.

Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove – Phase 4

“Proposals include an enhanced public realm outside Exhibition Centre Train Station, with plans aiming to create a more inviting and accessible space that supports sustainable travel. This project also explores how Corunna Street, Minerva Street and St Vincent Crescent could be improved to better support walking, wheeling and cycling, while creating more welcoming and accessible public spaces. Proposed improvements include making Corunna Street one-way northbound with a dedicated southbound cycle lane, upgrading pavements and crossings, and adding clearer signage to improve wayfinding.”
Links: Connecting Yorkhill–Kelvingrove Smartsurvey (see plans in updated Connecting Yorkhill–Kelvingrove StoryMap).
Deadline: 7 November 2025.

Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhood – Phase 1

“Plans for the Anderston Liveable Neighbourhood build on earlier community feedback, and focus on improving the environment for pedestrians at Kent Road, Brechin Street, Claremont Street, Breadalbane Street and Dover Street. Proposed changes include upgrading pavements with dropped kerbs and tactile paving, improving pedestrian crossings, and adding new infrastructure such as cycle shelters, green planting and enhanced drainage.”
Links: Yorkhill to Anderston LN Smartsurvey (see plans in updated Yorkhill to Anderston LN StoryMap).
Deadline: 7 November 2025.

South Lanarkshire

East Kilbride Masterplan – planning consultation event

SLC have announced a further consultation event for the first phase of East Kilbride town centre redevelopment. It follows previous consultation and events in EK shopping centre. This one may be linked to a Pre-Application Notice (PAN), ahead of plans being submitted, but it’s not clear. The redevelopment site is south of Cornwall St, which has a Spaces for People cycleway on its northern side. An article in South Lanarkshire View says: “The proposals that local residents and communities are being consulted on include:

• a reduction of 42% in retail floorspace
• up to 400 new homes in a new town centre neighbourhood
• a new Civic Hub
• a food supermarket as an anchor retailer
• the transformation of entrance points, including a new hotel”

Event: East Kilbride Central Library from 3pm to 7pm on Thursday 30 October.
Links: East Kilbride Masterplan, SL View article.

Country Park Masterplans

Visuals and plans for Calderglen Country Park (East Kilbride) and Chatelherault Country Park (Ferniegair/Hamilton). These follow consultations last year (see Digest 165). Plans for both parks include upgraded facilities and infrastructure. The highlight for cycling is a proposed new active travel path and bridge over the burn at Calderglen. An article in South Lanarkshire View says: “Phase one projects include the creation of a new ‘pump track’ for three–to seven-year-olds close to the existing adventure playground at Calderglen.” Also, “a study is underway to look at options to reinstate the White Bridge at Chatelherault. The council’s approved budget for 2025/2026 includes an allocation of £1.35m towards both projects. Approved Masterplans for each park will mean that the council can pursue new UK and Scottish Government funding as and when available.”
Links: SLC Country Parks website (note: survey has closed).

Town centres dominate this issue – one in South Lanarkshire (visualisation in featured image, above) and no less than eight in East Renfrewshire! Elsewhere, North Lanarkshire’s consultations continue and South Ayrshire looks at car parking. Glasgow has a few projects in both the West End and in the north of the city – one of the latter links with East Dunbartonshire.

On 26 March a vigil was held for Una Brandreth, who was killed while cycling in Bearsden a week before. The petition to improve road safety in the area now has over 2,000 signatures.

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: North Woodside Road (Outdoor Public Space)

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: This started as an idea from Websters Theatre for a temporary public events space in the cul-de-sac outside their building. It was put forward for a council programme called Animating Spaces but has since become part of the wider Connecting Woodside project. The latest plans feature a path, dropped kerb, cycle hire station and rain garden. The street is a useful link between the Kelvin Way and Great Western Road (and doesn’t currently have a drop kerb). While the plan might seem modest, removing two car parking spaces to fit it in might still get a negative reaction from some in the West End.
Featured: Digest 75, 1.1 (originally as “Websters Theatre – A New Public Space at Kelvinbridge”).
Website links: N Woodside Rd storymap and N Woodside Rd survey
Deadline: 12 April 2024.

1.2: Conservation Area Consultations (Coatbridge/Cumbernauld)

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: Two consultations about lesser known Conservation Areas. The Coatbridge one is either side of Blairhill train station and the other is in Cumbernauld Village (the original settlement north of the town centre). While not directly related to cycling, the last few survey questions mention traffic and development.
Website links: Coatbridge: Blairhill and Dunbeth Conservation Area Consultation and Cumbernauld Village Conservation Area Consultation.
Deadline: 12 April 2024.

1.3: A803 Stage 2

Council: East Dunbartonshire (and Glasgow CC/City Deal).
Subject: The A803 includes Springburn Rd and Kirkintilloch Rd between North Glasgow and Bishopbriggs. Consultation in 2022 (with Atkins) led to three route options (by Arcadia).
Option 1 – bus lanes (mostly southbound) with nothing for cycling.
Option 2 – some southbound bus lanes and a shared path for walking/cycling. Except near Bishopbriggs town centre it zigzags off into a ‘quietway’ cycle route. Then back to a shared path before it gives up at Hawthorn St.
Option 3 – some sections of 2-way cycleway in north Bishopbriggs then shared path/quietway again until Hawthorn St (where it “will tie into a proposed cycle route that Glasgow City Council is developing”). However, what would happen in the meantime? Alternatives would include using grass verges/upgrading existing paths or actually taking road space from the A803 dual carriageway. However, EDC doesn’t offer those options.
A drop-in event has already taken place.
Website links: A803 Stage 2 storymap and A803 public consultation page (with downloads of plans for Option 1, Option 2 and Option 3).
Deadline: 21 April 2024.

1.4: Hamilton Town Centre Masterplan

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: One of Scotland’s biggest towns gets a radical rethink to reduce retail and reintroduce residences. The same team who did East Kilbride’s plans are looking at potential demolition of both the New Cross and Regent shopping centres (and maybe the former Baird’s and M&S buildings). However, initial plans keep the 4/5-lane A723 around the south-eastern edge of the town centre, which severs it from neighbouring areas (Barncluith and Silvertonhill). The Masterplan material mentions active travel but very few images have cycle lanes. There are some inventive ideas but many cluttered shared spaces, which could do with some kind of segregation (like rows of trees, to take inspiration from the historic ‘Great Avenue’). The only current cycle route in the town centre (between Hamilton Central station and Strathclyde Park) is mostly paint, except a short stretch of shared path on Leechlee Rd protected by a hedge. The masterplan process is a golden opportunity to push for cycleways like recent ones in Glasgow or East Kilbride town centre.
Drop-in events (remaining):
4 April, 10am–4pm – Former Quiz shop unit, Regent Shopping Centre (Regent Way).
5 April, 10am–4pm – Asda, Palace Grounds.
Website links: South Lanarkshire View article, Hamilton Masterplan website and Hamilton Masterplan survey.
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.5: Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Former ‘Cycling Village’ bid by YoKeCoCo (big Sustrans funding winner back in 2019). Since the pandemic it’s been rebranded as a GCC ‘Connecting…’ project.
Phase 1 – Yorkhill North includes previous plans for Radnor St, Haugh Rd, Gilbert St and Sandyford St (between Kelvin Way and SWG3). Another 2-way cycleway up Yorkhill St would link to infrastructure on Old Dumbarton Rd (behind the Kelvin Hall).
Phase 2 – widen footways along Kelvinhaugh St and add 1-way cycleways at the wide Argyle St junction.
Phase 3 – add bidirectional cycleways on Derby St to link from Kelvinhaugh St, across Argyle St and Sauchiehall St, to Kelvingrove Park.
Phase 4 – look at Corunna Street and Minerva Street (near Exhibition Centre train station). Also, there will be changes to car parking provision to better match the number of spaces and permit holders (currently two of the latter on Kelvinhaugh St for 203 spaces!).
Drop-in event: Thursday 18 April 2024 at 3.30–7pm in The Pyramid at Anderston, 759 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8DS.
See below for related Liveable Neighbourhoods projects and Traffic Regulation Order.
Website links: Connecting Y&K storymap and Connecting Y&K survey.
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.6: Yorkhill to Anderston: Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The above Connecting Yorkhill and Kelvingrove work means the Liveable Neighbourhoods projects focus on Anderston (and part of Sandyford). These include adding some cycleways to the West City Way and tweaks to other sections. So, there’s a new cycleway for the quieter bit of Argyle St between the Buttery and Pyramid, near St Patrick’s Primary School. Some raised tables removed and the Elderslie St/Argyle St corner is remodelled. New 1-way cycleways go north of St Vincent St with a revised crossing on Elderslie St. Also, Kent Rd would get a 1-way section and some greenery. However, there are no upgrades for Berkeley St – the bus boarder and junctions at Elderslie St and Claremont St (near the Gaelic School) are untouched. North Claremont St is still disrupted by building work but it’s hard to follow the logic of the rest. Hopefully, the joint consultation event will provide some answers (18 April, as above). Also, these works raise questions about the level of provision in other LN areas.
Website links: Yorkhill–Anderston LN storymap, Anderston LN survey and Yorkhill to Anderston consultation (on GCC’s LN webpage).
Deadline: 28 Apr 2024.

1.7: Prestwick parking consultation 2024

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (on behalf of South Ayrshire Council).
Subject: Proposals to add further streets to an existing residents car parking permit scheme around Main Street, Prestwick. The new town centre streets added at the northern end of the area include Berelands Road, Mieklewood Avenue and Links Road. The latter is part of NCN7, along with Station Rd and Kirk St.
Website links: Prestwick parking consultation webpage.
Deadline: 03 May 2024.

1.8: East Renfrewshire Town Centres

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Further consultation about eight East Ren town centres: Clarkston, Eaglesham, Giffnock, Barrhead, Busby, Neilston, Newton Mearns and Thornliebank. The last phase collected suggestions about changes to each place. Some of the most popular options are now available to choose in ‘Final verification surveys’. Questions are grouped under headings: ‘Roads, transportation and active travel’, ‘Buildings, retail and meeting spaces’ and ‘Green space and path networks’.
Featured: Digest 121, 1.14 (and 112).
Website links: East Renfrewshire Town Centres Commonplace site.
Deadline: 05 May 2024.

1.9: Flourishing Molendinar

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: A project started by St Paul’s Youth Forum and their On Bikes team. Their original base is on Langdale St, Blackhill which had one of the first Spaces for People streets created during lockdown. More SfP streets followed on Royston Rd, Provanmill Rd and Cumbernauld Rd before the wider project was taken over by Glasgow City Council. These (very) detailed draft plans would make those protected lanes permanent and add a new public space in the middle of Langdale St (on a block with no houses facing onto it). Also, they’d add crucial connections to places like Smithycroft High School, taming junction 12 of the M8 motorway in the process.
Public Drop in Events: Wednesday 24 / Thursday 25 April 2024, 3pm – 7pm.
Molendinar Community Centre, 1210 Royston Road, Glasgow G33 1HE
Website links: FloMo poster, FloMo plans sheet 1, FloMo plans sheet 2 and FloMo plans sheet 3.
Deadline: 13 May 2024.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting – 25 March 2024

Subject: SLCP members include councillors, officers and external groups like Sustrans, Camglen Bike Town and GoBike. The main presentation was about the finished active travel studies for Clydesdale (split into three areas). The council now has active travel studies covering the whole of South Lanarkshire.
The other main presentation was about funding changes – Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has had its capital budget cut to zero. Also, funding that used to come via Sustrans is changing to direct funding from Transport Scotland. This has affected some ongoing projects but it looks like TS funding may go towards work around the new Hairmyres station (which goes to planning soon).
Updates included Bike Town planning expansion into East Kilbride, following their work there on bikes for refugees (with EK Integration Network) and tours of the new cycling infrastructure.
Also, some success for GoBike – following consultation, SLC are looking at an alternative route up from the Raith Interchange on Laighlands Rd/Bothwellpark Rd (instead of the steeper Langside Rd).

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Subject: Order about disabled car parking spaces.
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs.

3.2: Glasgow City TROs and Traffic Calming

Subject: Traffic order for North Hanover St and Kyle St – in advance of works for the Avenues project. TRO plans show 2-way lanes are due to go on the eastern side of N Hanover St then a diagonal crossing will take them to the northern side of Kyle St (to connect with the new Sighthill bridge). A GoBike response raised several issues, especially about junctions/future connections including George Sq, Cathedral St, Cowcaddens Rd and Dobbies Loan. The GCC response answered some of our points but seemed to misinterpret others. Unfortunately, as GoBike are still quite stretched, we didn’t manage to get back to them before the public TRO went out. Deadline: 19 April 2024.
Other ongoing TRO consultations include Yorkhill Area/Radnor St and Duke St/John Knox St. The page also lists recent ‘made’ orders for St George’s St/Clarendon Place and the North East Active Travel Routes (NEATR).
Website links: GCC Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders and GCC Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Subject: Changes to restrictions in Airdrie at the pedestrianised part of Graham St and on Wellwynd (next to New Wellwynd Parish Church). Deadline: 19 April 2024.
Website links: Graham Street and Wellwynd, Airdrie – Traffic Regulation (Consolidation) Variation Order.

After a flurry of consultations since the local elections, things have slowed down for summer holidays. However, there’s an important Order to pave the way for protected bike lanes on Byres Road (hopefully sooner rather than later).

Elsewhere, the City Wharf pre-application closes soon. Consultations on East City Way and East Ren’s guidance are open for a bit longer. Greater Pollok still has months to go, which is handy since the map only has a dozen responses so far. Also, Greenock’s Spaces for People consultation is still open. Added: consultations for Ayr/Prestwick and Battlefield, Glasgow.

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. City Wharf development (Anderston Quay)
2. East City Way – Phase 6 and 7
3. LDP2 – Supplementary Guidance Consultation (ERC)
4. Greater Pollok Strategic Development Framework
5. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
6. *ADDITION* Ayr to Prestwick Active Travel Route
7. *ADDITION* Connecting Battlefield (GCC)

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Byres Road (Traffic Management and Parking Controls) Order 2022

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: City Wharf development (Anderston Quay)

Organisation: Dandara Living (developers).
Area: Anderston Quay by the Clyde, west of the Kingston Bridge. Site is next to the shared path to pedestrian bridge over the Expressway.
Subject: Latest plan for flats and public realm on this site, which seems to build over the top of Cheapside St (see image at top of Digest 113). Planning permission was given in 2018 but Dandara have updated their plans with a taller tower (at the south-eastern corner). This helps increase the number of flats to 670 in three blocks. Apparently, they’ll have 60 car parking spaces but 850+ bike spaces! There’s no detail on the type of bike parking or about the “commercial space”. City Wharf is a pre-application consultation. A ‘live chat’ took place online on 16 June as part of the process.
Featured: Digest 113, Item 1.3.
Website links: City Wharf design proposals (click buttons under image to view each one).
Deadline: 8 July 2022.

1.2: East City Way – Phase 6 and 7

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: London Road – from Fielden Street (West of Scotland Housing Association) to Canmore Street (by Helensea Park).
Subject: East City Way Phase 1 (2021) is at Mount Vernon, near the North Lanarkshire boundary. Phases 6 and 7 are due ahead of the UCI Cycling World Championships in August 2023. They’d continue where the older bi-directional cycletrack from Bridgeton finishes (near the police station). They’d be uni-directional lanes past Celtic Park/Emirates towards Braidfauld, following the current Spaces for People lanes. However, they’d take up less room (leaving space for both right-turn lanes and bike lanes at junctions). They’d give permanent protection, including on the section past Celtic Park where segregation was removed. The Clyde Gateway protected junction looks promising but the angled crossroads at Springfield Rd has several issues. Also, why narrow north-side pavements instead of using the derelict space on the south-side?
Last featured: Digest 113, Item 1.4.
Website links: East City Way Facebook post and East City Way survey (13 questions).
Deadline: 15 July 2022.

1.3: LDP2 – Supplementary Guidance Consultation (ERC)

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: ERC is reviewing Supplementary Guidance documents to go with its Local Development Plan 2. They say: “Supplementary Guidance provides further detail about the policies and proposals of the LDP2 and forms a statutory part of the Adopted plan. There are 3 statutory Supplementary Guidance documents on which we are consulting, these are: Affordable Housing; Green Network; and Development Contributions.” This last item can include housebuilders creating paths to join existing networks. There’s also a Householder Design Guide coming out separately to LDP2.
First featured: Digest 47, Item 1.5 (further detail in Digest 48, Item 1.4).
Website links: Supplementary Guidance Consultation (near foot of page).
Deadline: 20 July 2022.

1.4: Greater Pollok Strategic Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South-western corner of Glasgow at edge of M77 and East Renfrewshire. Includes Leverndale, Nitshill, Priesthill and Darnley neighbourhoods.
Subject: The latest SDF follows others for North Glasgow, Inner East, etc. and looks at the economy, environment and transport over the next few decades. This part of Glasgow juts out between Barrhead and Thornliebank so connections with East Renfrewshire are important. It covers part of Dams to Darnley Country Park so has some things in common with the recent Barrhead consultation map. Also, Braidcraft Rd and Brockburn Rd have Spaces for People lanes (as does Corkerhill Rd to north). However, there are some hellish junctions around Silverburn Shopping Centre. Later in the year GCC should write a draft strategy for further consultation.
First featured: Digest 113, Item 1.6.
Website links: Greater Pollok Commonplace map.
Deadline: September 2022.

1.5: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
First featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Ayr to Prestwick Active Travel Route

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (via consultants Sweco).
Area: South Ayrshire.
Subject: An upgraded active travel route between Ayr and Prestwick. If it goes ahead, it would replace the current NCN7 along the coast, so has potential for cycle tourism as well as local journeys. There are photos of parts of the current route but no plans/visuals. So, it seems to be an early consultation to get comments (and maybe gauge demand?). If so, the more responses the better.
Website links: Ayr to Prestwick survey.
Deadline: 12 August 2022.

1.7: Connecting Battlefield

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Battlefield Road, Grange Road, Langside Road and Queens Drive (between Queen’s Park and Mount Florida).
Subject: A long awaited ‘relaunch’ of the project, which was interrupted by Covid-19. It features an extension to the South City Way cycletrack and major changes to junctions like Battlefield Rest and Mount Florida Corner. The consultation site mentions the Liveable Neighbourhood plans for Langside to Toryglen so hopefully these will dovetail with the Battlefield plans.
Featured: Consultation Extra, February 2020.
Website links: Connecting Battlefield ‘Storymap’ and Connecting Battlefield survey.
Deadline: 14 August 2022.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Byres Road (Traffic Management and Parking Controls) Order 2022

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: GCC say the: “…Order was made on Tuesday 28th June 2022 to introduce parking controls and traffic management to facilitate public realm improvements and the inclusion of cycle lanes and shared use parking. Less stringent modifications specified below:

• Reduction of the restriction “No waiting at any time, no loading or unloading at any time” at the area of local businesses on the east section between Vinicombe Street and Great Western Road
• Part of this reduction will be covered under “No waiting at any time, No loading or unloading during 07:00-10:00 and 16:00-19:00 each day” to help during peak hours”

The drawing shows the layout of protected cycle lanes on Byres Rd. While it’s good to see them included, it’s another example of issues with junctions – priority at side streets and being spat out into crossroads. Also, there are sweeping curves for many side streets but sharp angles for the bike lanes; when it should be the other way around.
Website links: Byres Rd TRO plans (PDF).

This issue is split between a few East Renfrewshire consultations and one for the East City Way (by the velodrome, ahead of next year’s World Championships). There’s a consultation for ‘Greater Pollok’, in the south-west of Glasgow, and five ‘bus corridors’ on the western side of the city (no longer ‘Sustainable Transport Corridors’?).

Also, a new development is planned next to the shared path under the Kingston Bridge (see site plan in image, above). Plus feedback on moves to cap Charing Cross (or maybe even replace the city centre M8?).

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. A77 Active Corridor (Ayr Road)
2. Improving Bus Travel – Glasgow Region
3. City Wharf development (Anderston Quay)
4. East City Way – Phase 6 and 7
5. LDP2 – Supplementary Guidance Consultation (ERC)
6. Greater Pollok Strategic Development Framework
7. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Levelling Up Fund (second funding call)
2. Replace the M8? A Public Conversation event

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: A77 Active Corridor (Ayr Road)

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: A77 west of Newton Mearns.
Subject: Phase 1 of this project extended a shared path from the M77 overpass past Malletsheugh Rd (site of at least one car crash, as seen on StreetView). Phase 2 would add a toucan crossing then 1-way lanes for about a quarter of a mile towards Newton Mearns (removing a central reservation, as shown in main image in Digest 112). Also, proposals would convert a roundabout to a protected junction with traffic lights. This would be one of the first of this kind of protected junction in a Scottish town. As with previous consultations on Ayr Rd, the comments are polarised between road safety/active travel and convenience for driving/stereotypes about cycling. The new Williamwood Cycle Lane Campaign have asked people to support the proposals.
First featured: Digest 97, Item 1.7.
Website links: A77 Active Corridor consultation.
Deadline: 30 June 2022.

1.2: Improving Bus Travel – Glasgow Region

Organisation: Glasgow Bus Partnership.
Area: Five ‘bus corridors’ including Maryhill Rd, Great Western Rd, Dumbarton Rd, Paisley Road West and the A77. These cover whole routes from neighbouring council areas and city centre streets like Hope St and Cathedral St.
Subject: On the surface, this is part of a City Deal funded project to reduce bus delays by 20%. However, Glasgow’s Active Travel Strategy and Network Map call the same routes ‘Sustainable Transport Corridors’. Ominously, active travel isn’t mentioned at all in this consultation. While bus routes and issues need attention, it does raise questions about the wider approach when GBP hold the purse strings. The ATS was written under Anna Richardson who’s since left the council – no replacement Active Travel Lead has been appointed so far. While that voice is missing at the top table, this consultation is an important chance to remind GBP that protected cycletracks on these routes are essential for the future network.
Website links: Improving Bus Travel consultation page and Glasgow Buses survey.
Deadline: 1 July 2022.

1.3: City Wharf development (Anderston Quay)

Organisation: Dandara Living (developers).
Area: Anderston Quay by the Clyde, west of the Kingston Bridge. Site is next to the shared path to Expressway pedestrian bridge.
Subject: Latest plan for flats and public realm on this site, which seems to build over the top of Cheapside St (see image at top of page). Planning permission was given in 2018 but Dandara have updated their plans with a taller tower (at the south-eastern corner). This helps increase the number of flats to 670 in three blocks. Apparently, they’ll have 60 car parking spaces but 850+ bike spaces! There’s no detail on the type of bike parking or about the “commercial space”. There are hardly any shops in the immediate area. However, there is a large hotel/office block being built on the next plot, beside the Daily Record building. It seems to include some shops/cafes, if you believe the development’s visualisation (PDF). City Wharf is a pre-application consultation. A ‘live chat’ took place online on 16 June as part of the process.
First featured: Digest 112 (under Forthcoming consultations).
Website links: City Wharf design proposals (click buttons under image to view each one).
Deadline: 8 July 2022.

1.4: East City Way – Phase 6 and 7

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: London Road – from Fielden Street (West of Scotland Housing Association) to Canmore Street (by Helensea Park).
Subject: East City Way Phase 1 (2021) is at Mount Vernon, near the North Lanarkshire boundary. Phases 6 and 7 are due ahead of the UCI Cycling World Championships in August 2023. They’d continue where the older bi-directional cycletrack from Bridgeton finishes (near the police station). They’d be uni-directional lanes past Celtic Park/Emirates towards Braidfauld, following the current Spaces for People lanes. However, they’d take up less room (leaving space for both right-turn lanes and bike lanes at junctions). They’d give permanent protection, including on the section past Celtic Park where segregation was removed (due to a perceived trip hazard). The lane seems to be kerb-separated, so hopefully doesn’t suffer the same fate. The Clyde Gateway protected junction looks promising but the angled crossroads at Springfield Rd (in link and image, above) has several issues. Also, why narrow north-side pavements instead of using the derelict space on the south-side?
First featured: Digest Extra.
Website links: East City Way Facebook post and East City Way survey (13 questions).
Deadline: 15 July 2022.

1.5: LDP2 – Supplementary Guidance Consultation (ERC)

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: ERC is reviewing Supplementary Guidance documents to go with its Local Development Plan 2. They say: “Supplementary Guidance provides further detail about the policies and proposals of the LDP2 and forms a statutory part of the Adopted plan. There are 3 statutory Supplementary Guidance documents on which we are consulting, these are: Affordable Housing; Green Network; and Development Contributions.” This last item can include housebuilders creating paths to join existing networks. So, stronger policy could mean improved links to new developments. There’s also a Householder Design Guide coming out separately to LDP2.
First featured: Digest 47, Item 1.5 (further detail in Digest 48, Item 1.4).
Website links: Supplementary Guidance Consultation (near foot of page).
Deadline: 20 July 2022.

1.6: Greater Pollok Strategic Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South-western corner of Glasgow at edge of M77 and East Renfrewshire. Includes Leverndale, Nitshill, Priesthill and Darnley neighbourhoods.
Subject: The latest SDF follows others for North Glasgow, Inner East, etc. These documents cover larger areas and look at requirements for economy, environment and transport over the next few decades. This is an initial consultation to gather comments on a Commonplace map. This part of Glasgow juts out between Barrhead and Thornliebank so connections with East Renfrewshire are important. It covers part of Dams to Darnley Country Park so has some things in common with the Barrhead consultation map in last issue. Also, Braidcraft Rd and Brockburn Rd have Spaces for People lanes (as does Corkerhill Rd to north). However, there are some hellish junctions around Silverburn Shopping Centre. Later in the year GCC should write a draft strategy for further consultation.
Website links: Greater Pollok Commonplace map.
Deadline: September 2022.

1.7: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
First featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Levelling Up Fund (second funding call)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City-wide (but only one bid per UK parliament constituency).
Subject: This is a UK Government fund for ‘smaller’ transport projects, town centre regeneration and heritage projects up to £20m. Pollok Country Park Stables & Courtyard won funding from the first call. Also, one big bid is allowed for a £50m transport project. In the second call, Glasgow’s big transport bid is a cap over the M8 at Charing Cross. However, it wouldn’t extend in front of the Mitchell Library. Apparently, there are complications with clearance above the road and shallow rail tunnels. Also, GCC would need approval from Transport Scotland. The other high profile bid is to restore the Winter Gardens at the People’s Palace. Both are in the same UK constituency (Glasgow Central). The rest include regenerating ‘town centres’ in Drumchapel (Glasgow NW), Easterhouse (Glasgow East) and Maryhill (Glasgow North). Also, paying for Possilpark Liveable Neighbourhood (Glasgow NE) and ‘Clyde Connectivity’ linking QEUH, SEC and city centre (Glasgow West/Central).
Website links: Re:Glasgow Levelling Up Fund article and GCC City Administration Committee paper.

2.2: Replace the M8? A Public Conversation event

Organisation: University of Glasgow, Urban Studies.
Area: The city centre M8 corridor.
Subject: The Replace the M8 Twitter account started in August 2021. It has built up a following and featured in the Imagine Glasgow COP26 event. On 21 June, Dr Andrew Hoolachan at Glasgow Uni hosted people from different disciplines to discuss replacing the M8. The panel included: Jude Barber (Collective Architecture), Iain Docherty (Stirling University), Cllr Christy Mearns, Niall Murphy (Glasgow City Heritage Trust) and Paul Sweeney MSP. Some of the main points are noted in a Twitter thread by active travel researcher Rachel Aldred. GCC leader Susan Aitken later tweeted: “My administration is clear we’d like to see radical transformation of the M8 but I don’t have the power to effect that. It will require national action and very significant investment.” Also, Green councillors tabled a council motion about investigating how to reduce the impact of the M8 on the city centre. One to watch…
Website links: Replace the M8’s open letter. (Also, a recording of the meeting is due to follow.)

Happy Easter! Things are a bit dead, before numbers rise again after the election, so it’s a chance to bring back consultations that slipped through the net in the last few months. The 12 local authorities in the Strathclyde area don’t always let us know what they’re up to!

This issue features East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire for the first time in a while. North Ayrshire and Inverclyde still have consultations open. Also, regulars like Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. The latter had a consultation that fell between Digest issues (see featured image, above) and sent a new update on NCN74.

Also, ahead of the local elections, check out Walk, Wheel, Cycle, Vote and consider a trip to Edinburgh for Pedal on Parliament‘s new route on 23 April (just after Earth Day).

Forthcoming consultation

Grassyards Road: Temporary cycle route extension (to MacKenzie Drive, Kilmarnock). Expected early May 2022 (presumably after the local elections).

Contents
(new/updated items in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)
2. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
3. Ardrossan Harbour Consultation
4. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
5. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Foregate Square/James Shaw Lane, Kilmarnock (Temp. Pedestrian and Cycle Zone) TRO
2. Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan (ASTSAP), West Dunbartonshire
3. Churchill Ave route (& Cornwall St), East Kilbride
4. NCN74 Bothwell/Uddingston
5. East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 formally adopted

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ (People-First infrastructure)

Organisation: Stantec on behalf of a partnership between University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council.
Area: Townhead/Cathedral St area, north-east of city centre.
Subject: Consultation on the so-called ‘Learning Quarter’ where many streets are due to be in the city’s Avenues Project, including Cathedral St and North Hanover St. The campus project would link between those to the universities and college. Firstly, the Western Route includes steep Montrose St, as it goes past Strathclyde Uni’s ‘Heart of the Campus’ (Rottenrow Gardens). There’s another hill past City of Glasgow College towards Buchanan Bus Station. Secondly, the Eastern Route would connect to Rottenrow East and link to Avenues Plus routes on George St and John Knox St. Thirdly, the Northern Route goes from Cathedral St east of the college towards the new Sighthill Bridge. The survey asks about different options for streets on the routes. Stakeholder workshops will take place after Easter.
First featured: Digest 74, Item 2.1.
Website links: Public Engagement Web Hub.
Deadline: 8 May 2022.

1.2: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Yorkhill, Kelvinhaugh, Stobcross, Sandyford, Finnieston to Anderston.
Subject: The latest Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation covers the area between the River Clyde, River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Park and M8. Popular active travel infrastructure in the area includes NCN7/75 and the West City Way. Also, the (almost finished?) lanes funded by City Deal on Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd. Further segregated cyclepaths are due for Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village. These include Minerva St and Haugh Rd (where Bike for Good have their West hub). However, there are still plenty of gaps, as shown when the riverbank was shut during COP26. A new bridge across the Clyde at the Riverside Museum is due to start construction. Meanwhile, the SEC’s redevelopment may close off the red ‘smartie tube’ bridge at Exhibition Centre station. The M8 motorway remains a barrier to destinations like the Mitchell Library and Anderston station.
First featured: Digest 107, Item 1.11.
Website links: Yorkhill to Anderston LN (Commonplace).
Deadline: June 2022.

1.3: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation

Council: North Ayrshire.
Subject: Ardrossan Harbour and ferry terminal redevelopment “…will improve the facilities and operations at Ardrossan to meet the additional capacity provided by the MV Glen Sannox.” The much-delayed ferry is due to enter service later in 2022. Part of the proposals are about active travel routes into the site. The consultation interface is 3D but the plans are squashed into slides from a presentation. There seem to be walking and cycling lanes into both the west side (Harbour Rd) and east side (behind the Housing Association building). The presentation also mentions cycle parking, which may be at the south-west corner of the terminal. However, the plans are very hard to read. The cycle lanes should link into the Ardrossan Connections project in the town. Despite some reaction against the project in the local paper and a petition, it has held consultation events in March/April.
First featured: Digest 109, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ardrossan Harbour Consultation page and Ardrossan Harbour survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.4: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. Drumchapel is known as one of the ‘big four’ post-war council housing estates (along with Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Pollok). The Drumchapel Cycle Hub is based near the sports centre but there’s very little cycling infrastructure around the area. The map has made it past 25 comments.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.5: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A recent council vote was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months, with a further review in September. Photos in the consultation survey show a mixture of on-road ‘soft’ segregation and painted lanes on footways and across side roads. While some of the junction and bus stop treatments may not be ideal, there seem to be decent protected sections too.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Foregate Square/James Shaw Lane, Kilmarnock (Temporary Pedestrian and Cycle Zone) TRO

Council: East Ayrshire (via Ayrshire Roads Alliance).
Subject: A TRO from a few months ago, which extends the previous Spaces for People scheme (which your author missed – apologies). James Shaw Lane has a taxi rank and car parking beside a multi-storey car park. It leads to Foregate Square at the Burns Mall Shopping Centre and the bus station (with links to pedestrianised King St). The Order bans general car traffic but allows Blue Badge holders, taxis and some loading. The council SfP page shows the painted treatment and signage at the tarmac end of James Shaw Ln. However, Google StreetView images (see above) suggest there’s an issue with enforcement. The multi-storey car park is due to be closed and demolished later this year. The new Order came into force on 24 February 2022.
Website links: Foregate Sq/James Shaw Ln TRO and Foregate Sq/James Shaw Ln plan.

2.2: Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan (ASTSAP), West Dunbartonshire

Council: West Dunbartonshire.
Subject: A new Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy consultation sadly finished in March. Unfortunately, GoBike don’t hear much from West Dunbartonshire Council (unlike East Dunbartonshire, where we’re Stage 1 consultees). The strategy’s website does mention networks of active travel routes but doesn’t mention standards like the revised Cycling by Design. As the graphic shows, there’s an emphasis on electric vehicles over active travel. However, it does at least mention an e-bike charging network. There is some good active travel infrastructure in West Dumbartonshire, like the Bowline. But, as in most council areas, they lack protected everyday routes outside the National Cycle Network. This includes tourist destinations like the car-centric Loch Lomond Shores. WDC share some transport and environmental functions with East Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde councils. Inverclyde recently posted a Shared Services update on behalf of the local authorities.
Website link: Active & Sustainable Travel Strategy and Action Plan site, Results of Strategy Consultation (Phase 1 PDF), ASTSAP Appendix A (Emissions PDF), ASTSAP Appendix B (Sustainable Travel. PDF).

2.3: Churchill Ave route (& Cornwall St), East Kilbride

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: This consultation came up between Digests (with a deadline the day before the next one!). The route starts on Cornwall St and should solve some of the issues going east at the taxi rank. The segregated 2-way cycletracks go north on Churchill Avenue towards West Mains Rd and Aldi. The rest of the route goes south-east, where it links with an existing path towards South Lanarkshire College. An alternative route under the roundabout avoids the double road crossing but the new route doesn’t connect directly to it. Perhaps due to concerns about underpasses, from college students/staff at the consultation workshop. While the above route uses verges, it would change some kerblines and require roadworks. W Mains Rd’s Places for Everyone project drew criticism for that so there may be more flak to come. W Mains Rd is due further work to build a protected junction at Torrance Rd.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.4.
Website link: Churchill Ave proposal 1 (PDF), Churchill Ave proposal 2 (PDF), Churchill Ave proposal 3 (PDF) and EK town centre network phasing.

2.4: NCN74 Bothwell/Uddingston

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Subject: Also in South Lanarkshire, GoBike member Denny passed on a response from the council about re-routing NCN74 between the Raith Interchange and Uddingston. SLC said: “the proposed rerouting and improvement designs will shortly be going out to Public Consultation.” Also: “construction has started on an off-road section between North British Road and Bellshill Road. This path will now incorporate a 3m wide cycle lane accompanied by a 2m wide pedestrian pavement. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by 15 April 2022, weather depending.” This section was already a popular off-road path so the extra width should help avoid conflicts between people.

2.5: East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 formally adopted

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: East Ren’s new Local Development Plan finally made it over the finishing line. Following consultation, going to the Scottish Government Reporter, then Scottish Ministers (as we last heard in Digest 102, 2.5). ERC emailed: “As of 31st March 2022, the East Renfrewshire Local Development Plan 2 is now formally adopted.”
First featured: Digest 47, Item 1.5 (response: Digest 49, 1.3).
Website link: East Renfrewshire LDP2 page.

The Digest will take a break and return in May.