Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes initiative, please add your views and concerns
2. ** NEW** Renfrewshire Council Spaces for People consultation, closes 26 July
3. East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, closes 31 July
4. Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. GoBike is going to consult its members on the Consultation Digest!

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Woodside Making Places, response to GoBike Submission
2. Glasgow, South City Way, Bus Gate prior to completion
3. Glasgow, Byres Road, Space for Distancing measures prior to cycle lane construction
4. Parking and the Transport (Scotland) Bill, when will it come into effect?
5. A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland, 2 years to wait!
6. North Lanarkshire Council, work begins on Motherwell Station

Section 1: Current Consultations

1.1 Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, a joint GoBike, Glasgow Eco Trust and On Bikes initiative, please add your views and concerns

Back in Digest 55, Item 1.1 in early March, we alerted you to the Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map, an initiative from GoBike in coordination with Glasgow EcoTrust and On Bikes. This was somewhat overshadowed by the Glasgow City Council and the East Renfrewshire Council Spaces for People Commonplace Maps, looking for concern areas where social distancing for active travellers was difficult or impossible to achieve. The Glasgow City Council map has now closed for comment and the East Renfrewshire Council map closes on 31 July, see Item 1.2 below.

The Streets for All Glasgow Commonplace Map is still open for your contributions. We have longer term aims than the Spaces for People maps, so please do get your fingers tapping and tell us not just where social distancing measures are needed but where dropped kerbs, better crossings, segregation from motor vehicles and all the measures that could improve your cycling experience are needed.

We will then be able to take these forward to the City Council in a measured way to make our city a better place to live and move.

1.2 **NEW** Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People consultation, closes 26 July

News just in: Renfrewshire Council have a Spaces for People Fund consultation taking place, but it closes soon, midnight on Sunday 26 July. Here’s some of the information from their website:

“As part of this, we plan to create nine cycleways for active travel, but we want your views on the proposed plans.

These are located at:

• Howwood to Paisley corridor (including Elderslie Gap)
• Glasgow Road (West), Paisley
• Barrhead Road, Paisley
• Causeyside Street, Paisley
• Central Paisley and West – including Ferguslie, St Mirren and Kilbarchan Rd
• Inchinnan Road, Paisley
• Greenock Rd, Inchinnan
• Inchinnan Road, Renfrew
• Paisley to Renfrew

View the proposals

You can see the  proposed outline plans on this PDF document [2MB]

Give us your feedback

Let us know what you think on the proposed cycleways by emailing us at ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk Your feedback can be submitted until midnight on Sunday 26 July 2020.”

This is quite and impressive set of proposals, many on major roads, so please do have a look at the details and put your comments in. GoBike has submitted this letter today, which might give you a few pointers.

1.3 East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, closes 31 July

East Renfrewshire Council is consulting on Spaces for People until the end of this month, ie a week on Friday, 31 July. Here are details of their Transport Response to Covid 19 and here is a direct link to the ERC Spaces for People Commonplace map. Please do contribute if you know the area.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Just about everyone who lives in Glasgow or visits from surrounding areas goes to one or more of these areas, ie the Merchant City, Cowcaddens, Townhead or the Learning Quarter so must have views on how improvements could be made. Please do enter them on the Commonplace Map. No closing date given but don’t delay.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 GoBike is going to consult its members on the Consultation Digest!

Yes, we are going to consult GoBike members who are on Slack about the Digests. The editor of the Digests will be standing down at the GoBike AGM in November and we want to know what you, if you are a GoBike member (and it’s easy to join), think of these publications and even whether you might wish to get involved in their production. Watch out on the GoBike Slack Consultation channel for news of the survey.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Woodside Making Places, response to GoBike Submission

In Digest 63, Item 1.8 we detailed this public realm consultation by Urban Realm and included the detailed response from GoBike, drawn up by GoBike member, Brenda, with contributions from GoBike member and local resident, Alasdair.

On 07 July, almost in time to be in our last Digest, we got this excellent email back from the Woodside Making Places team:

“Dear Tricia,

Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly look over the plans; we agree that it would be preferable to have a face-to-face assessment of the plans, however at the moment, this is not something we are going to achieve unless Scottish Government restrictions change.

Going through points in your letter:

• Some roads are excluded primarily for budgetary reasons – we are keen to spend on people-focussed improvements, rather than descend into a road resurfacing project.
• We will look at opportunities for continuous footways with reduced radii at points mentioned – we would agree that this could be a very useful addition.
• We will consider the width of the paths and aim to provide 4m where possible.
• The area is relatively permeable at the moment, and we have picked up on a few existing desire lines, the next stage will review comments from the resident consultees and also bear in mind your note about ensuring permeability.
• We are looking at a variety of cycle storage, from individual (or family sized) lockers capable of taking trailers / cargo bikes etc. to ad hoc visitor parking (Sheffield-type stands). The refurbishment of the tower block included some cycle storage. The location of these will be reassessed at the next stage of design based on the criteria you have provided. The Oakgrove shelter is a sketch at this stage and not intended as sole cycle storage for the school, we would expect this to be funded through the Cycle Friendly School initiative; the shelter would primarily serve parents / visitors / residents.

In response to specific details raised in your letter:

• The shared path along Braid Street is currently shown 4m wide.
• We will be reviewing parking along Raglan Street and Braid Street in line with your comments – this is great advice as a way to treat parking in this situation.
• There is a large level difference between Unity Place and the back of the flats at Braid Street, the path that zig-zags through the green space is designed to be an accessible gradient and is the primary route between the two; the steps are a quicker cut through.
• Karol Path has a multi-level set of issues; primarily the existing trees (much enjoyed by residents) are causing issue with the paving. The balance between retaining existing natural capital and access by people needs to be struck.
• We will investigate the viability between the west of Torridon Court and North Woodside Road, however this needs to work with the existing trees, and provide an accessible route. From a quick look, it would appear that this would be similar in length to the accessible route that we have shown going to the new plaza area at the junction of St. George’s Road and North Woodside Road.

We will be consulting on further phases and hope that there are clarifications and refinements which reflect your helpful advice and points of discussion above. Thank you again for your input. 

Best regards,
The Woodside Making Places Team“

Yes, they had read and taken note of our letter and not simply assigned it to either the Support or Objection box. We look forward to further dialogue and to overall improvements in this area.

3.2 Glasgow, South City Way, Bus Gate prior to completion

In Digest 25, Item 1, issued on 10 January 2019 we gave details of the proposals for continuing the South City Way from the Brazen Head pub at Cumberland Street along Gorbals Street and over the Clyde at the Victoria Bridge to the junction at the Clutha pub.

You might have noticed that construction on this section has not yet started? GoBike’s co-Convenors, Thomas and John, held an online meeting recently with Councillor Anna Richardson, who gave them this information:

• The appointed contractor is unable to start on site just yet.
• To improve cycling in the meantime the City Council has decided to install the bus gate, which was part of the consultation, at Cumberland Street for the southern section of Gorbals Street, ie from the Brazen Head junction to Cleland Street, just south of the Citizens’ Theatre. This will prevent private cars from travelling north on Gorbals Street between 7am and 7pm.
• Also, a cycle lane will be formed on Victoria Bridge.

While it’s disappointing that the South City Way is delayed (again), these 2 moves will improve road conditions for cycling.

3.3 Glasgow, Byres Road, Space for Distancing measures prior to cycle lane construction

At the same meeting GoBike was told that the construction of cycle lanes on Byres Road is not yet to be started but, to allow for social distancing, the following 2 measures will be put in place:

• The footways at both sides will be widened to allow social distancing for pedestrians
• Parking will be banned.

While these measures are not what GoBike and Space for People Byres Road campaigned for, the removal of parking will make cycling significantly better and we will all be able to enjoy the wider pavements on Byres Road in the meantime.

3.4 Parking and the Transport (Scotland) Bill, when will it come into effect?

GoBike has been campaigning for a ban on pavement parking since at least September 2015 as this post on our website demonstrates. We have responded positively to consultation too.

Anyone who has been out and about during lockdown will have seen that pavement parking is endemic; car after car after car with either 2 or all 4 wheels on the pavement outside flats and houses. The photo above was taken in a residential area in Glasgow, the feature photo for this Digest shows pavement parking, not far from their place of work, by employees on a route into Renfrew. This really does cut down the space for walking and cycling, so just what is happening?

MSP Sheila White’s Pavement Parking Bill was subsumed into the Transport (Scotland) Act, which the Scottish Parliament voted to pass on 10 October 2019.  The Bill received Royal Assent on 15 November 2019, ie over 9 months ago. No news of any progress on the Transport Scotland website and even Living Streets don’t have any update on their website.

Something to follow up with your MSP? Please do.

3.5 A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland, 2 years to wait!

The Scottish Government consulted on a Bottle Deposit return scheme in 2018 as featured in Digest 15, Item 1.5. It may now be seen, on the Scottish Government website, that the scheme was approved in May this year and will go live in July 2022. Details of The Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020 may be seen here.

What’s this got to do with cycling, some might ask? Anyone who cycles around our towns and residential areas can’t have failed to see broken glass, let alone litter, and it’s the very fortunate person who hasn’t had a puncture on broken glass. Surely we all hope that with the implementation of the scheme there will be enough people who see the financial benefit of returning their bottles, to at least save a few tyres?

3.6 North Lanarkshire Council, work begins on Motherwell Station

GoBike responded to a Planning Application for a cycle access path to Motherwell Station earlier this year, as featured in Digest 61, Item 1.1, which will be a wee bit better than the existing. We received this update from North Lanarkshire Council on 17 July:

“ScotRail have appointed Balfour Beatty to carry out the works to redevelop Motherwell Rail Station. The station plans are the first phase of a wider project to create a transport integration hub in Motherwell town centre. The second phase on Muir Street will be carried out by the council in 2021.

The station works are being led by ScotRail. Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) are also providing funding for the £14.5m project. Work started on 29 June with the demolition of an old building at the bottom of Platform 1 to make way for a new staff car park and will continue at the station itself in early August.

The taxi rank at the front of the station will close later in July to make way for ScotRail staff portacabins. Taxi pick up and drop will remain available on Muir Street. Two disabled parking bays will also be provided close to the station entrance during the works.  

For further information about the project, please visit: www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/motherwellstation ” 

It looks as it it will be a wee while, though, before access to the station is upgraded, but do take care near the works if you use Motherwell Railway Station.

______________________________

We’re moving out of lockdown and into the holiday season with only a few weeks before the schools go back.
Do enjoy the rest of the summer! More news early in August.

This Digest continues to promote the Commonplace maps, plus we have an interesting consultation on the Kingston Bridge and a copy of the GoBike submission for Pollok Park, where private cars are back parking irresponsibly.

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. **NEW** Historic Environment Scotland, Kingston Bridge proposed to be a Listed Structure, closes 17 July
2. Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required
3. East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views
4. Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Nil to report

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow, Pollok Park Planning Application, GoBike submission
2. Glasgow, Queen Street Railway Station, new bike stands
3. Glasgow, London Road, East City Way, painted lines appearing
4. Glasgow, George Square, Implementation of Experimental Traffic Regulation Order
5. Glasgow, Stockingfield Road Canal Junction, bridge construction commencing any time now

Section 1: Current Consultation, in date order for responses

Omitted from this Digest are 2 consultation from the Scottish Parliament on the effects of Covid-19, the Impact on Equalities & Human Rights and on Scotland’s businesses, workers and the economy. Both are open long-term and, if you have not responded and you wish to, please see Digest 63, items 1.6 and 1.7

1.1 **NEW** Historic Environment Scotland, Kingston Bridge proposed to be a Listed Structure, closes 17 July

A GoBike member, alerted us to the proposal to list this massive bridge carrying cars, buses, vans, lorries over the River Clyde in Glasgow. Details are on the Historic Environment Scotland website here.
There is no doubt that there are far too many motor vehicles and that the dangers they pose are under-rated in society. If you are concerned about the proposed listing of the bridge do please have a look at the HES website and put your views in.

1.2 Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required

This search for your views was in our last 2 Digests and here’s the link for your views. Do please get them in.

1.3 East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views

We informed you of the East Renfrewshire Commonplace map in Digest 63, Item 1.4 and in Digest 62. Here’s the link to the map. If you live, work or cycle in East Renfrewshire please do post your concerns, if any, on the map.

1.4 Glasgow City Council, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

This third Commonplace map arrived just in time for our last Digest, but here’s the link again, so please upload your comments.

This update arrived on 30 June:

And this message arrived on 04 July:

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

Nothing on the horizon this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 Glasgow, Pollok Park Planning Application, GoBike submission

In Digest 63, Item 1.2 we listed some items of concern/interest in the proposals and, with thanks to opinions and some vigorous discussion from several GoBike members, this letter of qualified objection to the Planning Application was submitted on 30 June.

We are delighted that private motor cars are to be prevented, by gates, from driving through the park, as they can at present. We also very much support the emphasis on public transport and active travel. However, we are not delighted with all the proposals.

GoBike objects to the proposal to allow private cars into the existing main car park, ie the one nearest the Burrell Collection, even though a new car park is to be constructed at the Haggs Road gate. To aid traffic to the existing car park, it is proposed to dual the access road from Haggs Road, which is pictured here, above and below, by constructing another carriageway to the left of the trees. We have objected to this proposed construction and consider that, if the car park at the Burrell is restricted to buses, coaches, blue badge holders and deliveries, this existing road, perhaps with passing places for large vehicles, will suffice.

We understand that now cars are allowed back in the park, the uncontrolled parking has resumed. One of our concerns with the application was the lack of control of motor vehicles.

3.2 Glasgow, Queen Street Railway Station, new bike stands

Back in December 2014, GoBike responded to the consultation on the redevelopment of Queen Street Station, see this short blog from the time. We were keen to see more cycle facilities and, would you believe it – the photo above shows cycle racks where it was envisaged to have none!

3.3 Glasgow, London Road, East City Way, painted lines appearing

In October last year there was public consultation on the proposals, see Digest 19, Item 1.1 , for a bi-directional cycle lane along London Road to Mount Vernon and beyond for a distance of 7km. GoBike’s preference would be for a uni-directional lane on each side and that is now what is being painted on the carriageway. The painted lines currently (as of Saturday 04 July) go from Fielden Street in the west to Helenvale Street in the east.

We do not know whether the plans are for some form of segregation; we hope so and as the following 2 photos show, irresponsible car parking is incompatible with comfortable cycling.
Currently the lanes stop short of each traffic light junction with cycle traffic exiting the cycle lane into a left-turning lane. This is obviously unsatisfactory for people who are cycling straight on but we have not been party to any of the plans so will have to wait and see what transpires.
Our third concern is what will happen at the junction with the bi-directional lane just to the east of Bridgeton Cross – again, it’s wait and see.

Segregation will help prevent parking but we do hope something is currently proposed to manage it.

3.4 Glasgow, George Square, Implementation of Experimental Traffic Regulation Order

Back in March this year GoBike responded positively to an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order issued by Glasgow City Council to very much reduce motor traffic in George Square. Our response was featured in Digest 57, issued 31 March.

Accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, work has now been carried out in George Square to implement the Order.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order lasts for 18 months during which time its effects may be assessed and changes introduced with a permanent Traffic Regulation Order.

3.5 Glasgow, Stockingfield Road Canal Junction, bridge construction commencing anytime now

Almost 2 years ago, in Digest 17, Item 1.6, published 17 September 2018, we reported on public consultation events around the proposed construction of a bridge over the canal junction at Stockingfield.

GoBike member, Alasdair, has now informed us that there will be changes to the route for anyone cycling along the canal at Stockingfield, because work on the Stockingfield Bridge is to start this week. The towpath will be closed from the junction to Ruchill Church for some time. The steps down to Lochburn Road will remain open. We do not currently have any details of timescale.

Diversions are currently under active discussion but no specific route has yet been agreed, so if you are cycling, or walking, on the towpath in the area, do watch out for work starting. We will hopefully be able to report on the diversionary route in our next Digest in 2 weeks time.

The works will remove the detour via this canal underbridge – a welcome improvement.

_________________________________________________

Quite a short digest for you this time, perhaps because we are into the holiday season – with nowhere to go but a slightly longer cycle ride?

Contents:

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Scottish Government – Just Transition Commission, closes 30 June
2. Glasgow, Pollok Country Park – Planning Application, closes 06 July
3. Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required.
4. East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views
5. **NEW** Glasgow City Council, South Central Glasgow Local Development Framework – Key Issues Survey, closes 06 July
6. Scottish Parliament EHRi Committee, Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Equalities and Human Rights
7. Scottish Parliament, EEFW Committee, COVID-19 – Impact on Scotland’s businesses, workers and economy
8. Glasgow, Woodside, Urban Realm seeks views on Public Realm Improvements
9. Glasgow, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

There is ongoing consultation via the Commonplace maps! Please contribute and, hopefully, some of the comments will be developed into full-blown schemes for future consultation.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. North Lanarkshire Council, City Deal, Motherwell Town Centre Transport Interchange Planning Application, response to GoBike submission
2. Glasgow, Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – June 2020 Newsletter

Section 1: Current Consultations, in date order (more or less) for responses

1.1 Scottish Government – Just Transition Commission, closes 30 June

We have featured this consultation a few times now, most recently in Digest 62, Item 1.1 and it’s important that YOU follow the link and put your views in within the week, ie by 30 June, next Tuesday. We have a climate emergency and we need to move to a green economy. Please do this; it’s an easy set of questions and it’s important that we all get our views in.

1.2 Glasgow, Pollok Country Park – Planning Application, closes 06 July

Information on this Planning Application arrived just in time to get a mention in Digest 62, Item 1.2 and:

“The application is now available to view here (Reference Number 20/01352/FUL): https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QAZZ49EXIKO00&activeTab=summary“

The main document outlining the proposals is the Design and Access Statement.

The purpose of the proposed changes are to improve active travel and public transport access to the park and modifying access by private cars. If you visit the park do please have a look and see if the proposals meet your aspirations, or not – but do let the City Council know either way.

The main points to note and comment on, from GoBike’s perspective, are:

• Through motor traffic will be stopped.
• There is to be a new general car park and it is important that the existing car park closer to the Burrell is retained ONLY for accessible parking, bus and coach drop offs and deliveries.
• Parking should be charged in line with other visitor attractions in the city.
• There is currently visitor parking on Haggs Road and other local roads because the existing car park, and the whole park, is closed. The lane currently being used for parking in Haggs Road should be redesigned for cycle use. Residential roads currently being used for Pollok Park parking should be provided with double yellow lines.
• Changes are required in the traffic lights around the park to facilitate movement for people walking or on cycles.

The GoBike response is currently being prepared.

1.3 Glasgow City Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, YOUR views are required.

If you cycle in Glasgow, and we know that most of you do, then you will have views as to where dropped kerbs are needed, where cycle priority is required at traffic lights, where contraflow cycling is needed to prevent large detours, where cycle lanes are required, etc, etc, etc, so please get them onto this map provided by Glasgow City Council in conjunction with Transport Scotland and Sustrans Scotland.

If you don’t get your views in then you can’t complain at the state of things. We mentioned this first in Digest 62, Item 1.9 and here’s a link to the Spaces for People – Glasgow Commonplace map for you to follow.

1.4 East Renfrewshire Council, Spaces for People Commonplace Map, looking for YOUR views

Feeling safe as your circumnavigate this roundabout on your bike? Here’s the link to the East Renfrewshire Council’s page outlining the approach to COVID-19 measures and the Commonplace map is here, for your views and comments. We featured this first in Digest 62, Item 1.6 and we do hope that you will show East Renfrewshire Council where changes are needed to improve your journeys.

1.5 **NEW** Glasgow City Council, South Central Glasgow Local Development Framework – Key Issues Survey, closes 06 July

Proposals for the development of the city continue to be drawn up and here’s the latest email that arrived on 15 June:

“Dear All

As part of the implementation of the Glasgow City Development Plan, we are preparing Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) for three key areas of spatial change across the City. 

One of these areas is South Central Glasgow where we are working with Architecture and Design Scotland as part of their Place Planning for Decarbonisation initiative to ensure our plans are more climate and carbon considerate and in line with Glasgow City’s commitment to tackle climate change and achieve a target of net-zero carbon by 2030.

We had intended to host a number of collaborative workshops to seek your input in identifying the key issues / key areas for improvement for the area and to help us to shape the emerging plan for the area. Due to the current COVID situation, we are limited to carrying out this engagement through an online survey developed in line with the Place Standard Tool. A more formal consultation process will also be held later in the process of developing the LDF.

The survey is available here – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SouthCentralLDFSurvey/. The attached document provides a brief overview.

Your input is key to this work and I would be grateful if you could highlight this engagement to your colleagues / other members as well and invite them to complete the survey. The deadline for the same is 6th July 2020.

For any queries regarding the survey or the South Central LDF, please contact (name and email address of the Planning Officer removed by GoBike).

Thank you for your time and input.
Regards

Michael
Michael Ward
Principal Planner, Sustainable Strategy (Neighbourhoods)
Planning & Building Standards, Development & Regeneration Services, Glasgow City Council“

GoBike committee member, Brenda, has looked at the survey for her area and reports that it is essential that you look at the document attached to the email:

South Central LDF – An Overview

This is a survey, and like most of these on-line surveys, it is best done individually. GoBike will be doing a full response when the formal consultation comes out later in the year, but at this time, If you live, work or cycle in any of the areas covered do please do try to get through the rather clunky survey for the area(s) most of concern to you.

Do note though that the pdf says it’s expected to take about 30 mins to complete. It’s worth doing by anyone who cares about any of the areas as a place, but perhaps a bit of an ask if you just want to be able to cycle through safely..

1.6 Scottish Parliament EHRi Committee, Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Equalities and Human Rights, closes 01 January 2021

This government consultation featured as Item 1.3 in Digest 62 and there is no doubt that there are inequalities in travel, among other things. Here’s the link to start the short survey; do please complete it, particularly if you have views for the longer term eradication of inequalities.

1.7 Scottish Parliament, EEFW Committee, COVID-19 – Impact on Scotland’s businesses, workers and economy

This survey was in Digest 62 as Item 1.4 and it applies to all of us:

“The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee is here and ready to listen to your views at this challenging time. We are keen to hear from you on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, workers and the economy in Scotland.“

Views are invited by email, so it’s an open page for you to give your views. If you are involved in active travel, it’s particularly important to give your views – we are at the bottom of the pile just now, so any progress must be up! Here’s the link you need. Please get typing.

1.8 Glasgow, Woodside, Urban Realm seeks views on Public Realm Improvements

This first appeared in Digest 62, Item 1.5 and here are a couple of quotes from the Urban Realm newsletter:

“Queens Cross Housing Association has opened a consultative website relaying its plans for a series of environmental improvements to the Woodside area of Glasgow to stimulate discussion around the future public realm.“

“Feedback on these approaches is being sought remotely with interested parties invited to share their thoughts directly. All input received will help inform a planning application which is expected to be formally submitted in August, with phase one construction following by spring 2021.“

Note that the designs are actually on the Queen’s Cross HA website. There is a link from the Urban Realm newsletter, but it is not obvious. It is the link in the fourth paragraph, copied above, which says ‘share their thoughts‘. This takes you to the QXHA Woodside Making Places site. You then have to click on ‘The Design’ (top right) and this takes you to the detailed designs for each micro-community. You click on the relevant photographs. If you live in Woodside or your travels take you there, please do comment as to how the area may be improved.

GoBike members, Alasdair and Brenda have toured the area and Brenda has penned this letter of response for GoBike, which was submitted on 22 June.

1.9 Glasgow, help shape the future of (Y)our City Centre Districts

Just in today from GoBike’s co-convenor Thomas, from twitter:

The Leader of Glasgow City Council Susan Aitken is encouraging everyone with an interest in these areas to take part, “So, have your say and pop a pin on our map at http://yourcitycentre2020.commonplace.is“

Many, if not most of us, will live, shop, visit and or work in these areas so please do get your views in.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

We hope that consultations will be getting back to “normal” late summer or autumn but please do take note of where changes are required and post them on Commonplace maps.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 North Lanarkshire Council, City Deal, Motherwell Town Centre Transport Interchange Planning Application, response to GoBike submission

Changes are proposed for Motherwell Railway Station and in Digest 61, Item 1.1 we published this response to the Planning Application 20/00345/FUL

“GoBike, the Strathclyde Cycle Campaign, supports the use of the cycle as an everyday means of transport for people of all ages, and, to realise this aim, we need to see good quality dedicated cycle infrastructure, not simply painted lines on our roads, with adequate parking arrangements at destinations such as railway stations.
We are pleased to support this planning application because it is a step, albeit a very cautious one, in the right direction. We note that currently, or at the time of your public consultation 2 years ago, very few people were cycling to the station. We do not see very much in your proposals to entice more people to use their bikes; we are concerned that although you show a dedicated cycle path to the station on your layout plan, it is directly adjacent to the taxi rank. What is to prevent taxis, their drivers or passengers encroaching on the cycle lane?
During the current pandemic far more people are cycling in Motherwell as they are all around Scotland and, once train services are able to return to more people travelling, although initially allowing for social distancing, we hope that you will be able to encourage far more people to travel to the station by cycle, from all parts of Motherwell and its environs.”

On 09 June, just as Digest 62 was going to press, this reply arrived from North Lanarkshire Council:

“I’ve been forwarded on your recent comments on the above noted planning application in Motherwell town centre, by the Planning case officer.

I’m based in the Council’s Enterprise Projects Team and am the overall project lead for the Motherwell Town Centre Transport Interchange Project, of which these proposals at Muir Street form part.

We’re working in partnership with ScotRail, Transport Scotland and SPT on the wider project, which involves significant investment in Motherwell Rail Station. The proposed investment in Muir Street (through our Glasgow City Region City Deal programme) complements and supports the station proposals. In partnership with SPT, we’ve also invested in park and ride improvements, active travel infrastructure improvements within Strathclyde Country Park and associated signage in the last financial year.

The proposals at Muir Street therefore form part of wider picture which aims to improve public transport and active travel infrastructure, to encourage modal shift to more sustainable travel options by making these options more attractive and accessible.  It is hoped that further infrastructure improvements will follow in coming years, subject to funding.  

In response to specific points raised within your comments:

• Cycle parking arrangements at Motherwell Railway Station:  As part of the works being delivered at the station, a new cycle storage shelter (with capacity for c20-30 cycles) will be provided within the station forecourt. The station works are due to commence at the end of June this year, with completion by Autumn/Winter 2021;

• Extent of the proposals: as noted above, these proposals link to recently implemented works to improve active travel infrastructure within Strathclyde Country Park. The aim of these works was to create an improved off road shared pedestrian and cycle route through Strathclyde Country Park, linking to recent active travel infrastructure improvements at the M74 Raith Interchange, with onwards directional signage to and from Motherwell Rail Station via Ladywell Road and High Road;

• Location of the shared footpath/cyclepath next to the taxi rank: the path running alongside the new station access road and taxi road is a shared use footpath/cyclepath to cater for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the station and for access to the taxi rank. Due to the constrained nature of the site and the number of stakeholder requirements that need to be met, unfortunately we cannot accommodate a wider path in this area. It is intended to install cyclist dismount signage at either end of the taxi rank in recognition of the higher likelihood of conflict between pedestrians and cyclists within this area. The path will be delineated from the taxi rank with kerbing and a different surface finish, although the kerbs will be low in height to enable ease of access to and from taxis.“

Tricia spoke to the writer of the email to express disappointment at the very limited changes and how a path originally described as a “cycle path” is actually intended to be a footpath where one may wheel a bike. The writer, who does cycle and has cycled more during lockdown and seen the challenges, explained the severe limitations on space at this city centre site. From the discussion we are hopeful that we will be able to be more involved in future North Lanarkshire consultations in the future.
If you live in North Lanarkshire do please contact your councillors to press for better cycle facilities.

3.2 Glasgow, Multiplex University of Glasgow Campus Development – June 2020 Newsletter

This newsletter arrived on 17 June and you may read the full contents here. Your chance to get up-to-date with changes at the University.

Please do look at the Commonplace Maps and insert your comments. Hope you enjoy your cycling in these long days of summer but do please take care now more cars are back on the roads.