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.)

This Digest is dominated by consultations for East Renfrewshire. (The last issue should have included some of them too – apologies.) Five area consultations use Commonplace maps, similar to Glasgow’s Liveable Neighbourhoods (one of which is still open). Other East Ren projects are for a section of Ayr Rd (A77) and supporting documents for the council’s Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2). It’s almost as if ERC have some new active travel staff…

Elsewhere, Inverclyde still have a survey open on a Spaces for People route. Also, a consultation is due to open in June about a gap site by the Clyde…

Forthcoming consultations

Anderston Quay/City Wharf

16 June – ‘live chat’ consultation
Anderston Quay is a derelict site, west of the Kingston Bridge by the Clyde. According to Re:Glasgow, revised plans for flats and public realm are due soon. Apparently, the proposals will go public from Wednesday 15 June, with a live chat online on 16 June, at the website www.citywharfglasgow.info (consultation deadline: Friday 8 July 2022). 

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
2. Barrhead Consultation Map
3. Busby Consultation Map
4. Neilston Consultation Map
5. Newton Mearns Consultation Map
6. Thornliebank Consultation Map
7. A77 Active Corridor (Ayr Road)
8. LDP2 – Supplementary Guidance Consultation (ERC)
9. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. GHA Parking Areas – City Centre Traffic Management Order
2. Glasgow Low Emission Zone
3. Clydesdale STAG – Part 2 Appraisal
4. SWG3 venue – bike parking

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Yorkhill, Kelvinhaugh, Stobcross, Sandyford, Finnieston to Anderston.
Subject: This Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation covers the area between the River Clyde, River Kelvin, Kelvingrove Park and M8. It includes NCN7/75, West City Way and the City Deal lanes on Bunhouse Rd and Old Dumbarton Rd. Also, cycletracks are due for Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Cycling Village including Minerva St and Haugh Rd (at Bike for Good‘s West hub). A new bridge across the Clyde at the Riverside Museum has finally started construction. Meanwhile, the SEC’s redevelopment may close off the red ‘smartie tube’ bridge at Exhibition Centre station. The M8 motorway hems in 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.

1.2: Barrhead Consultation Map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Part of the East Renfrewshire Programme of consultations “about the changes and improvements you would like to see made to spaces, buildings and facilities so we can start to plan future projects.” Each town already had its own colourful branding with a local landmark or two. Barrhead’s has Dams to Darnley Country Park at the edge of Glasgow City boundary. It’s a popular greenspace where Aurs Rd is due to be re-aligned to add a walking and cycling route. Also, there’s an image of Barrhead Museum (former Burgh Hall) on Main St. The street has shops down one side but may have space for protected cycle lanes on the other (but it doesn’t seem to have come up so far). Most comments on the Commonplace map focus on the town centre and southern neighbourhoods.
Website links: Barrhead Commonplace map.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

1.3: Busby Consultation Map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Part of the East Renfrewshire Programme. Busby’s landmark is its library in Duff Memorial Hall on Main St. It’s a smaller place, across the White Cart Water from Clarkston and just over a mile outside East Kilbride. Nearby rural areas have some popular cycle routes, including Carmunnock. Some of the comments on the map are about road safety issues around Main St/East Kilbride Rd.
Website links: Busby Commonplace map.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

1.4: Neilston Consultation Map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Part of the East Renfrewshire Programme. Neilston is represented by an image of Neilston Pad, a hill south of the village. While the consultation covers a larger rural area, most comments focus on the centre of the village.
Website links: Neilston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

1.5: Newton Mearns Consultation Map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Part of the East Renfrewshire Programme. Newton Mearns has both Mearns Castle and Mearns Kirk as symbols. It’s one of the bigger suburban towns but lacks rail services so is even more car-focused. It has the A77 Ayr Rd running through it and attracting many comments on the map (see later item on A77, below). Other main roads have clusters of comments as well as its links to Dams to Darnley Country Park (from the other end of Aurs Rd – planning application for re-aligned road/active travel path).
Website links: Newton Mearns Commonplace map.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

1.6: Thornliebank Consultation Map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Part of the East Renfrewshire Programme. Thornliebank is next to Rouken Glen Park so borrows the Boathouse and waterfall for its identity. It’s also next to Giffnock and right at the edge of the Glasgow City boundary. Although it has a station going to Glasgow, its roads and paths are slightly cut off by the railway line and Auldhouse Burn. Most comments are around its Main St. A previous charette called Transforming Thornliebank is mentioned as a template that wasn’t followed up.
Website links: Thornliebank Commonplace map.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

1.7: 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 – see visual in main image, at top of page). 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.

1.8: 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.” The latter can include housebuilders creating paths to join existing networks. 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.

1.9: 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.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: GHA Parking Areas – City Centre Traffic Management Order

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Townhead – side streets off Kennedy St and St Mungo Ave.
Subject: Glasgow City Council (City Centre) (Traffic Management) Order 2010 (Variation No.29 – GHA Parking Areas) Order 2022. In other words, parking restrictions for parts of Townhead. We had an email from the Head of Roads: “I am writing to notify you that the above named Traffic Regulation Order was made on 12 May 2022 which would introduce no waiting/no loading at anytime restrictions within the GHA parking areas. There was a change to proposals: Removal of loading restrictions on Dobbies Loan Place at its eastern point behind the shop premises to allow for loading to take place.”
Last featured: Digest 91, Item 1.1.
Website links: Final GHA parking areas plan (PDF).

2.2: Glasgow Low Emission Zone

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Most of the city centre between the river and M8.
Subject: Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone came into effect on 31 May 2022. However, no enforcement will start until 1 June 2023 (or 1 June 2024 for vehicles registered to a residential property within the LEZ area). The final report says most objections to the LEZ came from the taxi trade, where hundreds of vehicles don’t meet the emissions standard. It remains to be seen how many vehicles will be upgraded over the next year.
Last featured: Digest 104, Item 1.1.
Website links: Final LEZ plans (PDF) and LEZ letter (PDF).

2.3: Clydesdale STAG – Part 2 Appraisal

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Area: Clyde Valley including rural towns and villages like Lanark, Carluke, Law, Biggar, Symington and Carstairs.
Subject: Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) is a formal process looking at road, rail and active travel improvements in an area. Clydesdale, like other rural areas, has had cuts to bus and train services, lacks a network of safe paths and has higher car ownership. Part 2 follows the Pre-appraisal (2017) and Part 1 Appraisal (2019). Active Travel Infrastructure is one of the options in the appraisal report, like links between Carluke and Lanark. Other proposals include reinstating rail links/stations, bus improvements, park & ride, etc. The next step of a final report with recommendations will have to wait until “funding becomes available.”
Website links: Clydesdale STAG article and Clydesdale STAG Appraisal reports.

2.4: SWG3 venue – bike parking

Organisation: SWG3 venue.
Area: Eastvale Place (at end of Kelvinhaugh St) between the railway lines.
Subject: Since the last issue, SWG3 replied to a tweet about their transport survey. Talking about bike parking, they said: “This is included in our current development phase in the yard and should be completed by the end of the year.” There are several planning applications for their site but they may mean one from May 2019 (which has since been updated – 19/01438/FUL). It includes adding bike parking spaces near the main gate on Eastvale Place and on an access road off Sandyford St (behind Glasgow Uni’s Maclay Residencies on Cooperage Place).
First featured: Digest 111, Item 1.2.
Website links: SWG3’s tweet and May 2019 planning application.

As the 2020 Paralympics take place in Tokyo, how is Glasgow looking towards its own global event: COP26? Currently, the city council has a new, short notice consultation about suspending public access rights. You may have seen GoBike banners on the subject or media coverage of support from Scotland’s new Active Travel minister – Green MSP, Patrick Harvie. It’s also a last call for the survey on Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone.

It’s a final fling for a handful of consultations around Glasgow (and one in Renfrewshire). There’s a bit longer for a few others – a new survey on secure cycle parking in the city centre and the last leg of East Dunbartonshire’s Active Travel Discussion.

Your author is also going on holiday so the next Digest may or may not be in its usual slot or by its usual writer…

Contents
(new consultations in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation (ends 2 Sep)
2. Glasgow City Council – COP 26 Section 11 Order: Suspension of Public Access Rights (ends 3 Sep)
3. Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan (ends 3 Sep)
4. Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework (ends 3 Sep)
5. Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley (ends 5 Sep)
6. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: Planning Application (deadline: 6 Sep)
7. NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde/Sustrans – Gartnavel Active Travel Feasibility Study (ends 10 Sep)
8. East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2
9. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (ends 28 Sep)
10. Glasgow City Council – Secure City Cycle Parking Survey (ends 3 Oct)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – TRNSMT Festival and Access to NCN75
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Gateway & Cycle Facilities project
3. Glasgow City Council – London Rd Spaces for People lanes at Celtic Park
4. East Renfrewshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2
5. Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – Low Emission Zone consultation

It was Digest 90, Item 1.3 when we first mentioned this consultation about phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in Glasgow city centre. Phase 1 applied to local buses only. Phase 2 will include all motor vehicles driven into the zone area between the M8, river and High St (unless exempt, like Blue Badge holders).

The LEZ area is smaller than the City Centre Air Quality Management area, which includes the M8 and parts of Bridge St and Royston Rd. There are only two other AQMAs in Glasgow – Byres Rd/Dumbarton Rd and Parkhead Cross – since the city-wide AQMA was revoked in 2016. Further background is on Glasgow’s Local Air Quality Management pages.

The area the LEZ covers is one of the questions asked in the survey. Enforcement is another – it’s only due to start in June 2023 (or 2024 for people who live in the city centre).

When enforcement does start, fines will escalate for repeat offences (doubling each time within a 90 day period).

The city council have sent GoBike a few reminder emails about this one, which suggests they’re not getting the level of response they were looking for. If you want to influence the shape of the zone (literally) or when it kicks in, see the Glasgow LEZ consultation page, LEZ consultation document and LEZ online survey. Closes on Thursday 2 September.

1.2: Glasgow City Council – COP 26 Section 11 Order: Suspension of Public Access Rights

This is about main active travel routes being closed during October/November around the COP26 climate conference at the SEC. The ‘exclusion zone’ would cover a large area from Ferry Rd to Finnieston St and bridges in Anderston. The cycling diversions will be much longer and less safe than the parts of NCN7 and the West City Way that they replace. GoBike started a petition about keeping routes open (for Glasgow residents only). We also proposed changes to the council’s plans.

See our blog about the closures for more in-depth information and our social media for updates. GCC access rights consultation ends Friday 3 September.

1.3: Rosemount Development Trust – Royston Road Masterplan

This debuted last time in Digest 93, 1.5. It’s about regenerating the western part of Royston Rd. It’s a part of the City Centre AQMA but not in the LEZ. That doesn’t seem to be mentioned while speeding, litter and other issues are. Equally, the project phases outlined in board 6 don’t include cycling at all. Surely it has to be part of the solution, especially with On Bikes’ Flourishing Molendinar project (Digest 92, Item 1.2) just up the same road? This Royston Rd project and theirs both need safe active travel connections to the city centre and Sighthill.

If you know the area at all, please put the case for cycling infrastructure. See the Royston regeneration survey and information boards (ends Friday 3 September).

1.4: Glasgow City Council – Inner East Strategic Development Framework

Another SDF (and another AQMA – Parkhead Cross) first covered in in Digest 90, Item 1.4. ‘Inner East’ is an arbitrary area made up by the council, who’ve decided Parkhead is the main place East Enders want to get to. While the Forge Shopping Centre is important for many, there’s an assumption here that all roads lead to Parkhead (including phase 3 of the East End Regeneration Route dual carriageway). A train station for Parkhead gets a few mentions but that’s what the East End Local Development Strategy said back in 2008. Active travel is mentioned a lot but road-building still seems to be central.

There are many more assumptions (“locals prefer to drive to the forge”) and errors in this SDF. The maps seem rushed, especially the Bridgeton map with two wrong train stations superimposed on it.

On a more positive note, there are a few mentions of permeability. One is about the paths through the Meatmarket site (under construction at Duke St/Bellgrove St) and there are other examples not in the document, like Riverside Dalmarnock.

The council talks up some recent developments by GCC and partners like Clyde Gateway, who have built a lot in the East End in the last decade or so (and do include cycle parking in their developments). However, people have to cycle through the car park of Red Tree, Shawfield as CG didn’t reconnect the path properly between NCN 756 and the Smartbridge (despite being asked). GCC also missed an opportunity to add protected cycle lanes in its Calton-Barras Action Plan (CBAP). So, there are still lessons to be learned.

See the Inner East consultation page for link to the SDF survey (ends 3 September).

1.5: Renfrewshire Council – Improving Barshaw Park Junction, Paisley

In Digest 93, 1.7 we mentioned the plans to improve safety for cycling at Barshaw Park junction. Option 3 had segregated cycle lanes on all roads, while options 1 and 2 only had them on the main road. There was some local hostility to the plans on Facebook – while not surprising on that platform, the plans will need support to progress.

See the Barshaw Park junction community survey to rate the options (ends 5 September).

1.6: Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: Planning Application

Woodside Making Places is a wide-ranging project for the area around St George’s Rd and Braid Square, near Garscube Rd. The previous consultation was in Digest 79, Item 1.4 (and an earlier stage in Digest 65, 3.1). This latest development wasn’t publicised much but was in a Glasgow Live article about Queens Cross Housing Association submitting a planning application.

It’s application 21/02266/FUL for “Renewal of public realm, gardens and greenspaces, including streets and lighting, with comprehensive green infrastructure improvements.” These include some playparks and a lot of tree planting. The most interesting part for GoBike is the ‘Quietway’ cycle route in the plan for North Woodside Road.

The red tarmac makes it look like a Dutch ‘bicycle street’ (where bikes have priority and cars are ‘guests’). Whether or not it will work that way remains to be seen. However, N Woodside Rd is a residential street, which is already filtered to the west at the junction of Maryhill Rd and Hopehill Rd (as featured in Digest 93, 3.3).

N Woodside Rd’s eastern end will link to segregated cycle lanes on St George’s Rd, which are part of the Connecting Woodside Project (and lead to the protected junction at Garscube Rd). So, it should be an important link for the wider area.

There was also due to be an improved path south to Phoenix Rd and the planned ‘Underline’ cycle route below the M8 between New City Road and Cambridge St. However, M8 emergency repairs are underway on the Woodside Viaduct so those Avenue works are being pushed back even further; potentially for a few years.

Deadline for any comments is 6 Sep. See the Woodside Making Places website for more background about the project.

1.7: Sustrans – Gartnavel Active Travel Feasibility Study

This project first came up in Digest 60, Item 3.3 and most recently in Digest 90, Item 3.2. Several GoBike members know the area and engaged with early ideas for the site. A site visit took place in July, when GoBike member Caroline met with the design consultants, ERZ Studio.

The initial proposals from that process are now out for consultation:

• Three shared/side-by-side walking/cycling routes across the site.
• Two new gates created in existing site wall.
• Adjusting crossings at main road junctions.
• Pedestrian precinct/plaza at main hospital buildings.
• Improving access towards Hyndland train station.
• Improving wayfinding signage.

The new northern gate would be next to the existing exit road (as above). However, the proposed eastern gate would open up access from a new location east of the Beatson, through the current stone wall, to Hughenden Lane (where you can see the chimney near the Beatson). This ‘Quietway’ would be an alternative route between Hughenden and Crow Rd, avoiding the very busy Great Western Rd. While it meanders a bit, it should also link to the more direct Shelley Rd (to the north, alongside Bingham’s Pond).

The scope of the project seems to have grown slightly from NHS-owned land to include crossings but not cycleways on the main roads themselves, like Gt Western Rd. Instead, the consultants asked about routes between NHS sites, like Gartnavel and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. One query was about a route via the soon-to-be-built Partick–Govan bridge to the QEUH; a mile longer than using the Clyde Tunnel (but might have less closures?).

For now, see the Gartnavel survey – ends 10 September.

1.8: East Renfrewshire Council – Ayr Road (A77): Spaces for People, Phase 2

Covered in Digest 91, Item 1.5, Ayr Rd through Newton Mearns is in a phase 2 consultation. It’s about replacing the phase 1 cones with light segregation, removing some segregation and adding parking bays. For examples of the segregation, maps and more details, see the Ayr Road Phase 2 Commonplace page. No obvious deadline on this one (but still seems to be open).

1.9: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion 

What can we say about the EDC Active Travel Discussion that hasn’t already been said? There are two more online events left. See the Active Travel Discussion page – ends 28 September.

1.10: Glasgow City Council – Secure City Cycle Parking Survey

Back in Digest 88, in the Infra Update, we mentioned how GCC’s tweet about neighbourhood secure cycle parking drew comments about it missing out the city centre.

Recently, the council launched a survey about “secure cycle parking in the city centre at travel hubs and places of employment.” They want to find out the following:

“a greater understanding of travel patterns, frequency of travel, and what type of provision would appeal to those who require to park their bicycle in the city.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.”

Cadogan St multi-storey car park used to have a bike parking area but it wasn’t the most welcoming place. Perhaps Glasgow could aim for facilities like this office development in Bristol or Manchester’s Cycle Hubs.

Considering the spate of bike thefts across the city during the pandemic, this seems like a good chance to ask for more secure bike parking. See the GCC city centre cycle parking consultation page and cycle parking survey – ends 3 October.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – TRNSMT Festival and Access to NCN75

In Digest 93, Item 3.4 we featured an email from GCC about the closure of NCN75 during the upcoming music festival. GoBike convenor Thomas tweeted about issues with the diversion route and replied to the council’s email. A further response from GCC sounds more constructive than before:

“To advise we are working to improve wherever possible the diversion route… which would hopefully make this route not only a suitable diversion for Major Events within Glasgow Green but also an optional route on a day to day basis.”

The council also wanted to organise a meeting between GoBike and council officers. They said: “we can walk the route highlighting where we will be making improvements”. Also, they would: “allow you an opportunity to speak directly with those planning/managing any works.” We wait to see the improvements but this new ramp was spotted on the route.

Lastly, GCC will “consider a short term working group to hopefully give an opportunity to facilitate improved joint working for the longer term solution to this particular challenge.”

Thomas will set up the meeting shortly and we hope to have further news.

3.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Bellshill Gateway & Cycle Facilities project

In Digest 92, Item 1.9 we featured initial plans for a proposed Velo Park and enhanced entrance to Strathclyde Country Park from Bellshill. A GoBike member was at a recent meeting between local groups and council staff. They’re from NLC’s new Greenspace Projects team, which will have responsibility for ‘Country Parks for the Future’ initiatives at Strathclyde Park (as well as Drumpellier Park in Coatbridge and Palacerigg Park, near Cumbernauld).

The officer clarified a few points, including that the planned mountain bike trails would only be in the north-east of the site. The paths around the South Calder Water would form a loop for walking and cycling as a local exercise route.

The team are looking at a few other issues like the underused hire bikes at the Watersports Centre (including some adapted bikes). Also, a potential cycle hub near Motherwell train station (perhaps in a building nearby).

A bid is due to go in to Sport Scotland by the end of August.

3.3: Glasgow City Council – London Rd Spaces for People lanes at Celtic Park

In Digest 90, Item 3.1, we covered the removal of the temporary ‘zebras’/’armadillos’ on London Rd outside Celtic Park and the Emirates. As well as contacting the council, some GoBike members put our message on London Rd itself.

GCC have taken a while to respond, perhaps because they had homework to do – according to their response…

“a survey of many similar sports facilities around the UK was undertaken and no examples of cycle segregation directly outside these facilities was found. Those that did have cycle facilities had a painted line only. GCC has improved on that by installing a ridged line to provide an audio and visual warning to drivers.

The Department explored alternative options including traffic delineator wands, such as those used on Great Western Road and a combination wand / armadillo design as currently used in Edinburgh City Centre. However, both of these also resulted in significant risk and possible increased risk in the case of the traffic delineator wand.“

The ‘combination design’ became a trip hazard on a high street in Cardiff. However, the above seems to rule out a ‘traffic delineator wand’ (temporary bollard) because it might be a risk.

Circumstantial evidence?

Several GoBike members were sceptical of the reasons given about ‘armadillos’ being a trip hazard. The council’s response says it depends on the circumstances:

“We do not consider that in normal circumstances armadillos represent a high risk trip hazard. However,… mass evacuation… (of) almost 60,000 individuals… would result in a tightly knit, panicked and distressed crowd. Under these circumstances, there would be little visibility of the armadillos and there is a significant concern of serious injury or fatality due to trips / falls and subsequent crush injury.”

There was a crush outside Celtic Park in 2018, where a few fans were injured. However, it was at the confined Janefield St side of the stadium, not the open London Rd side.

Apparently, the decision to remove was: “assessed in conjunction with advice from Police Scotland but no formal record has been kept”. There was no Equalities Impact Assessment “as this process is not appropriate for this type of alteration. None of the protected characteristics as outlined in the Equalities Act are negatively affect by the alterations.”

GCC talk about policy then make an interesting statement. “Designers have a duty under Construction Design and Management regulations to design out risk wherever possible.“

Lastly, they turn from the temporary Spaces for People project to mention the permanent East City Way route on London Rd. “We note your comment about the new East City Way and can confirm that the SFP project officers have discussed these issues with the East City Way officer with a view to designing out the risk as far as reasonably possible within the long term plans.” So, that seems to depends on the circumstances as well.

3.4: East Renfrewshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2

We covered East Ren’s proposed Local Development Plan 2 in Digest 47, Item 1.4 in late 2019. It was submitted to the Scottish Government for its Reporters to consider in their 435-page report! It contains several mentions of GoBike, and our convenor Thomas (with his surname spelled correctly most of the time!).

One of these mentions – ‘(e) Schedule 6: Proposal D8.13: Netherlee to Giffnock’ – was about a potential feasibility study for a footbridge across the railway at Gordon Dr. The report shows there were two people in favour and 19 against so the proposal has been dropped (and will not be in any of their back yards). However, other measures GoBike supported will be included. The 22-page recommendation document details the text changes ahead of publication.

3.5: Glasgow City Council – Auldhouse Area Traffic Management Order

These measures for Auldhouse, in the Southside, appeared in Digest 92, Item 1.8. GoBike’s response made points about one-way streets and potential for contraflow cycling. The council sent a fairly predictable reply:

“…given the narrow carriageway widths and short lengths of carriageway within this self-contained residential area, contraflow cycle lanes were not deemed feasible. Unfortunately, I can therefore advise that cyclists will also be subject to the one way operations.”

GCC’s email goes on to say one-way streets will apparently “enhance road safety for cyclists”. Also: “parking restrictions at road junctions will remove potential obstructions by vehicles at lowered kerbs which will assist pedestrians, wheelchair users and push chairs in crossing the road.” There’s no mention of a joint decision with Police Scotland on enforcement.

As predicted in the last Digest, there aren’t so many consultations due to the pre-election period. This Digest is split between Glasgow and a few items each from East Dunbartonshire and Lanarkshire.

However, there are often more developments on the ground around the city in March, to complete works before the Public Sector’s end of Financial Year. Many of us might be restricted to our own council area right now. So, it can help to see that progress is happening somewhere, as it may not feel like it at times. That’s why this Digest features an Infrastructure Update to bring you up to speed.

Infrastructure Update

• Glasgow City Council have just installed Spaces for People segregation on the Howard St bike lane.
• South City Way now has electronic bike warning signs installed on side streets off Victoria Rd (to alert drivers – triggered by bikes going past).
• GCC have completed a section of segregated cycleway on Garscube Rd from M8 to Sawmillfield St. Work is well underway on combined crossings at junction with Possil Rd/St George’s Rd. The next section of route, going north on Garscube Rd, has also started.
• GCC is also working on phase 1 of East City Way on London Rd/Hamilton Rd near Mount Vernon station. Its new Nextbike station has already been installed.
• Nextbike Glasgow announced 10 new hire stations (and the end of the free 30 minutes scheme).
• North Lanarkshire Council are installing a wider shared path at the western end of Strathclyde Park Loch (but it peters out near the playpark). The new path is west of the closed section of the park’s ‘spine road’ – see map in Item 1.1, below.

Ahead of the election in May, see the Cycling for everyone election petition by Cycling UK in Scotland (extended until 1 April) and Pedal on Parliament’s ‘Light the Way’ campaign (24 April).

Contents
(new consultations in bold – link jumps to article)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Strathclyde Park road closure consultation (ends 31 March)
2. Kinning Park Complex – Sustaining Choices events (1, 3 or 6 April)
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation (online event 22 April)
4. Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan consultation (ends 23 April)
5. Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our ‘Learning Quarter’ and Merchant City Proposals Workshops

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Iceni Projects (Glasgow Harbour) – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 response
2. Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum follow-up
3. South Lanarkshire Council – South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting, 22 March
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Local Development Plan Newsletter

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

1.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Strathclyde Park road closure

In summer 2020, North Lanarkshire Council used Spaces for People funding to install gates to close off a 2km section of Strathclyde Country Park’s ‘spine road’ to motor traffic. It goes from the roundabout at Bothwellhaugh Rd to the car park entrance near Haughview Rd, Motherwell. It includes part of the course for the 2014 Commonwealth Games triathlon.

NLC are now consulting about whether or not the closure should be made permanent. Most SfP measures in North Lanarkshire have ended (including other temporary road closures). So, the Strathclyde Park gates are potentially the area’s only active travel legacy from the pandemic.

The road was previously used as a rat run by cars/vans, especially to avoid congestion on the M74 between junctions 5 and 6. Speeding in the park led to wide rubber speed bumps being fitted (but it could still be an issue in between). The road has no pavement, except near M&D’s theme park. There are narrower paths around the loch and surrounding area but they often become crowded. A wider path is under construction at the western end of the loch (see Infrastructure Update, above).

Since the motor traffic has gone the road has become even more popular with pedestrians and people on bikes (bicycle tyre tracks are visible in the mud either side of the west gates). The park attracts people from surrounding towns in both North and South Lanarkshire. So, keeping the closure would be a boost to active travel in the wider area.

See the survey on the Strathclyde Park masterplan website but you need to be quick as it ends TODAY 31 March.

1.2: Kinning Park Complex – Sustaining Choices events

Kinning Park Complex ran many community events before the pandemic. The physical centre is closed just now but they’re still working with the community. These events target areas around the section of Paisley Road West north of the motorway (and a wee bit south of the M8 too).

KPC say they’re: “Bringing local people together to determine how walking, wheeling, and cycling can be made easier in Kinning Park, Plantation, Cessnock, and Ibrox.”

The events are part of a wider project called Because We Say So! looking at wider community issues (with a nicely designed website).

Events take place on 1, 3 and 6 April – see Sustaining Choices Eventbrite page to signup.

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Climate Conversation

This initiative first got a mention in Digest 82, Item 1.7. After missing out on Spaces for People funding, East Dunbartonshire Council are getting ahead of the COP26 game with their Climate Conversation surveys and events.

Their Climate Conversation webpage says: “The Climate Conversation is the first stage in preparing an area-wide Climate Action Plan (CAP) for East Dunbartonshire… We are also commencing work during 2021 on new strategies that will support the objectives of the CAP: the Open Space Strategy; Circular Economy Strategy; and Active Travel Strategy.” The last one will obviously be of most interest to GoBike (but the other two are also welcome).

EDC have various surveys to fill in – one general, one for businesses and one for young people (all want an email address upfront). There’s also the last of their Climate Conversation events online on 22 April (using MS Teams). The overall Climate Conversation itself will run until 2 May 2021.

1.4: Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area – Masterplan Consultation

GoBike member Colin passed on a link to this consultation for the Maryhill North Transformational Regeneration Area. According to Glasgow City Council’s page on Maryhill TRA, the Maryhill North area is really Gilshochill. It’s north of Maryhill Rd between the canal locks and Summerston train station. This Glasgow Live article about the TRA has some more background about the consultation and the masterplan. The main point of the regeneration seems to be improving housing in the area but it includes public spaces and connectivity as well.

The masterplan has a few new paths. The longer one (marked ‘B’ in above visual) goes along the ridge north of the Fearnmore Rd tower blocks. Access seems to be from sets of steps and a zigzag path up the hill near Sandbank St. It’s not clear if it links to Cumlodden Drive (near St Mary’s Primary School).

Most of the visuals show existing pavements but there aren’t any in the image for Barrisdale Rd. It’s just a visualisation but looks like a ‘shared space’. These remove the kerbs that white stick users and guide dogs rely on. There’s also some sort of water feature next to the trees, which may be more attractive to midges than the locals.

See bigger versions of the above images and more on the Maryhill North consultation page. You have to register to leave comments – closes 23 April.

1.5: Glasgow Urban Sports – GUSM74 Urban Sports Sculpture Park survey

A different kind of active travel project, which includes improving derelict space. First covered in Digest 81, Item 1.9, it’s for a skate park under the M74 (near West St underground station). The GUSM74 survey is still open for skaters, or their families, to have their say about what they want to see in the park.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Merchant City and ‘Learning Quarter’ Proposals Workshops

Workshops have been announced for the next few city centre districts – Merchant City (22 April) and ‘Learning Quarter’ (29 April). These follow on from the Townhead and Cowcaddens workshops in 24 March. See the Workshops page on the City Centre Strategy website for further details.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Iceni Projects (Glasgow Harbour) – Yorkhill Quay Phase 2 response

This high rise development near the Riverside Museum featured most recently in Digest 82, Item 1.5. Tricia and other GoBike members put in email responses during its pre-application period. Points raised included building housing on a previously industrial site, lack of connectivity to Yorkhill/Finnieston and the height of the proposed buildings.

Iceni Projects (who represent Glasgow Harbour Ltd and other partners) sent out a short acknowledgement:

“Thank you to you and GoBike members for taking the time to review the consultation proposals for the Yorkhill Quay site and for your comments. These will be reviewed by the project design team as plans for the site are developed.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any additional queries.”

The next stage should be a full planning application to Glasgow City Council.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – Active Travel Forum follow-up

Tricia followed up some points about Spaces for People after the ATF’s first online meeting in March. An email from Neighbourhoods Regeneration and Sustainability said:

“The project team are currently fully committed to installing a 2nd batch of measures (George Square and Merchant City planters, etc). After this will be a period of monitoring to assess use and impact of the works, accompanied by recording all correspondence of support or objection.
The department has been instructed to take all permeance decisions to the City Administration Committee. Therefore the monitoring work will accompany the report to committee, at which a decision will be made as to what projects are removed/revisited/made permanent, etc.”

It also says there’s no timescale for the above just yet. However, the current SfP TROs will run out in December 2021. Any measures that are continuing would really want to have a new order ready by then.

3.3: South Lanarkshire Council – South Lanarkshire Cycling Partnership meeting, 22 March

Fewer consultations in this Digest mean there’s space for feedback from the last SLCP meeting. While Glasgow’s Active Travel Forum feeds into committees with published minutes and articles in local media, SLCP is a bit more under the radar. There is an SLCP website but it’s very generic and never really updated about what the partnership does.

Background

SLCP is made up of roughly half council personnel, including a few councillors plus officers for Roads & Transportation, Access, Air Quality, etc. The other half are from organisations including Sustrans, Cycling UK, Bike Town, NHS, SEPA, local cycling groups and development trusts. Various GoBike members have attended for a range of organisations. Jimmy Keenan has been GoBike’s official rep for many years. More recently your editor has represented GoBike (especially since the meetings went online in 2020).

Active Travel Studies

In recent years, SLC have had a transport consultancy do an active travel study for each town/area in turn. A public consultation leads to stakeholder workshops then a final network map. The consultation and network maps are used to plan where initial active travel routes will go. SLC bids for funds for design (by Sustrans) and then construction.

The three network maps published in February brings the total to five. Consultations took place in Jan/Feb 2021 for three more areas (see Digest 79, Item 1.2) with workshops to follow. An ongoing project for an improved active travel link from Bothwell to the Raith Interchange will be looked at in the Blantyre/Bothwell/Uddingston study.

East Kilbride’s AT study was in 2018, which led to the first phase of segregated cycleway on West Mains Rd in 2020. The next phase is under construction (before a combined crossing junction planned for later in the year). Designs for Whitemoss Ave are due to go to consultation in the next few months.

Spaces for People

A Spaces for People funded route is due to go from EK train station to Brouster Hill and Cornwall St in the town centre by May. SfP are also funding mandatory 20mph areas to be set up in the next few months at around 90 schools and some smaller town centres (Carluke, Lanark, Uddingston, Larkhall, Bothwell and Strathaven). Also, SfP money was spent on vegetation cutting on NCN75, which should be complete this month.

Make Your Way

Sarah from Rural Development Trust’s Community Action Lanarkshire programme presented to the meeting. She spoke about the Make Your Way: Key Links projects in Abington, Douglas and Leadhills/Wanlockhead (Digest 75 Item 1.3). These use Sustrans Places for Everyone funding (70%). Stage 2 concept designs are due soon with construction planned for 2022.

Tinto Hill Improvements

The list of capital projects included an eye-catching £140,000 of Cycling Walking Safer Streets funding on car park improvements near Tinto Hill. Officer said irresponsible parking had caused knock-on effects for Thankerton/Carmichael/A73 (including for passing pedestrians and cyclists). Also, it helped access to a popular hillwalking route and the work included some cycle parking.

Clyde Cycle Park

Clyde Cycle Park is a project to re-develop land as a national-standard road racing cycle circuit. The site is between Bogleshole Road and the River Clyde (near the Liberty steel plant). Planning is complete and ground investigation has started. Aiming to have track open by summer. SLC to look at connections to new facility as part of south bank route.

3.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Local Development Plan Newsletter

Another appearance from East Dunbartonshire Council. The latest newsletter from their Land Planning Policy team includes an update on their proposed LDP2. The consultation finished in January with 2,000+ responses. Also, they cover their Historic Environment Review, Forestry & Woodland Strategy and Climate Action Plan. The countdown to their Active Travel Strategy presumably starts now…

Not many new consultations to start the year. However, it’s a last chance to comment on some existing consultations and a planning application at the Science Centre/BBC has some feedback.

The weather hasn’t helped but have you been able to try any of Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow?

There’s still time to sign the petition for segregated cycle lanes at the Kelvin Way-University Avenue junction (until 28 January). It’s near Hillhead Primary School, with its School Street…

This Digest includes links in the Contents page so you can jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Glasgow City Council – School Streets, Glasgow (Prohibition of Motor Vehicles) Order 202_, (closes 11 January 2021)
2. East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), closes 15 January 2021
3. Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF), closes 29 January 2021
4. Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation (Victoria Rd)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow Science Centre – Planning application 20/02068/FUL

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – School Streets, Glasgow (Prohibition of Motor Vehicles) Order 202_, (closes 11 January 2021)

As covered in Digest 75, Item 1.4 this order makes trials into permanent School Streets at six primary schools: Bankhead PS, Broomhill PS, Hillhead PS, Lourdes PS, Our Lady of the Rosary PS and St Blanes PS. GoBike backs this move and hopes members can show support too.

1.2: East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2)
(closes 15 January 2021)

The deadline is approaching for East Dunbartonshire Council’s proposed LDP2 (as seen in Digest 72, Item 1.8). If you want to comment on how EDC could include active travel in future developments, you’ll need to email them soon. Their track record includes the first phase of the Bearsway and not very much since. Certainly no Spaces for People projects as they were the only mainland council not to bid for funding. See www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/LDP2 and email: development.plan@eastdunbarton.gov.uk. 

1.3: Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF),
(closes 29 January 2021)

This featured in Digest 74, Item 1.5 with the GoBike response written by Brenda. It covers a large area north of the M8 to Possil and from Maryhill Rd to Springburn. It’s about to lose some of the canal path during the Stockingfield bridge works. Recent gains include St Rollox Dr (past Sighthill Cemetery) and the Spaces for People lanes (on Bilsland Drive and Hawthorn St). See the North Glasgow SDF consultation document (PDF) and the online survey. The deadline was extended to 29 January 2021.

1.4: Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation (Victoria Rd)

GCC have a consultation open about the new protected junctions on the South City Way (as seen in Digest 74, Item 1.6). These are a trial for two years and the consultation doesn’t have a deadline. So, you should be able to submit comments about the new junctions at any time. They’re a first in Glasgow that GoBike would like to see repeated elsewhere.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None forthcoming this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow Science Centre – Public realm improvement works/alterations to road layout and car park (Planning Application 20/02068/FUL)

This planning application first featured in Digest 69, Item 1.5. The plans make some changes to the public space between the Science Centre and BBC building. Just now, you have to dodge concrete barriers between the Millennium Bridge and Pacific Quay service road. A direct path between them would help, since it can be a busy area.

However, this plan is for planting and seating outside the Science Centre with a new cycle path next to the road (in pink, above). This will run along the edge of the car park (replacing about 50 parking spaces) and across a side entrance road. It continues on what is currently a narrow grass strip, then goes across the pavement at a corner. It’s not clear if the pavement is shared use or if the cycle path joins the road.

The northern end of the cycle path leads to a curved shared space (marked 5), which people will walk across to get to the car park. This path will be built on what is currently a road within the car park. The turning circle between the Science Centre and BBC building will also be reduced. There is a ‘sheltered cycle hub’ with 94 bike parking spaces (marked at point 8). This seems to replace the small existing bike shelter for staff/visitors (maybe with double-deck bike parking). However, the existing Nextbike hire station is not shown at all. Update: seems Nextbike station is being retained (but isn’t marked on plan).

The plans do convert car parking spaces and some road space and into space for people walking and cycling. Overall, the scheme looks like it’s been planned for people visiting the Science Centre rather than people who cycle to work or for transport. The same company, Austin-Smith:Lord, are running the consultations about city centre districts.

See the documents on Glasgow City Council’s planning portal, including a GoBike response objecting to the route being less direct. These don’t seem to have been taken on board as the council has approved the plan, subject to conditions (GCC don’t give any further details).

Looking forward…

Further into 2021, new Spaces for People routes are due in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. Also, new cycle/pedestrian bridges are being built to Sighthill in Glasgow and Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. Perhaps we’ll have more next time.

It’s like buses – wait for ages for a consultation about the north of the city then loads come along at once. In this case, workshops for a few northern city centre ‘districts’, a future consultation about the uni/college campuses around Cathedral St and a strategic document about North Glasgow.

This Digest also includes links in the Contents page so you can, hopefully, jump straight to a topic if you want to.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Steer Energy – Streetscore – Impact of Streetworks Survey, respond by end November
2. Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops, Townhead: 2 December / Cowcaddens: 7 December
3. Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay masterplan/”River Clyde blue corridor vision”, closes 4 December
4. East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), closes 15 January 2021
5. Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework (SDF), *deadline extended* – closes 29 January 2021
6. Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation (Victoria Rd)
7. OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. University of Strathclyde – Early Engagement Information: Creating people first infrastructure, a city centre context

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council (Maxwell Park area) Traffic Calming Scheme
2. Glasgow City Council (Ryehill Road) Traffic Calming Scheme
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – LDP2 Newsletter
4. Urban Roots – Malls Mire/Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project

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

1.1: Steer Energy – Streetscore – Impact of Streetworks Survey, respond by end November

If you’ve ever had an annoying experience trying to get around roadworks, here’s a chance to get it off your chest. Thomas at GoBike was contacted by Megan from Steer Energy, who are doing a survey about the effects of roadworks on different groups; including cyclists. Her message says:

“Steer Energy are carrying out research to engage with people who can give their expert opinion on what the challenges people may face when encountering streetworks in their everyday life. We are targeting the following groups:

• People living with disabilities  
• People living with dementia    
• People with mental health issues      
• Neurodiverse people [including people on the autism spectrum]
• Carers      
• Cyclists

The aim is to gather opinions and ideas from people with lived experience journeying through street works that may have found the experience challenging.

We would be keen to include the experience of cyclists across Scotland and encourage you to share with any other groups and communities you work with:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/steerstreetworks

Our aim is to gather as much information as possible about the current impacts of streetworks and how they can be better designed with more people in mind.”

We asked for a few more details about what this involved and got a very quick response:

“The design of all streetwork in the UK is carried out using the same national guidelines which is basically a manual used in training and design. Steer Energy is challenging that manual and asking that it be amended to become more accessible and include better designed streetworks to decrease isolation and disruption to peoples lives, especially those who do not use cars and those groups who require more space to move around in public (wheelchair users, people with mobility problems, disabled people, neurodiverse people, etc).”

If you’d like to take part, see the SurveyMonkey link, above – preferably before the end of November to allow time for the report to be put together.

1.2: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops (Townhead: 2 December/Cowcaddens: 7 December)

We received emails about upcoming consultations and events for the District Regeneration Frameworks project by Glasgow City Council. These are very wide-ranging consultations covering housing, business, leisure, etc. as well as transport. The ‘districts’ are areas around the city centre – some have already had plans completed, including Blythswood, Central, Broomielaw and St Enoch – see the Districts page on the City Centre Strategy website (under their huge map).

The project’s CommonPlace map for all Districts can be found at the links, below.

“You can check out what’s been said so far and contribute your thoughts online at https://yourcitycentre2020.commonplace.is/ and http://www.yourplacemap.org/.”

The next two areas with consultation events arranged are Townhead and Cowcaddens (with Merchant City and the ‘Learning Quarter’ to follow at some point).

Townhead district covers the area you might expect from Cathedral St to the M8. The “potential bridge” in the map is the new pedestrian/cycle bridge to Sighthill (due Spring 2021). The “route of potential Avenues” on Castle St and Springburn Rd isn’t in the current version of the Avenues Programme (but would be very welcome if GCC want to update it).

(Y)our Townhead Online Ideas Workshops (via Zoom) – Wednesday 2 December

• Afternoon Workshop: 2pm – 4pm, Tickets to the Townhead Workshop, Afternoon session
• Evening Workshop: 6pm – 8pm, Tickets to the Townhead workshop, Evening Session

Cowcaddens district goes from Buchanan Bus Station to an area north of the M8 at St George’s Cross. This is where the ‘Underline’ from GCC’s Avenues Programme was due to go (from Cambridge St) but it’s missing from the map.

(Y)our Cowcaddens Online Ideas Workshops (via Zoom) – Monday 7 December

• Afternoon Workshop: 2pm – 4pm, Tickets to the Cowcaddens Afternoon Workshop.
• Evening Workshop: 6pm – 8pm, Tickets to the Cowcaddens Evening Workshop.

“Each session will be facilitated by the (Y)our City Centre project team. We hope to map out with you issues and ideas you feel will help make the difference and improve Cowcaddens in the future.

Sign Up on Eventbrite and join in with these Workshops. If you do not have access to the internet contact the Freephone line number listed below to enable you to #ShareYourIdeas.

Further Workshops will be scheduled in early 2021 and we hope to arrange some [physical] events… when Covid restrictions allow.”

These events, and the forthcoming consultation under item 2.1, mean big changes could be coming for the north of the city centre. They also tie in with the North Glasgow SDF – see item 1.5.

1.3: Glasgow Harbour Ltd – Yorkhill Quay masterplan

This was covered in Digest Issue 73, Item 1.1. However, it arrived just before the Digest went out and we missed a few details. The consultation is by Glasgow Harbour/Peel L&P (not the city council – apologies).

It’s about potentially building high-rises on the strip of land at the river between Riverside Museum and the new distillery. The intro video talks about a “long derelict site” without mentioning Peel (formerly Clydeport) have used it for storage for several years. It’s a pre-planning consultation as no planning application has gone in yet. There’s a summary of the possible proposal (on Urban Realm), article by Peel L&P, Yorkhill Quay ‘boards’ (PDF) and consultation website [removed Dec 2020]. Deadline for “formal” comments is 4 December (but deadline to view plans/ask questions is 30 November – email: advice@mcinally-associates.co.uk).

1.4: East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2),
(closes 15 January 2021)

As covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.8. You’ve to email EDC if you want to comment about local development issues, like the lack of Spaces for People projects or phase 2 of the Bearsway, for example. See the EDC website: www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/LDP2.

1.5: Glasgow City Council – North Glasgow Strategic Development Framework

This document is about a huge area north of the M8 from the length of Maryhill Rd across to Milton, Springburn and Royston. It’s looking decades ahead and has already been five years in the making. Brenda has written a detailed GoBike response to the North Glasgow SDF. See the North Glasgow SDF consultation on GCC’s website. The deadline has been extended to 29 January 2021.

1.6: Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation

This consultation is about the new protected junctions on Victoria Rd, at Calder St and Allison St, as part of the South City Way. It was covered in Digest 73, Item 1.5. If you want to show support for the new junctions, or just find out more, see GCC’s Protected Junctions webpage for further images, a video, a PDF document and a contact link. The junction trial will last two years but there’s no deadline mentioned for feedback.

1.7: OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme

This multiple choice survey (as covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.1) was originally looking for quick feedback but remains open. OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum are working on a Places for Everyone project to improve active travel infrastructure in parts of North East Glasgow like Smithycroft, Riddrie and Blackhill.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Glasgow – Early Engagement Information: Creating people first infrastructure, a city centre context

This is potentially a lot more important than the vague title would suggest. We received an email from Stantec (a multi-national design/engineering company) on behalf of the University of Strathclyde. They want to develop active travel routes through their campus and the ‘Learning Quarter’ around Cathedral St and North Hanover St:

“The University of Strathclyde, in partnership with, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow City Council have secured Sustrans’ Places for Everyone funding for the project ‘Creating People-First Infrastructure in a City Centre Campus’. Stantec are assisting the project team in this exciting endeavour.

The vision of this project is to create an attractive, safe and walkable ‘learning quarter’ in the north-east of the city centre through the design of an innovative urban realm, which improves the physical environment and allows the general public, residents, students and staff to travel to, and move freely between the University of Strathclyde, City of Glasgow College, nearby Glasgow Caledonian University and the rest of the city centre.

The improvements that are being explored in the project area will provide significant value to the extended community. By aligning this project with other projects being delivered by Glasgow City Council, ‘Creating People-First Infrastructure in a City Centre Campus’ will also benefit a range of other people who live, work and travel through the city centre. The Avenues Programme and Spaces for People are examples of Glasgow City Council’s ambitions to rebalancing streets in favour of people walking cycling or wheeling in the city centre.

The key routes to be enhanced in the learning quarter as part of this project have been identified through a feasibility and options appraisal process and are shown in the figure below.”

“In the next few weeks we will be launching a public consultation website to present and receive feedback on proposals developed for the learning quarter so far. This site will be updated as the project progresses, proving an important resource. We hope that you will be able to contribute to this consultation to help shape the project for your local community by viewing proposals, leaving feedback and sharing the consultation website with your networks.

For any further information in the meantime please contact the project team at PfEGlasgow@stantec.com

Kind regards,
The Project Team”

This may be of interest to current and former students of the universities/colleges in this area. It sounds quite wide-ranging but seems to emphasise walking rather than cycling. A lot of change is due in the next few years, including Strathclyde Uni demolishing the current ‘Strathy Union’ on John St as part of their ongoing campus redevelopment (see their Campus Update for more details).

This consultation is also relevant to the ‘(Y)our Learning Quarter’ district consultation due soon. Nearby streets are earmarked as ‘Avenues’ and the ‘Avenues Plus’ project (due to be built between 2023–25). So, there’s a lot of potential to transform the area north-east of George Square. Once Stantec update us about the website, we’ll pass on the link.

Section 3: Consultations Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – Maxwell Park area, Traffic Calming Scheme

We have a few more responses from the city council about traffic calming. Firstly, this one for the Maxwell Park area was first covered in Digest 68, Item 1.8. I wonder if GCC have changed their mind about the speed cushions?

“Further to my preliminary email of 25^th August 2020, I can confirm that it is my intention to proceed with the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme.

I can confirm that there has been no changes to the original proposed scheme which will comprise of:

• 5 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Dolphin Road,
• 6 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Fotheringay Road,
• 11 sets of 3, 2m wide 75mm high, speed cushions on Springkell Avenue
• The installation of 44 bollards

Roads affected by the proposed Scheme:

• Dolphin Road
• Fotheringay Road
• Springkell Avenue

I enclose a plan of the scheme.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.”

Nope, nothing has changed despite GoBike’s letter of objection. The previous plans were in Digest 68, as above if you want to see them.

3.2: Glasgow City Council – Ryehill Road, Traffic Calming Scheme

Here’s another one from the following Digest 69, Item 1.9. Maybe this response will be the one where GCC have a ‘road to Damascus’-style revelation and change their minds?

“Further to my preliminary email of 10^th September 2020, I can confirm that it is my intention to proceed with the introduction of the above named Traffic Calming Scheme.

I can confirm that there has been no changes to the original proposed scheme which will comprise of:

• The installation of 12 speed cushions
• The supply and installation of 8 bollards

I enclose a plan of the scheme.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please e-mail LESTraffic@glasgow.gov.uk.”

Nope, no changes there either. Again, see Digest 69 to pore over the unchanged plans.

3.3 East Dunbartonshire Council – LDP2 November Newsletter

On the subject of councils not changing their minds about things, here are EDC again with a nice LDP2 newsletter, November edition (PDF). Previous issues on EDC’s LDP2 Newsletters webpage in case you want some light reading for the winter nights.

3.4: Urban Roots – Malls Mire/Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project

GoBike received an email from Dr Gemma Jennings at Urban Roots about an ongoing project:

“Dear All,
I am excited to share with you the latest news from the the North Toryglen Greenspace & Active Travel Project, which following our community consultation has been rebranded simply as ‘Malls Mire’. Work begins on site this week and will run until summer 2021 – please find attached the first Malls Mire newsletter from Clyde Gateway for details. I have also attached details of path closures and diversions that will be in place for the first phase of works. 
We will share ongoing project updates on social media via our Malls Mire facebook and twitter pages – both @MallsMire.”

Malls Mire is the name of the greenspace between Rutherglen and Toryglen. While it’s possible to trudge your bike over the hill next to the woods, upgrading the paths will make a big difference to the area. As mentioned, Urban Roots sent us drawings of closures and diversions – works on the west of Malls Mire and works on the east of Malls Mire. There’s also a short newsletter about the Malls Mire project.

Hope you like the changes in this Digest. New editor, new improved ideas, says the previous editor!