After Ayrshire dominating the last issue, this time North Lanarkshire joins North Ayrshire and a new consultation on North Woodside Road, Glasgow. Sadly, NLC favour new roads and shared paths over on-street segregation (see above). However, there’s a chance to ask for better in their new strategy.

Apologies there was no issue last week due to IT issues – hopefully back on track.

Contents
(new consultations in bold)

1: Current Consultations

1. North Ayrshire Draft Local Transport & Active Travel Strategy
2. Palacerigg Future Housing – Stage 2, Public Consultation
3. Ayr to Barassie Active Travel Route
4. North Woodside Road Consultation
5. North Ayrshire Council – Local Development Plan 3
6. North Lanarkshire Council – Green and open space survey
7. Devon Street Urban Park

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) rail ‘underbridge’ installed

3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. North Lanarkshire TROs

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

1.1: North Ayrshire Draft Local Transport & Active Travel Strategy

Council: North Ayrshire.
Subject: An overall transport strategy for North Ayrshire with an active travel strategy within it (page 24 onwards). The active travel strategy introduction includes collision data and case studies (like Trinity Active Travel Hub in Irvine). The rest has analysis and potential projects for different parts of the region (including Ardrossan Connections, as featured in previous Digests). Links to public transport are mentioned and it seems more in-depth than the public transport section, which doesn’t include specific projects. There’s a survey and remaining consultation events (early April in Millport, Saltcoats and Brodick).
Website links: North Ayrshire Draft Local Transport & Active Travel Strategy (PDF), North Ayrshire LTATS survey, North Ayrshire LTATS feedback form and North Ayrshire LTATS consultation webpage.
Deadline: 23 April 2023.

1.2: Palacerigg Future Housing – Stage 2, Public Consultation

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: This stage 2 consultation comes hot on the heels of stage 1. It’s about plans for a large housing estate in the South Cumbernauld Community Growth Area. More details are included in PDF plans. There’s a short cycle route but it seems it’s only within the estate for some reason. There’s nothing about a crucial link to nearby Cumbernauld train station or Palacerigg Country Park. That seems to contradict National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which puts more emphasis on active travel.
Featured: Digest 129, Item 1.4.
Website links: Palacerigg Future Housing consultation (stage 2).
Deadline: 26 April 2023.

1.3: Ayr to Barassie Active Travel Route

Council: South Ayrshire.
Subject: Further stage of public consultation for the wider active travel route between Ayr and Barassie (the phase from Dundonald has featured in a previous Digest). The longer route is being called the Ayrshire Link. Consultation events have finished.
Featured: Digest 127, Item 1.1.
Website links: Ayr to Barassie Active Travel Route consultation page and Ayrshire Link website.
Deadline: 1 May 2023.

1.4: North Woodside Road Consultation

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: This project was started by Websters Theatre in 2020, as part of GCC’s “Animating Spaces” initiative. Now part of Connecting Woodside, it’s back for further consultation. It’s about the stopped up end of North Woodside Rd at Great Western Rd outside the theatre (formerly Lansdowne Church). Active travel is mentioned, as well as a performance space, but there don’t seem to be any formal plans yet. Instead, there’s a survey and postcard.
Featured: Digest 75, Item 1.1.
Website links: N Woodside Rd survey and postcard.
Deadline: 29 May 2023.

1.5: North Ayrshire Local Development Plan 3

Council: North Ayrshire.
Subject: First consultation stage for the next Local Development Plan by North Ayrshire. It may be one of the first in Scotland under the new National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4 came into force in February 2023). As a result, it should have more emphasis on the environment, including active travel. Getting cycling routes/networks, developer obligations, etc. mentioned in the LDP makes them more likely to be delivered. Also, if developers proposals miss out or go against the LDP, these give people grounds to object and have plans altered or conditions added.
Website links: North Ayrshire LDP3 consultation website.
Deadline: June 28 2023.

1.6: North Lanarkshire Council – Green and open space survey

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: Survey and audit data to feed into an Open Space Strategy and other policies. NLC avoid on-street protected cycle lanes, so anything affecting off-street paths could have a big impact on cycling in the county. Areas like the Seven Lochs Wetland Park have cross-border active travel routes (Hogganfield Loch to Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge). NL’s other country parks, Palacerigg (see above) and especially Strathclyde Park, are also havens for active travel. The latter has added and upgraded paths near Bellshill with more of NCN74 due to be re-routed through the park. The council ignored a GoBike suggestion for links between Strathclyde Park, Duchess Park, Ravenscraig and the existing Greenlink route (as part of redevelopment of Airbles Rd). There’s potential for similar links around some of North Lanarkshire’s dozen nature reserves. The consultation has a general survey and one about specific places that are important to visitors or residents.
Website links: Green and open space surveys.
Deadline: 10 July 2023.

1.7: Devon Street Urban Park

Organisation: Glasgow Urban Sports (GUS).
Area: Southside between Eglinton St and Pollokshaws Rd.
Subject: Formerly GUS M74, now revised and renamed… “The Devon Street Urban Park project is a proposal from Glasgow Urban Sports (GUS), a community led organisation, that aims to transform an unused area of land under the canopy of the M74 motorway, on the southside of Glasgow, to create a new public urban park and community leisure space.” While the project still involves building a skatepark it seems to have broadened out a bit to gain more community support. There are new partner organisations on board and a new survey to fill in.
Featured: Digest 92, Item 1.14.
Website links: Devon St survey, new GUS website.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) rail ‘underbridge’ installed

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: The concrete ‘underbridge’ for a new dual carriageway is now installed under the West Coast Mainline in Motherwell. NLC, who declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, emailed to boast that the new structure had “one of the largest concrete bridge lifts in Europe” and cost £16.9m. The new link is part of the Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) project to reduce severance from the railway embankment between Windmillhill St and Ravenscraig. However, one image (above) shows an old rail underpass, visible from Meadow Rd. Developing that into an active travel connection would cost a fraction of the City Deal project. Images show what has been demolished so far around Rose St with more due to follow to install the proposed 90m+ (>300ft) diameter roundabout at the eastern end of Airbles Rd. GoBike objected to the lack of cycling-only provision but that wasn’t mentioned in the planning approval.
Featured: Digest 75, Item 1.2.
Website links: Ravenscraig rail bridge article, rail bridge video and Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure project page.

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Clachan of Campsie and Kirkintilloch.
Subject: Orders about parking restrictions, electric charging and speed limits.
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs.

3.2: North Lanarkshire TROs

Areas: Towns and villages throughout the county.
Subject: Part-time 20 miles per hour speed restrictions –many around schools.
‘Various Roads, Southern Area’ – Deadline: 26 April 2023. ‘Various Roads, Northern Area’ – Deadline: 3 May 2023.
NLC have a consultation about parking in Cumbernauld village focussed on locals (asks for name/postcode – ends 22 May). Also, one on Planning and Noise Supplementary Guidance (ends 17 May).
Website links: North Lanarkshire Live Consultations.

The latest drop-in event is about Dams to Darnley Country Park and East Renfrewshire’s Balgray Connections project. Today’s event is in Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns, 11am–3pm (near Costa). Another follows on 2 November, 3pm to 7pm at Barrhead Foundry centre.

Also, it’s decision day at Inverclyde Council for the Spaces for People route in Greenock. Will they follow Renfrewshire and remove it? Or will it get a stay of execution?

A few consultations come to an end over the Hallowe’en weekend – including for North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow.

1: Current Consultations

1. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
2. Irvine housing developments
3. Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid
4. Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement
5. South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)
6. Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation
7. Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3
8. St George’s Road – Phase 2
9. Giffnock Local Action Plan map
10. Clarkston Local Action Plan map
11. Eaglesham Local Action Plan map
12. Balgray Connections

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Dennistoun to Cranhill event
2. Eurocentral/A8 roundabout
3. Bellshill ‘Wheeled Sports Area’ opening

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs
3. North Lanarkshire TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A mix of painted lanes on pavement and protected cycletracks on road. A vote by the council in March was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months. A review was due in September with the next environment and regeneration committee meeting on 27 October. The council’s SfP update report has some interesting statistics about cycle usage and traffic flow. People cycling the existing Coastal Path (east of the new lanes) seem to stay on the eastern shared pavement on Container Way; then use Patrick St/Brougham St instead of crossing to Laird St/Dalrymple St. The western side of Container Way has strange chicane barriers and Tesco’s car park entrance, which may have something to do with it (above). The report recommends improvements and making the temporary lanes permanent.
Featured: Digest 108, Item 1.12.
Website links: Greenock Town Centre to Battery Park – Community Engagement and Inverclyde Now article on council vote (March 2022).
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.2: Irvine housing developments

Council: North Ayrshire
Subject: Two sites are being redeveloped – part of Ayrshire Central Hospital’s grounds and Montgomerie Park in Irvine, either side of the A78. Both housing plans include accessible homes and walking/cycling links. Montgomerie Park seems to include a cycle path alongside the site, which links to an existing off-road path, but there isn’t much detail.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.6.
Website links: Ayrshire Central Hospital consultation and Montgomerie Park consultation.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.3: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Part of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks site between Motherwell and Wishaw.
Subject: ‘Proposals to develop a large site in Ravenscraig.’ However, it’s a relatively small part of the huge Ravenscraig site. Also, most of the money appears to go on groundworks for utilities. New active travel links would be mainly linking the new estate to existing paths. That would still leave the ‘missing link’ to the west of Robberhall Rd towards Coursington Rd. The bid for the former industrial site would go to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (without any hint of irony!). Comments have to go to the council by email: ravenscraigluf@northlan.gov.uk.
Website links: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid webpage.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.4: Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Craigneuk area between Ravenscraig and Wishaw (near Shieldmuir train station).
Subject: ‘Take 2’ for this street after a previous attempt at active travel improvements hit the skids. The Meadowhead Rd plans from 2020 included rain gardens, speed chicanes and changes to car parking. Some residents took issue with the latter – the project was delayed and then lost funding. The new plans widen the north footway to a 3m shared path. The road is a bus route, which had ruled out speed bumps, but the new plans add half a dozen speed tables. A path already goes east from the Wishawhill Wood Pump Track to Wishaw’s Main St. Meadowhead Rd could connect between it and the recent Ravenscraig Active Travel Link path, going north to the new playpark by the Regional Sports Centre.
Featured: Digest 80, Item 1.2.
Website links: Meadowhead Rd consultation webpage and Meadowhead Rd ‘storymap’.
Deadline: 30 October 2022.

1.5: South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South of the river from Kinning Park round to Oatlands and down to Shawlands (excluding Pollokshields).
Subject: Toryglen is also included in the ‘South Central’ area for this Local Development Framework. Apparently, it’s less urgent than a Strategic Development Framework (SDF). The neighbourhoods involved vary from less well off Govanhill to affluent Strathbungo. Also, the map of the area shows how it overlaps with the Riverside SDF between the Barclays site and the Squinty Bridge.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.12.
Website links: Transforming Communities Glasgow webpage.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.6: Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Lennoxtown is known as the site of Celtic FC’s training complex. Despite being at the foot of the Campsie Hills, its Main St is not as picturesque as its setting. It has had some regeneration, including Lennoxtown Hub, housing the library and health services. Now a previous improvement project from 2019 is restarting – an initial survey is due to lead to refreshed concept designs for the Main St.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.7.
Website links: Lennoxtown project page and survey.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.7: Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA).
Subject: Another second attempt at a consultation. This path and 2-way cycletrack built in Troon as a Places for Everyone project is to be extended to the village of Loans, South Ayrshire. ARA say: “Phase 3 will complement the completed Phase 1, from Troon Train Station to Dundonald Road via Harling Drive, and Phase 2, through Marr College playing fields to Muirhead Primary School.” This consultation has two options about which way to take the Buchan Rd path. Both are residential streets with on-street car parking – Lochlea Ave or North Dr (which leads to an existing path to Loans). A previous consultation had detailed plans for one-way streets but that isn’t mentioned this time. There’s a map to comment on and a detailed survey.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.9.
Website links: Loans to Troon consultation/survey and ARA consultation page.
Deadline: 4 November 2022.

1.8: St George’s Road – Phase 2

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Part of the wider Connecting Woodside project.
Subject: St George’s Rd, including remodelling the dangerous Charing Cross junction. A 2-way protected cycletrack would run from there alongside the M8 (with two options for the crossing at Phoenix Rd). It then crosses from the south to north side of the road at Clarendon Place, which would be stopped up at its south end (and re-opened at north). The route would continue on the north side of St George’s Rd to meet the protected lane already built at Garscube Rd. Also, it would have new pedestrian crossings at Woodside Library, N Woodside Rd and St George’s in the Fields.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.13.
Website links: St George’s Rd consultation (foot of page), storymap and survey.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.9: Giffnock Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Three further consultations on East Ren towns (following the five in Digest 112, June 2022). While each varies in size, all are relatively affluent and suburban areas south of Glasgow. All three have drop-in events but Giffnock’s took place earlier in the month. Giffnock includes Fenwick Rd, which had ‘soft segregation’ on its cycle lanes for a while before the temporary bollards were removed in spring (Digest 107). As well as the A77, a rail line goes through the town with only a handful of crossing points. The map has over 150 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.14.
Website links: Giffnock Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.10: Clarkston Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Clarkston’s consultation comes after its neighbour across the White Cart Water, Busby, had its turn in the summer. The southern edge of Clarkston includes Williamwood High School, off Eaglesham Rd (B767), the subject of a current cycle lane petition. The map has over 260 comments.
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.15 and previous Clarkston consultation.
Website links: Clarkston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.11: Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: While many of East Ren’s towns bleed into each other, Eaglesham is more rural, between Whitelee Wind Farm and East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Also, it’s less connected, without a rail line or cycle paths to nearby towns. The map has over 60 comments.
Drop in event – Eglinton Arms Hotel: Tuesday 1 November, 9.30am – 11am & 3.30pm – 7pm. 
Featured: Digest 121, Item 1.16.
Website links: Eaglesham Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.12: Balgray Connections

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Area: Balgray reservoir in Dams to Darnley Country Park, between Barrhead and Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Active travel paths added to Aurs Rd in Barrhead and Barrhead Rd in Newton Mearns. In Barrhead, it seems to be a ‘Quietway’-style route on Springfield Dr, parallel to Aurs Rd. It would have raised road tables at junctions and toucan crossings at Aurs Rd and Springfield Rd. At the Newton Mearns end, there would be a shared pavement around the M77 bridge and Westacre Roundabout. However, east of a toucan crossing, there would be proper segregated cycle lanes. These should go the rest of the way to Mearns Cross but there’s doubt about the design around bus stops (possibly due to accessibility concerns?). The Aurs Rd re-alignment project is the bit in the middle, due for construction in 2023–24.
Drop-in events – The Avenue Shopping Centre, Newton Mearns: Thurs 27 October, 11am–3pm. Barrhead Foundry centre: Wed 2 November, 3–7pm.
Website links: Balgray Connections Commonplace map.
Deadline: 21 November 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Dennistoun to Cranhill event

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: An in-person consultation event took place at Reidvale Centre about initial projects for the Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods project. Like other LN areas, the in-depth Stage 1 report had a long list of potential projects. Those projects went to local ward councillors and Spatial Planning officers to help choose a shortlist. See links to display boards of the five initial projects: Dennistoun/Reidvale railway bridges (between Bellgrove station and Millerston St), Riddrie Town Centre (Smithycroft Rd), Carntyne Square, Hogarth Park/Todd St improvements and Cranhill M8 bridge lighting. These will go in a Stage 2 report to the council in late November.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 2.1.
Website links: LN drop-in event background (Dennistoun Community Council) and City Council LN webpage.

2.2: Eurocentral/A8 roundabout

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: A8, next to the M8, between Coatbridge, Bellshill and EuroCentral Business Park.
Subject: Apparently, NLC’s surveys for a ‘park and ride’ train station at a motorway business park didn’t show enough demand. Instead, they’ve changed their City Deal project to a roundabout on a dual carriageway (with a few active travel routes)! The new junction on the A8 would link to to an expanded railhead for freight (currently accessed from Reema Rd, Mossend) and to the former Shanks & McEwan site at Carnbroe/Orchard Farm. The active travel routes would apparently link EuroCentral west to Mossend and east to Newhouse but there are no designs. The email says NLC will appoint designers during the winter so there may be a consultation during 2023.
Website links: City Deal projects along the A8/M8. Also, railhead planning application and Carnbroe Waste/Renewable Energy Facility planning application (which locals have campaigned against).

2.3: Bellshill ‘Wheeled Sports Area’ opening

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Strathclyde Country Park – north of Bellshill Golf Club, near Bankhead Ave and Bellshill Rd (A721).
Subject: More positive news the other side of Bellshill where the VeloPark consulted on in summer 2021 has just opened (now the ‘Wheeled Sports Area’). It has a pump track and mountain bike trails as well as upgraded paths. Should be a great addition to the park and Bellshill, especially for younger generations. Images and video from the opening weekend show it was very popular.
Featured: Digest 92, Item 1.9.
Website links: NLC Wheeled Sports Area webpage and post by Socialtrack.

Section 3: Proposed Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1: East Dunbartonshire TROs

Areas: Bearsden (Allander Junction and ‘MacFarlane etc Redetermination’); Bishopbriggs (Linnhe Ave and Schools Orders); Kirkintilloch (Market Road & Chryston Road).
Subject: Orders to redetermine footways and parking restrictions (including near the Bearsway).
Website links: East Dunbartonshire TROs (at foot of Roadworks page).

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs – There are another two TROs for Spaces for People projects – Provanmill Rd, Blackhill and Cumbernauld Rd (next to Hogganfield Park) plus the five ‘made’ SfP orders. Also, proposed TROs for Leeside Dr and a few for Carmunnock Rd.
Traffic Calming – Linkwood Dr, Drumchapel; Wardie Rd, Easterhouse. 
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Areas: Bellshill and Glenmavis.
Subject: Orders to reduce speed limits on the A721 Motherwell Rd/Bellshill Rd and B802 Glenmavis Rd.
Website links: North Lanarkshire Live Consultations.

*Quote from ‘Night of the Demon’ (1957) as sampled on ‘Hounds of Love’ by Kate Bush. Don’t have nightmares…

Two drop-in events on today – one for Liveable Neighbourhoods in Dennistoun, Glasgow. The other for a funding bid at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, North Lanarkshire. More events to come for St George’s Rd, Glasgow and in East Renfrewshire for the Clarkston and Eaglesham Local Action Plans.

The most eye-catching plans in this issue are for St George’s Rd and Charing Cross. As part of Connecting Woodside, it’s due to link to the existing route on Garscube Rd.

1: Current Consultations

1. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods drop-in event
2. Dummy Railway path
3. Ruchill Street Placemaking
4. Langside Monument public realm
5. Toryglen Streets for People
6. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
7. Irvine housing developments
8. Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid
9. Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement
10. South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)
11. Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation
12. Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3
13. St George’s Road – Phase 2
14. Giffnock Local Action Plan map
15. Clarkston Local Action Plan map
16. Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

2: Consultation Feedback

1. Newton Mearns – Ayr Road Phase 1 shared path opens

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/Traffic Regulation Orders

1. East Dunbartonshire TROs
2. Glasgow City TROs
3. North Lanarkshire TROs

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods drop-in event

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: An in-person event TODAY at Reidvale Centre, 13 Whitevale St, Glasgow G31 1QW. It’s about the potential projects in the LN Stage 1 report (which came out in August). The long list of 26 has gone to local ward councillors and Spatial Planning officers to help choose a shortlist. There are five initial projects: Dennistoun railway bridges (between Bellgrove station and Millerston St), Riddrie Town Centre (Smithycroft Rd), Carntyne Square, Hogarth Park improvements and Cranhill M8 bridge lighting. After the engagement event, these will go in a Stage 2 report to the council in late November.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 2.1.
Website links: LN drop-in event details (Dennistoun Community Council website).
Deadline: 13th October 10am–4pm.

1.2: Dummy Railway path

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Path between Ruchill and Possilpark near Panmure St.
Subject: A confusing nickname given to at least two old railways around Possil (and one in Paisley). In this case it refers to the former line from Panmure St, north of the canal, to Balmore Rd. The current path is narrow and has some steps so the plan is to upgrade it and add links to existing housing and a new estate. This comes from the Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood project.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.8.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Dummy Railway survey
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.3: Ruchill Street Placemaking

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Another project from the Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhood. The visuals showing cycling and walking are positive but it’s only an initial design. Whether or not Ruchill St ever looks anything like that may depend on the response to the consultation.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.9.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Ruchill St survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.4: Langside Monument public realm

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: A project from the Langside to Toryglen LN. It would change the road layout around the monument at the junction of Langside Ave and Battlefield Rd. Removing the road to the north of it would join it onto Queen’s Park near the glasshouse. Another feature would be adding trees and planting.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.10.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Langside Monument survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.5: Toryglen Streets for People

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: Another project from the Langside to Toryglen LN. This would link a network of paths and streets, like Lubas Ave and Ardnahoe Ave, and add trees and planting. Also, slides and colourful crossings feature in the visuals (perhaps inspired by multi-coloured crossings in Dumbarton and elsewhere).
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.11.
Website links: LN Tranche 2 projects ‘storymap’ and Toryglen Streets for People survey.
Deadline: 14 October 2022 (extended).

1.6: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

Council: Inverclyde.
Subject: A Spaces for People temporary route between Greenock town centre and a coastal park. A vote by the council’s environment and regeneration committee was 9:2 in favour of keeping the lanes for another six months. A further review is due in September with the next committee meeting in late October. The 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.
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.

1.7: Irvine housing developments

Council: North Ayrshire
Subject: Two sites are being redeveloped – part of Ayrshire Central Hospital’s grounds and Montgomerie Park in Irvine, either side of the A78. Both housing plans include accessible homes and walking/cycling links. Montgomerie Park seems to include a cycle path alongside the site, which links to an existing off-road path, but there isn’t much detail. Each development is due to have an in-person consultation event – Ayrshire Central Hospital on Tuesday 11 October and Montgomerie Park on Wednesday 26 October (no detail on venues/times).
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.6.
Website links: Ayrshire Central Hospital consultation and Montgomerie Park consultation.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.8: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Part of the former Ravenscraig Steelworks site between Motherwell and Wishaw.
Subject: ‘Proposals to develop a large site in Ravenscraig.’ However, it’s a relatively small part of the huge Ravenscraig site. Also, most of the money appears to go on groundworks for utilities. New active travel links would be mainly linking the new estate to existing paths. That would still leave the ‘missing link’ to the west of Robberhall Rd towards Coursington Rd. The bid for the former industrial site would go to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (without any hint of irony!).
Drop in event – Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility TODAY 13 October 2022 (2pm to 7.30pm). Comments have to go to the council by email: ravenscraigluf@northlan.gov.uk.
Website links: Ravenscraig Levelling Up Fund bid webpage.
Deadline: 28 October 2022.

1.9: Meadowhead Road (Craigneuk) Active Travel and Road Safety Improvement

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Area: Craigneuk area between Ravenscraig and Wishaw (near Shieldmuir train station).
Subject: ‘Take 2’ for this street after a previous attempt at active travel improvements hit the skids. The Meadowhead Rd plans from 2020 included rain gardens, speed chicanes and changes to car parking. Some residents took issue with the latter – the project was delayed and then lost funding. The new plans widen the north footway to a 3m shared path. The road is a bus route, which had ruled out speed bumps, but the new plans add half a dozen speed tables. A path already goes east from the Wishawhill Wood Pump Track to Wishaw’s Main St. Meadowhead Rd could connect between it and the recent Ravenscraig Active Travel Link path, going north to the new playpark by the Regional Sports Centre.
Featured: Digest 80, Item 1.2.
Website links: Meadowhead Rd consultation webpage and Meadowhead Rd ‘storymap’.
Deadline: 30 October 2022.

1.10: South Central Local Development Framework (SCLDF)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: South of the river from Kinning Park round to Oatlands and down to Shawlands (excluding Pollokshields).
Subject: Toryglen is also included in the ‘South Central’ area for this Local Development Framework. Apparently, it’s less urgent than a Strategic Development Framework (SDF). The neighbourhoods involved vary from less well off Govanhill to affluent Strathbungo. Also, the map of the area shows how it overlaps with the Riverside SDF between the Barclays site and the Squinty Bridge.
Featured: Digest 118, Item 1.12.
Website links: Transforming Communities Glasgow webpage.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.11: Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project Consultation

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Lennoxtown is known as the site of Celtic FC’s training complex. Despite being at the foot of the Campsie Hills, its Main St is not as picturesque as its setting. It has had some regeneration, including Lennoxtown Hub, housing the library and health services. Now a previous improvement project from 2019 is restarting – an initial survey is due to lead to refreshed concept designs for the Main St.
Website links: Lennoxtown project page and survey.
Deadline: 31 October 2022.

1.12: Loans to Troon active travel path – Phase 3

Organisation: Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA).
Subject: Another second attempt at a consultation. This path and 2-way cycletrack built in Troon as a Places for Everyone project is to be extended to the village of Loans, South Ayrshire. ARA say: “Phase 3 will complement the completed Phase 1, from Troon Train Station to Dundonald Road via Harling Drive, and Phase 2, through Marr College playing fields to Muirhead Primary School.” This consultation has two options about which way to take the Buchan Rd path. Both are residential streets with on-street car parking – Lochlea Ave or North Dr (which leads to an existing path to Loans). A previous consultation had detailed plans for one-way streets but that isn’t mentioned this time. There’s a map to comment on and a detailed survey.
Featured: Digest 120, Item 1.9.
Website links: Loans to Troon consultation/survey and ARA consultation page.
Deadline: 4 November 2022.

1.13: St George’s Road – Phase 2

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Part of the wider Connecting Woodside project.
Subject: St George’s Rd, including remodelling the dangerous Charing Cross junction. A 2-way protected cycletrack would run from there alongside the M8 (with two options for the crossing at Phoenix Rd). It then crosses from the south to north side of the road at Clarendon Place, which would be stopped up at its south end (and re-opened at north). The route would continue on the north side of St George’s Rd to meet the protected lane already built at Garscube Rd. Also, it would have new pedestrian crossings at Woodside Library, N Woodside Rd and St George’s in the Fields.
Drop in event – meet the Connecting Woodside project team at Woodside Library, 15:30 – 19:00 on 25 October 2022.
Website links: St George’s Rd consultation (foot of page), storymap and survey.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.14: Giffnock Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Three further consultations on East Ren towns (following the five in Digest 112, June 2022). While each varies in size, all are relatively affluent and suburban areas south of Glasgow. All three have drop-in events but Giffnock’s took place earlier in the month. Giffnock includes Fenwick Rd, which had ‘soft segregation’ on its cycle lanes for a while before the temporary bollards were removed in spring (Digest 107). As well as the A77, a rail line goes through the town with only a handful of crossing points. The map has over 120 comments.
Website links: Giffnock Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.15: Clarkston Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Clarkston’s consultation comes after its neighbour across the White Cart Water, Busby, had its turn in the summer. The southern edge of Clarkston includes Williamwood High School, off Eaglesham Rd (B767), the subject of a current cycle lane petition. The map has over 130 comments.
Drop in events – Clarkston Hall: Tuesday 18 October, 9.30am – 11am; Wednesday 19 October, 3pm – 7pm. 
Featured: Previous Clarkston consultation.
Website links: Clarkston Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

1.16: Eaglesham Local Action Plan map

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: While many of East Ren’s towns bleed into each other, Eaglesham is more rural, between Whitelee Wind Farm and East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Also, it’s less connected, without a rail line or cycle paths to nearby towns. The map has over 30 comments.
Drop in event – Eglinton Arms Hotel: Tuesday 1 November, 9.30am – 11am & 3.30pm – 7pm. 
Website links: Eaglesham Commonplace map.
Deadline: 14 November 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Newton Mearns – Ayr Road Phase 1 shared path opens

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Subject: Progress on one part of the A77 as the Phase 1 shared path route opened earlier in the month. It runs between North Hillhead Road and the M77 overbridge. Phase 2 would continue, in 1-way lanes, to the Malletsheugh roundabout – due to start construction in early 2023.
Featured: Digest 112, Item 1.7.
Website links: East Renfrewshire Council article.

3: Proposed Traffic Calming/TROs

3.1: East Dunbartonhire TROs

Areas: Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Milton of Campsie, Kirkintilloch and Torrance.
Subject: Orders to redetermine footways and parking restrictions (including near the Bearsway).
Website links: Allander junction restrictions, Linnhe Ave etc restrictions, Macfarlane etc redetermination and Schools order Bishopbriggs etc restrictions.

3.2: Glasgow City Traffic Calming/TROs

Areas: City-wide.
Subject: TROs – There are the five ‘made’ TROs for Spaces for People projects plus proposed TROs for Leeside Dr and a few for Carmunnock Rd.
Traffic Calming – Linkwood Dr, Drumchapel; Wardie Rd, Easterhouse. 
Website links: Glasgow City Proposed TROs, Glasgow City Proposed Traffic Calming Schemes.

3.3: North Lanarkshire TROs

Areas: Bellshill and Glenmavis.
Subject: Orders to reduce speed limits on the A721 Motherwell Rd/Bellshill Rd and B802 Glenmavis Rd.
Website links: North Lanarkshire Live Consultations.

Glasgow City Council has announced its consultation on all the city’s Spaces for People projects. So, the post-election lull is probably over now.

East Renfrewshire also have a Spaces for People consultation. East Dumbartonshire have a few on the go and North Lanarkshire have a roundabout design that makes Canniesburn Toll look good.

Infrastructure Update

• Garscube Rd gets rain gardens on the way to Firhill St (as part of Connecting Woodside).
• George Square’s benches and planters have been reinstated after being wrecked by rogue Rangers fans on the last weekend of the season.
• Wallacewell Avenue lanes have ‘zebra’ dividers but with some gaps.
• University Hospital Wishaw’s cycle repair stand appeared on NHS Lanarkshire’s website. There’s a similar repair stand at UH Hairmyres – both installed in recent months.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Planning application for Ravenscraig link road/roundabout (closes 31 May)
2. East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll Signalisation Study (by end of May)
3. Glasgow City Council – Spaces for People survey
4. East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Rd, Giffnock Spaces for People project
5. Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road (Traffic Regulation) Order, (ends 18 June)
6. East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion (28 Sept)

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – Byres Rd (20mph Speed Limit Zone) Order
2. Active Travel Academy – Media guidelines for reporting road collisions
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – LDP newsletter

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

1.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Infrastructure Access (South) planning application

Last covered in Digest 75, Item 1.2 (when it seemed to be RAI, now RIA). This planning application is part of a City Deal programme to link the M74 and M8 using a dual carriageway right through the middle of Motherwell. This southern section will widen Airbles Rd, add a massive signalised roundabout and an ‘underbridge’ to cross the railway into the Ravenscraig site. Despite most of the site being empty, no segregated cycleway is proposed there, just a shared footway.

The gigantic 100m footprint of the roundabout could easily have included a segregated cycleway but hasn’t. The angle of staggered crossings on most arms of the roundabout show that pedestrians are expected to make long detours. It will create a black hole for active travel in this part of Motherwell for decades to come. The Canniesburn Toll plans (below) look enlightened by comparison.

GoBike will be objecting to the scale of the roundabout and the lack of segregated cycling provision throughout. If you ever cycle around North Lanarkshire please consider doing the same. See the planning application (look for ‘Windmillhill street junction nmu provision’ and plan documents). Closing date is Bank Holiday Monday 31 May.

1.2: East Dunbartonshire Council – Canniesburn Toll Signalisation Study

As covered last time in Digest 86, Item 1.3, this major junction overhaul near Bearsden does at least include options for a cycle path. However, one option has a serious ‘left hook’ risk and the other involves waiting at several staggered crossings.

Alternative options suggested by experts online, included Edmonton Green roundabout, Enfield, North London (via Ranty Highwayman on Twitter). Or letting pedestrians and cyclists cross into the middle of roundabout (Show Me A Sign, also on Twitter).

See EDC’s overview and their options/survey. The blurb says they’ll do detailed design “Spring/Summer 2021” so don’t hang about.

1.3: Glasgow City Council – Spaces for People survey

In the last Digest we thought we might get a consultation about the temporary Spaces for People ‘pop-up lanes’ in Pollok. Instead, we got a consultation about every SfP project in the city.

There is a wide range of projects from ‘soft segregated’ lanes and widened footways to attempts at Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (now ‘People Friendly Streets’). GCC has split these into headings like ‘City Centre‘, ‘Neighbourhoods‘, ‘School Car Free Zones‘ and ‘Pop-up Cycle Lanes‘

It goes without saying we want as much of the temporary infrastructure to be made permanent as possible. So, it’s important there’s a good response to the survey. Each SfP measure has its own multiple choice question (and space to comment) so it’s easier to fill in than many council consultations.

See GCC’s overview and the GCC SfP survey. Blurb says an “independent review will take place in the summer” so we might not have that long to respond.

1.4: East Renfrewshire Council – Davieland Rd, Giffnock Spaces for People project

Another Spaces for People consultation but for Giffnock instead of Glasgow. This is focused on one place – Davieland Rd next to Rouken Glen Park. The project aims to deal with road safety and accessibility issues from bad parking to speeding.

The proposals would create an uphill cycle lane (with ‘light segregation’) and remove the centre line of the road. It would add bollards and a buffer strip for parking on the downhill side of the road. It means cycling downhill with traffic – easier than uphill but it may not appeal to less confident cyclists (who may prefer the park).

See ERC’s Davieland Rd survey – no closing date is mentioned.

1.5: Glasgow City Council – Maryhill Road/North Woodside Road/Hopehill Road (Traffic Regulation) Order

As covered in the last Digest (86, 1.1) but not very well according to some comments. The council’s drawing for the TRO caused a lot of confusion as it missed out the accompanying pedestrian crossings. These had already appeared in the Connecting Woodside consultation, which this junction was part of. It would have made sense to include them.

That was why the TRO wanted to ban cyclists turning from the crossing onto Maryhill Rd (as pedestrians could also be crossing at the same time). However, GoBike still doesn’t agree with the ban. Similar layouts seem to be used on other Connecting Woodside junctions on Garscube Rd so the principle may apply there too. As for how it will work in practice, that very much remains to be seen.

The usual documents are at the link above. Deadline for responses is Friday, 18 June 2021.

1.6: East Dunbartonshire Council – Active Travel Discussion

This just made it into Digest 86, 1.2. Your editor rashly said we’d have more discussion about it but it doesn’t look like it will be this time around. The consultation is on for months so there’s plenty of time before it feeds into an Active Travel Strategy later in the year.

Upcoming events in the next few days cover Kirkintilloch, Lenzie, Bishopbriggs and Torrance. See a full list of events and background info on the Active Travel Discussion webpage. EDC have an online map to gather suggestions – deadline is 28 September.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

None this time.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – Byres Road (20mph Speed Limit Zone) Order

This order was proposed way back in late 2019 (first mentioned in a Consultation Extra). GoBike expressed full support for it in early 2020. The council recently replied to acknowledge our support. GCC said: “This TRO will implement the correct signage as well as 20mph roundels marked on the carriageway at regular intervals, making the order fully enforceable.”

They also gave a brief update about the other two TROs: “the Byres Road and Hillhead Traffic Regulation Orders, …are still under review and will be responded to in due course.” Hillhead TRO is about parking controls and the Byres Rd TRO is about the segregated cycleways on Byres Rd (and Church St).

3.2: Active Travel Academy – Reporting collisions and road deaths guidelines

This item was first covered back in Digest 71, Item 1.3. The way collisions are reported often makes us feel let down by the media. A project set out to do something about that in October 2020. CUK have come back with an article about the results. Journalist Laura Laker and the Active Travel Academy/University of Westminster have produced Media guidelines for reporting road collisions (PDF). These are long overdue and to be welcomed.

3.3: East Dunbartonshire Council – Local Developnment Plan newsletter

The last word to EDC on their LDP. Their latest LDP newsletter is available from their website. Just because the consultation ended in January doesn’t mean we stop hearing about it. It’s going to committee on 27 May then might go to the Scottish Parliament. Feel free to skip the article on their Active Travel Discussion.

In this Digest there are consultation events for areas either side of the M8. There’s a return to pre-pandemic plans for a few City Ways. Also, adding paths and removing the precinct in Motherwell.

If you’re in the city, see Andy’s three infrastructure routes around Glasgow to take in Spaces for People infrastructure. He’s also started to inform GoBike about closures and diversions; if you hear of any please do let us know.

Looking further ahead towards spring, and an election, Pedal on Parliament have news about their events in April.

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 – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’, rescheduled online sessions Thursday 18th February
2. North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Active Travel Links – Friday 19 February
3. Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – Thursday 25 February
4. Glasgow City Council – St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport Route) Order – Sunday 7 March
5. Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order – Friday 12 March
6. Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order – Friday 12 March

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council – North Kelvin and North Woodside (Traffic Management & Parking Controls) Order
2. North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections

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

1.1: Glasgow City Council – (Y)our Districts Online Ideas Workshops – ‘Learning Quarter’

GCC’s ongoing Districts consultations featured in Digest 78, including this one for the ‘Learning Quarter’. The rescheduled workshops are on Thursday 18th February. There’s an afternoon session (2–4pm) and an evening session (6–8pm) both online.

You can still comment on the Districts Commonplace map. Other relevant consultations about the wider area appeared in Digest 74, including Strathclyde Uni’s proposed active travel project. There’s also the Avenues Plus project for Duke St/John Knox St in a few years time.

1.2: North Lanarkshire Council – Ravenscraig Active Travel Links

An email from North Lanarkshire Council on 15 February is about a very short consultation period for active travel routes into part of the Ravenscraig site in Motherwell. It says:

“Proposals for new cycling and walking routes through Ravenscraig are being published for the public to give their views.

We are working with Sustrans and Ravenscraig Limited to improve connections between Ravenscraig and neighbouring communities and to expand the active travel network.

An online consultation, including a short survey, will run from Monday 8 February for two weeks. It is available at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/regeneration-and-investment/ravenscraig-active-travel-links

The two key elements of the project are:

• a south-north link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, off Meadowhead Road, with the Regional Sports Facility (RSF) and new public park, and
• an east-west link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, to New College Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus.

It’s proposed the paths will have lighting, seating, landscaping with wildflower areas and woodland planting, play features along the route, fencing and CCTV where possible.

“As the Ravenscraig site develops with new housing, business, retail, schools and leisure, we want the area to be accessible for everyone for walking, cycling and wheeling,” said Jonathan Speed, Senior Project Manager at North Lanarkshire Council.

“These active travel routes will provide direct, off-road links from the south to the facilities within Ravenscraig, as well as connecting to a wider network of paths to Motherwell, Wishaw and Carfin.

“The project is an important part of the Ravenscraig masterplan, and we would like to hear from as many people as possible during our consultation to ensure the proposals meet the need of residents.”

The project is being funded by Transport Scotland and Sustrans, through their ‘Places for Everyone’ programme.

Feedback from the consultation will inform the final plans for the project, then the council will apply for planning permission. Subject to the necessary approvals and securing funding, it is anticipated work to construct the first of the two active travel routes would start later this year.”

This seems to have been taken over by the council from Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) who started the project. While an active travel route is welcome, this only covers the south-east corner of a vast area. This route is in contrast to the Ravenscraig Access Infrastructure (RAI) Project from Digest 75, Item 1.2 – a dual carriageway with shared pavement. While there are road links in all directions there are no active travel links to the west of the site (behind Dalzell Works) towards the town centre. We can only hope something comes out of item 2.1, below, to improve the situation.

Deadline is this week, Friday 19 February. If you know the area at all, please fill in the survey.

1.3: Queens Cross Housing Association – Woodside Making Places: updated masterplan and online public meeting – 25 February

This featured in Digest 79 about the Woodside area, between Maryhill Rd and Garscube Rd. It could become an important link along N Woodside Rd and St George’s Rd to the segregated cycleway being completed on Garscube Rd (A81). The consultation map is on the updated Woodside Making Places website. There is an online public meeting on Thursday 25th February.

1.4: Glasgow City Council – St Andrews Drive (Sustainable Transport Route) Order – Sunday 7 March

GoBike first reported on plans for St Andrews Drive in a Consultation Extra in late November 2019. The route would extend the South West City Way (SWCW), the segregated cycleway along Shields Rd. It currently ends at a crossing on St Andrews Drive. The extension would roughly double the length of the SWCW and create a segregated route from the ‘Squiggly’ Bridge, all the way past Maxwell Park to Pollok Country Park.

Glasgow City Council have now announced a Traffic Regulation Order for the length of the St Andrews Dr route. There’s also a SAD notice, SAD report and SAD wee Statement of Reasons. These seem to deal with parking to clear the way for the route.

Further details are still available on the consultation website from late 2019/early 2020. It includes a long ‘Storymap’ and links to PDFs of technical plans for the route (starting at Shields Rd): sections 1–3, sections 4–6, sections 7–9, sections 10–12 and section 13 (Dumbreck/Haggs/Titwood Rd junction).

The existing South West City Way is 2-way (bi-directional) with both lanes on one side of the road. The extension would be the same but, instead of using kerbs as segregation, it would use black and white ‘cycle lane separators’ (also known as zebras/orcas/armadillos). These had already been used on Archerhill Rd, Knightswood. Since then we’ve become more used to seeing them on many of Glasgow’s Spaces for People routes during 2020.

A GoBike response to the SWCW extension plans was sent to Glasgow City Council in late January 2020. It covered points about the choice of route, side road junctions, design elements, 2-way provision, speed limits and implementation. It also gave detailed feedback about parts of the route, especially junctions, like at Dumbreck/Haggs/Titwood Road at Pollok Park.

It’s not clear whether GoBike’s points have been taken on board or if designs have been amended. Nor is there any detail about when construction might start. However, it could mean GCC are trying to do some of it during March, before the end of Financial Year. There’s a consultation period for the TRO with a deadline of 7 March. See the GCC website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro.

1.5: Glasgow City Council – East City Way Phase 1 (London Drive to Daldowie Road) Order – Friday 12 March

East City Way, Phase 1 had a consultation event over two years ago, as mentioned in a Consultation Extra from October 2018. Preparations for work to begin on the ECW weren’t announced until March 2020 and were then halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, GoBike put in a response to the draft plans shortly afterwards. Work eventually started near Mount Vernon station in late summer 2020 (after a further delay which angered a local Tory councillor).

A new order from Glasgow City Council suggests Phase 1 might finally be completed soon. The TRO covers the section that’s been under construction between London Drive and Daldowie Road (next to the Dog’s Trust). An email to GoBike says:

“I now enclose a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant map, statement of reasons and detailed report.

Details of the proposals will also be available on the Glasgow City Council website at www.glasgow.gov.uk/proposedtro . 

As stated in the attached documentation, any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection in writing to Group Manager, Technical Services, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or email SustainableTransport@glasgow.gov.uk and it must be received by Friday 12th March 2021.”

Although it’s taken a long time, Phase 1 of the East City Way is welcome. It turns the former filter lane into 2-way bike lanes and should make the junction under the railway bridge safer for pedestrians as well as people cycling. While it’s a neat solution for the junction, it’s unfortunate that it doesn’t match up with the existing 1-way segregated lanes on Hamilton Rd. Some cyclists will have to cross over at the lights to continue their journey eastbound while others might choose to stay on the road all the way.

It remains to be seen if smooth new tarmac might tempt them into the cycle lane, away from London Road’s usual roughcast road surface. At the western end there are nearly 2 miles until you reach the Spaces for People lanes at the Shell petrol station. This stretch was traditionally a main route into Glasgow and had a higher speed limit to match. However, that is about to change…

1.6: Glasgow City Council – London Road/Hamilton Road (30mph Speed Limit) Order – Friday 12 March

Closely related to the previous item is this order to change the speed limit on a long stretch of London Rd and Hamilton Rd. Since the M74 extension was built, London Rd has become less well used as a trunk road (apart from on Celtic matchdays). The new limit starts near the Premier Inn on Hamilton Rd (A74/A721), goes past the Dog’s Trust and Mt Vernon then all the way along London Rd to join the current 30mph limit at Dewar’s distillery. It’s a distance of about 3.5 miles on a very rough road surface that isn’t very cycling friendly. While it’s unlikely to become heaven for cycling any time soon, it is a step in the right direction.

GoBike received an almost identical message to the London Rd/Hamilton Rd one, above, so it’s not worth repeating. Here’s the 30mph notice, 30mph map, 30mph report and 30mph Statement of Reasons.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: North Lanarkshire Council – Town Visions

North Lanarkshire Council have been consulting about their town centres for a few years using various methods, including the Place Standard tool. During 2020, NLC rebranded these processes as ‘Town Visions’. This covers eight towns: Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, Shotts and Wishaw.

The plans shown so far range from relatively minor changes in Shotts to demolishing large parts of Motherwell town centre and building a few new railway bridges (see image above). By the way, these are different ones to the demolitions and new railway ‘underbridge’ covered in Digest 75. The main issue driving these is economic development, since there will be less retail in town centres in future, but active travel is part of the mix too.

NLC have been consulting with local stakeholders ahead of further public consultation due later in the year. See the Town Visions webpage for links to PDFs of each current town plan.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council – North Kelvin and North Woodside (Traffic Management & Parking Controls) Order

This order featured back in Digest 55 (Item 1.5). It covers a large area on the northern edge of the Woodside project featured above (Item 1.2) and west of Maryhill Rd. Along similar lines to previous schemes in Partick and other areas, it establishes a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ). An RPZ marks car parking bays on roads throughout the area and charges for them both hourly through parking meters or annually through residents permits. However, all spaces are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

GoBike had commented on the draft plans and a few amendments were made by the council. To refresh your memory of the plans, see: relevant map A, relevant map B, relevant map C, statement of reasons, detailed report and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

GoBike’s response to these RPZ proposals was sent on 24 March 2020. On 8 February 2021 we received a reply:

“I note your comments regarding end-on and angled bay parking. During the design phase of the project parallel parking bays were preferred over end-on and angled bays. Where possible we have aimed to avoid end-on and angled bays with only a minimal amount included within the plans. Unfortunately the Council cannot control driving behaviours and preferences when it comes to parking.

I can confirm that another team in the Council is working on sustainable transport and cycle projects within the area, and I will pass on your noted comments for their consideration.

Your comments will be considered and included within the final report which will inform the decision. Once a decision has been taken in regards to these proposals I shall write to you again and advise of the outcome.”

So, we can look forward to future correspondence on this one (on or before January 2022?).

3.2: North Ayrshire Council – Ardrossan Connections

GoBike have been sent a follow-up email after the initial Ardrossan Connections consultation finished earlier in the month. There’s an update on the project website, including a recording of parts of the launch event (with automatic subtitles if you want a laugh). Further online consultation events are due in March.