The Digest returns after an extended break for the local council elections (and some tech issues – apologies). The people in charge of a council have a big say in what gets done so it’s worth noting what has (and hasn’t) changed.

Glasgow City Council continues in minority SNP control, with added support from the Greens. However, Anna Richardson has stepped down from her Sustainability role. Instead, the convenor of the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Committee is Elaine McSporran (Cardonald).

Elsewhere, many neighbouring councils have changed hands:

• East Dunbartonshire – SNP minority (from Lib Dem/Tory).
• East Renfrewshire – Labour/Independents (from SNP).
• North Lanarkshire – SNP minority (from Labour/Independents/Tory).
• South Lanarkshire – Labour/Lib Dem/Independent/Tory (from SNP). New council leader Joe Fagan previously criticised infrastructure works in his East Kilbride ward.
• West Dunbartonshire – Labour (from SNP/Independent).

Forthcoming consultations

A few in-person consultation events have popped up recently (including today’s Avenues Plus event on S Portland St). Unfortunately, the next few are on the same evening:

Woodside Making Places – Information Day

Tuesday 31 May, 3–6pm – outside Cedar Community Hub (Cedar St).
Find out more about the Places for Everyone project led by Queen’s Cross Housing Association. This neighbourhood project links to Garscube Rd, N Woodside Rd and the wider Connecting Woodside scheme. It’s also just unveiled Glasgow’s latest mural.

City Centre Campus/‘Learning Quarter’ and Townhead – Public design session

Tuesday 31 May, 4.30–7.30pm – Technology and Innovation Centre (99 George Street).
Hosted by Stantec, who are lead consultant for the campus project involving Strathclyde Uni, Glasgow Caledonian Uni and City of Glasgow College. Likely to focus on their recent survey (but the name is confusingly similar to a previous District consultation).

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Shawlands Arcade – Consultation Round 2
2. SWG3 Transport Survey
3. Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods
4. Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane
5. *ADDITION – East Renfrewshire Programme

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. City Centre Traffic Management Order (Variation 31) George Square 2022
2. Parking and 20mph TROs, East Dunbartonshire

1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: Shawlands Arcade – Consultation Round 2

Organisation: Clydebuilt developers.
Area: Shawlands Arcade between Kilmarnock Rd and Pollokshaws Rd.
Subject: Further consultation about the regeneration of the shopping arcade. Revised proposals add a few storeys to the height of buildings so they’d be taller than surrounding tenements. The north/south ‘Avenue’ between the two phases of development has a level change with stairs and a lift but no ramp – so it’s not permeable for cycling. There may be cycle access via the service road around the east of site (but it’s not clear in plans). The blurb talks about the South City Way being 2 minutes away but there’s no protected cycle route to get there. There seems to be space to add protected cycle lanes along Kilmarnock Rd, instead of the split level pavement, but that’s not included in the plans. Car parking provision will be around 10% with some secure bike parking.
Website links: Shawlands Arcade consultation 2 – proposals (page may take time to load large, inaccessible images) and Shawlands Arcade survey 2.
Deadline: 31 May 2022.

1.2: SWG3 Transport Survey

Organisation: SWG3 venue.
Area: Eastvale Place, Finnieston next to the railway viaduct.
Subject: SWG3 is a former whiskey bond that’s evolved into a complex of events venues. Well established for its club nights and gigs but on a long cul-de-sac that can be awkward to get to. Big events have a lot of cars doing u-turns at the end of the road outside the venue as people queue in the street. Cycling is one of the better transport options but the only places to lock your bike are railings or gates on the railway arches. SWG3 are asking how people get to the venue and there’s a section about Nextbike and cycle parking.
Website links: SWG3 Transport Survey.
Deadline: 7 June 2022.

1.3: Yorkhill to Anderston Liveable Neighbourhoods

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

1.4: Greenock to Battery Park SfP lane

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

1.5: *ADDITION – East Renfrewshire Programme

Council: East Renfrewshire.
Areas: Barrhead, Busby, Neilston, Newton Mearns and Thornliebank.
Subject: Consultations about improvements for five neighbourhoods, each with a Commonplace map. These started earlier in May (but were forgotten by your author, sorry – explains the nagging feeling there were more consultations to cover!). More details to follow about each in the next Digest.
Website links: East Renfrewshire Programme website.
Deadline: 20 June 2022.

2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: City Centre Traffic Management Order (Variation 31) George Square 2022

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: This Traffic Regulation Order was apparently made on 3rd May 2022. The TRO sets restrictions in and around George Square to allow the temporary Spaces for People changes to be made permanent. These include filtering the west and east sides to remove motor traffic and add planters and seating. The map is unchanged from the version put out to consultation earlier in the year.
First featured: Digest 99, Item 1.6.
Website links: George Sq map.

2.2: Parking and 20mph TROs, East Dunbartonshire

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Subject: Half a dozen Traffic Regulation Orders for towns across East Dunbartonshire, mostly adding parking restrictions. However, one order removes restrictions (Stewart St, Milngavie) and there’s another for a 20mph zone in Maxwell Ave, Bearsden. The schools TRO restricts parking at the start and end of the school day at Clober Primary School, Milngavie and Westerton Primary School, Bearsden. The TRO for Townhead, Kirkintilloch covers the new development at Civic Way, site of EDC’s former headquarters. All TROs would come into effect on Monday, 11 July 2022.
First featured: Digest 92, Items 1.5–1.7.
Website links: Bearsden & Milngavie Schools – Waiting & Loading Restrictions (PDF); Maxwell Avenue Area, Bearsden – 20 mph Zone (PDF); Dalkeith Ave, Wellington Rd & Westerhill Rd, Bishopbriggs (PDF); Townhead, Kirkintilloch (PDF); Lenzie Road, Kirkintilloch (PDF) and Stewart Street Car Park, Milngavie (PDF).

The first Digest of 2022 has a few loose ends to clear up from last year. Firstly, there’s the proposed regeneration of Shawlands Arcade on Kilmarnock Rd (as shown in split image, above). Secondly, there’s North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Travel strategy, which is a long way off the pace set by Glasgow’s.

The last edition featured negative reaction to Spaces for People lanes in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Another issue has come up elsewhere – a petition against SfP lanes between Paisley and Howwood in Renfrewshire.

While cycling is usually on the agenda in Glasgow it’s often missed out in surrounding areas, which feed the city’s traffic issues. Cars are king in suburban towns so any projects that try to redress the balance will need support. On a more positive note, Sustrans are funding minor upgrades to existing NCN routes in Renfrewshire and elsewhere.

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

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO
2. East Kilbride, Spaces for People
3. Shawlands Arcade Regeneration
4. Low Emission Zone – Full proposal
5. Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods
6. Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods
7. Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods
8. Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods
9. Malls Mire survey
10. Drumchapel Local Development Framework
11. Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

1. Howwood to Paisley, Spaces for People route
2. Active Travel Strategy 2021–2031 (North Lanarkshire Council)

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

1.1: A803, Kirkintilloch Road (and Side Roads) Bishopbriggs TRO

Council: East Dunbartonshire.
Area: South Bishopbriggs towards the town centre.
Subject: Parking restrictions on the eastern side of the A803 from the end of Springburn Rd (at Colston Rd) to Bishopbriggs Cross, near the train station. Also, parking restrictions at junctions on side streets along the western side of Kirkintilloch Rd, from Coltpark Ave to Brackenbrae Rd.
First featured: Digest 101, Item 1.5.
Website link: A803 & Side Roads documents (combined PDF of plans and report).
Deadline: 7 January 2022.

1.2: East Kilbride, Spaces for People

Council: South Lanarkshire.
Area: East Kilbride town centre.
Subject: Protected two-way cycle lanes on Cornwall St (replacing a road lane and a bus stop) and zebra/cycle crossings. One-way lanes towards the train station on part of Brouster Hill and a short contraflow cycle lane on Torrance Road. The route is due to be extended east to Churchill Ave and west to the Queensway for EK’s Active Travel network. The lanes have been criticised on social media. Also, a related project on West Mains Rd (adding a protected junction) had roadworks delays which angered locals, including a councillor. Please support the SfP project so the next phases can proceed as planned (unlike the Bearsway).
First featured: Digest 89, Infrastructure Update.
Website links: EK SfP online survey, South Lanarkshire View article and EK SfP plans (foot of page).
Deadline: 16 January 2022 (extended from original deadline of 24 December 2021).

1.3: Shawlands Arcade Regeneration

Organisation: Shawlands & Strathbungo Community Council (in conjunction with developers, Clydebuilt).
Area: Shawlands Arcade between Kilmarnock Rd and Pollokshaws Rd.
Subject: Regeneration of the shopping arcade. Flats above retail units with gaps for access between Kilmarnock Rd and Pollokshaws Rd. The original consultation seems to have slipped through the net in summer 2021 (apologies). However, the local Community Council are now collating ideas for the public spaces. They want links or photos of places that people like; to use as inspiration. There are no cycle lanes in the current plans (middle alley between buildings has steps). Other new developments, such as the Meatmarket at Duke St (Item 1.5), have a segregated cycle path through the site. Further consultation on the Arcade is expected soon.
Website links: S&SCC Facebook post – email: enquiries@shawlandsarcade.com or shawlandsstrathbungocc@gmail.com. Original Shawlands Arcade proposals (scroll down and click magnifying glass button to view).
Deadline: 16 January 2022.

1.4: Low Emission Zone – Full proposal

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: City centre.
Subject: Phase 2 of the Low Emission Zone in the city centre (Phase 1 was buses only). Older, more polluting motor vehicles will be charged for driving into the zone. Its boundary has changed slightly. Parts of some streets around the edges of the zone have been added to it and the Stow College/GSA building has been left out. The LEZ is due to begin on 31 May 2022 but enforcement won’t kick in until a year later. When fines do come in they escalate for repeat offences. Some ‘grace periods’ and exemptions apply, including for city centre residents, so the full zone wouldn’t be implemented until June 2024.
First featured: Digest 90, Item 1.3.
Website links: Full proposal document, detailed map PDF and further background on the LEZ website.
Deadline: 20 January 2022.

1.5: Dennistoun to Cranhill Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Dennistoun (including the Necropolis but not GRI), Milnbank, Haghill, Riddrie, Carntyne to Cranhill.
Subject: One of four LN consultations using Commonplace maps and the Place Standard tool. Transport links include roads like Duke St, Alexandra Parade, Cumbernauld Rd and Edinburgh Rd plus a few train stations. Apart from a few parks most big destinations are towards the city centre end – Necropolis, Tennents brewery and City Park offices. While Glasgow Royal Infirmary is just outside western edge of area. Dennistoun has held on to a few Spaces for People measures (from its failed LTN) but there’s very little infrastructure elsewhere. Consultation had started in the community but further events have been postponed. Over 380 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.9.
Website links: Dennistoun to Cranhill LN Commonplace map, Dennistoun to Cranhill Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.6: Govan to Kingston Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From ‘Greater Govan’ (including Cessnock, Kinning Park, Plantation) and Ibrox to Kingston.
Subject: ‘Everyday journeys’ around major transport links including Govan bus station, subway stations, Paisley Road West, Clyde Tunnel, Squinty Bridge/Clyde Arc and the forthcoming footbridge. Major destinations include Ibrox Stadium and the Southern General/Queen Elizabeth Uni Hospital (see next item). There’s some cycling infrastructure around Festival Park/Pacific Quay but no proper links to major routes like the nearby South West City Way. There have been over 190 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 100, Item 1.10.
Website links: Govan to Kingston LN Commonplace map, Govan to Kingston Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.7: Ruchill to Cowlairs Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: North of the canal from Ruchill (at edge of Maryhill) across Possilpark, Hamiltonhill, Rockvilla, Craighall, Keppochhill and Port Dundas to Cowlairs (plus Sighthill Park).
Subject: The edges of this area have been redeveloped with active travel routes along the canal. Nearby Sighthill is being completely rebuilt including a segregated cycle route on St Rollox Dr. However, Cowlairs, Ruchill and Possilpark have a lot of derelict sites. The Spaces for People lanes on Hawthorn St have added a west-east cycle route (with some gaps). Over 80 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.5.
Website links: Ruchill to Cowlairs LN Commonplace map, Ruchill to Cowlairs Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.8: Langside to Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: From Langside (at edge of Shawlands) across Battlefield, Mount Florida and part of King’s Park to Toryglen (and Polmadie).
Subject: A really random Liveable Neighbourhood area, including busy Langside and empty Polmadie. There’s not much active travel infrastructure between the proposed SCW extension to Battlefield Rest and Malls Mire at Toryglen, except the protected bit of Aitkenhead Rd and the unprotected Spean St path. Over 360 comments so far.
First featured: Digest 96, Item 1.4.
Website links: Langside to Toryglen LN Commonplace map, Langside to Toryglen Place Standard survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.9: Malls Mire survey

Organisation: Urban Roots.
Area: Woodland park between Toryglen Asda, Polmadie Recycling Centre in Glasgow and Rutherglen Glencairn Football Club in South Lanarkshire.
Subject: An evaluation about the newly created park and paths. The site wraps around a regenerated housing estate, linking former wasteground with the woodland and ponds. Trails, outdoor play equipment and a bike pump track have been installed. Also, there are 3m wide shared paths to create a lit, mostly traffic-free route. It links Prospecthill Circus west to Polmadie Rd and east to the corner of Toryglen Rd/Pinkerton Ave in Rutherglen (about half a mile from Bike Town‘s workshop).
First featured: Digest 74, Item 3.4.
Website links: Malls Mire survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.10: Drumchapel Local Development Framework

Council: Glasgow City.
Subject: The latest framework consultation, following previous strategic ones for Glasgow North, ‘Inner East’, etc. According to GCC: “The purpose of the Drumchapel Local Development Framework will be to provide a structure for future development in the area. It will act as an overarching framework to identify urban planning priorities for Drumchapel and to help take them forward.” There are less than 20 comments on the map so far.
First featured: Digest 102, Item 1.12.
Website links: Drumchapel Commonplace map, Drumchapel survey link and background.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

1.11: Raeberry St Quietway (Connecting Woodside)

Council: Glasgow City.
Area: Raeberry St, North Woodside (west of Maryhill Rd).
Subject: Further project from Connecting Woodside with junction redesigns at either end of the street and new secure cycle parking. The Maryhill Rd end would be narrower and the crossing moved to make a direct link to Trossachs St (towards Garscube Rd and the canal). The new North Kelvinside/Woodside RPZ sets the car parking bays.
First featured: Digest 99, Item 1.12.
Website links: Raeberry St Quietway ‘storymap’, Raeberry St plans PDF, Raeberry St survey.
Deadline: No obvious deadline.

Section 2: Consultation Feedback

2.1: Howwood to Paisley, Spaces for People route

Council: Renfrewshire.
Area: Route along Beith Rd, from Howwood through Johnstone to Paisley.
Subject: This temporary route using ‘wands’ was installed in summer 2021. A petition started in December 2021 calling for it to be removed (which currently has over 700 signatures). It was back in the news after a cyclist was injured on Beith Road (near Rannoch Road). However, the local press report quotes a councillor talking about deaths and near misses then a council statement saying “Police Scotland attended and have confirmed to us the road layout was not a factor in this accident and the driver was not at fault.” If you use the route and want to voice support, you can email feedback to ei@renfrewshire.gov.uk.
First featured: Digest 65, Item 1.2.
Website link: Spaces for People Storymap and route plans PDF.

2.2: Active Travel Strategy 2021–2031 (North Lanarkshire Council)

Council: North Lanarkshire.
Subject: This strategy has been in the pipeline since 2020 but only reached GoBike in late 2021. We’re not aware of any public consultation. It arrives along with plans for redevelopment of town centres and country parks plus NLC’s Town/Community Hubs (schools as community centres). While neighbouring South Lanarkshire is building segregated lanes on roads, North Lanarkshire are focusing on shared paths. The strategy has a single paragraph in the PDF version about road space reallocation. However, it has pages of detail about shared path construction. The focus on routes away from main roads may come from NLC’s work with Glasgow & Clyde Valley (GCV) Green Network. However, it’s disappointing it doesn’t address needs like cycle commuting or personal safety (many greenspace routes can’t be lit as it would disrupt biodiversity).
Website link: NLC Active Travel Strategy Storymap (see Transport Context) and NLC Active Travel Strategy PDF.