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.

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!

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. Connecting Woodside Phase 2 Consultation event TODAY, on-line consultation closes 03 March
2. Renfrewshire, cycle lane from Renfrew to the Glasgow boundary at Shieldhall, consultation events 26 and 27 February.
3. **NEW** Glasgow City Centre Congestion Improvement, closes 08 March
4. **NEW** Glasgow Heathcot Avenue, Drumchapel, proposed one-way operation, closes 08 March
5. **NEW** Transport Scotland A830 Shlatach Road over Rail Bridge, Glenfinnan, reconstruction, closes 14 March.
6. **NEW** Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) Regional Transport Strategy – Public Survey, closes 20 March
7. North Lanarkshire Council Local Development Plan, closes 05 April
8. *Hoped for revival* Glasgow Jura Street proposed cycle lane construction, in abeyance!

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Glasgow Byres Road Design Workshop 06 March

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. North Lanarkshire Council Residents Parking Scheme to be introduced
2. Glasgow, University Avenue, meeting 14 February
3. East Dunbartonshire Council, High Street Kirkintilloch, no waiting restrictions to be introduced.
4. Glasgow Sauchiehall Street and Elmbank Street one-way, GoBike to attend local Community Council meeting this evening.
5. GoBike meeting with Urban Roots, Toryglen project

Section 1: Current Consultations in date order for responses

1.1 Connecting Woodside Phase 2 Consultation event TODAY, on-line consultation closes 03 March

The first Stage 2 Consultation event was held last week, 11 February, focusing on North Woodside Road where concern was expressed about traffic speeds, proposed measures to reduce speeds with speed tables, and gaps to allow bikes through, and will the City Council bow to what seems to be a Transport Scotland dislike for zebra crossings?
Today’s event focuses on St George’s Road and Charing Cross, so it will be interesting to see how cycle traffic will be able to access St George’s Road from North Street, Sauchiehall Street to the west of Charing Cross and to the east, and how the junction into Woodlands Road will work.

Here’s a section of the information we gave two weeks ago that refers to today and the on-line consultation:
“Woodside Library (St George’s Road) on Tuesday 19th February, 3-7pm, focusing on St Georges Road and Charing Cross
Information on North Woodside Road and St George’s Road will be available at both consultations, so feel free to drop into either one.
Can’t come along to either event? Then you can view all the consultation materials here, and you can leave your comments on our Commonplace map here by Sunday 3rd March 2019.
We look forward to seeing you there and hearing what you have to say about the next stage of this exciting project!”

1.2 Renfrewshire, cycle lane from Renfrew to the Glasgow boundary at Shieldhall, consultation events 26 and 27 February.

News just in from Renfrewshire Council:

“Good Afternoon
Renfrewshire Council is proposing to provide a new high-quality cycle route, segregated from traffic, between Renfrew Town Centre and the Glasgow City Council boundary. The proposed route, which forms part of Renfrewshire Council’s Cycle Strategy, is well-used, but requires dedicated space to provide a safe, convenient and fully segregated route, to encourage people to cycle.

A map of the route and further details regarding the scheme can be seen here.

Local Transport Projects Ltd, on behalf of Renfrewshire Council, are developing designs for this new cycle route & would like to know the views of those who might use the route, might be affected by the development, or would like to offer any feedback regarding the project. An online consultation is now underway: https://renfrewcycling.commonplace.is/. Please have a look, comment and let us know your views. Please do also share this email to your local networks, to give as many people as possible the chance to have their say.
We are also holding two local public consultation events for people to pop along to, view plans, offer feedback and find out more. Full details here or on the leaflet attached.

Clare Shepherd
Technical Assistant (Accounts)
Local Transport Projects Ltd.
Armstrong House,
The Flemingate Centre,
Armstrong Way,
Beverley,
HU17 0NW.
01482 679911
www.local-transport-projects.co.uk

LTP provide traffic engineering and transport planning services across the UK, with offices in Beverley and Manchester. Find out more at http://www.local-transport-projects.co.uk/contacts/new
renfrewcycling.commonplace.is
Have your say on the new Renfrew cycle route!
We want to make it safer for cyclists to use this popular route, reduce traffic congestion and increase the network of cycling routes in Renfrewshire.

The drop-in consultation events will be held at:

Tues 26th February: Renfrew High School, Gym Hall 6pm – 10pm

Weds 27th February: Renfrew Town Hall, Committee Room 11am – 8pm

Can’t make it? Click on “Have your say!” and let us know your views.

We love the look of the drawings but there’s a major question for Glasgow City Council coming out of this of course, and that is how to get round the Shieldhall Roundabout and on into the city?!

1.3 **NEW** Glasgow City Centre Congestion Improvement, closes 08 March

Here’s the email that we received on 15 February from Glasgow City Council:


Dear Sir / Madam
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL,(CITY CENTRE) (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) ORDER 2010,(VARIATION NO 26) (CONGESTION IMPROVEMENT) ORDER 201_

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Regulation Order.
Please find enclosed a copy of the press notice of the proposed Order, relevant maps, 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 ground for their objection in writing to Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or by email to congestionimprovement@glasgow.gov.uk by Friday 8 March 2019.

Yours faithfully

Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability

Most of the 14 documents attached to the email refer to taxi rank locations and, if you wish to see them, you may look at the City Council’s website. The plan of the area affected is below and the report is here.

There is some strange language in the report, eg “In view of …. the lack of parking availability on a Sunday within the City Centre, it is considered necessary to extend a number of existing waiting and loading restrictions to include Sunday as well as extend parking charges to include Sunday.
In addition to this, increasing on-road parking availability on a Sunday will improve traffic flow within the City Centre and have a positive effect on environmental issues such as air quality by encouraging the use of more sustainable methods of transport. These proposals would also encourage the use of off-street parking options if driving into the City Centre and likely reduce any time spent driving around the City Centre roads for those looking for an available on-street parking space.”
It’s not clear how extending parking restrictions increases on-road parking availability, but extending parking charges to include Sundays is a step in the right direction.

GoBike will be supporting these proposals. Please add your voice too.

1.4 **NEW** Glasgow Heathcot Avenue, Drumchapel, proposed one-way operation, closes 08 March

GoBike was sent this email on 08 February:

“Dear Sir or Madam,
THE GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL, (HEATHCOT AVENUE)
(TRAFFIC REGULATION) ORDER 201_

The Council propose to consider the introduction of the above named Traffic Regulation Order.
Please find enclosed 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 Andy Waddell, Director of Operations, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or by e-mail to land@glasgow.gov.uk by 8^th March 2019.
Yours faithfully

Andy Waddell, Director of Operations,Neighbourhoods and Sustainability”

The attached documents are the Press Notice, the Plan, the Statement of Reasons and the Draft Report.

GoBike has concerns about this. While we understand that the City Council wish to improve road safety, and we fully support the control of on-street parking, we know that traffic speeds will increase once the Avenue is made one-way. We are also aware that there are no on-road cycle facilities in Drumchapel at all and, for their personal safety, people learning to cycle, or returning to cycling, use the footways rather than the roadway. It is unacceptable that this is the only provision for these people and thus we will be pressing the Council to implement their default policy of maintaining two-way cycling even if reducing motor traffic to one-way.

1.5 **NEW** Transport Scotland A830 Shlatach Road over Rail Bridge, Glenfinnan, reconstruction, closes 14 March.

Transport Scotland propose to renew a bridge over the Fort William to Mallaig railway line just to the north-west of the well-known Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Here’s the email we got on 24 January:

“ROADS (SCOTLAND) ACT 1984

THE A830 TRUNK ROAD (SHLATACH RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT) (SIDE ROADS) ORDER 201[ ]
THE A830 TRUNK ROAD (SHLATACH RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT) (TRUNKING) ORDER 201[ ]
The Scottish Ministers propose to make the above-named Orders under ections 12(1), (5) and 70(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 stopping up the public right of passage over certain lengths of road, and under section 5(2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 construct a trunk road over certain lengths of road as described in the Schedules to the Orders.
I therefore attach a copy of the Orders, together with the relevant plans, Public Notices and Notice of Determination for your information.
The Public Notices will be published in the Oban Times and West Highland Times and The Herald on Thursday 31st January and in the Edinburgh Gazette on Friday 1st February 2019.
Yours faithfully,

Transport Scotland have a somewhat formal approach to the wording of their documents but a recent phone call to their offices elicited the information below, once of course having explained that GoBike does recognise that the Strathclyde boundary lies somewhere well to the south of Glenfinnan, but some of our more adventurous members do cycle this far afield.
The bridge superstructure is being replaced because it is life-expired but the opportunity is being taken to widen the roadway slightly, to straighten the road a little, thus improving sight lines, and to raise the bridge parapets to the current stamdard 1.5m height. The roadway will be a total width of 8m, comprising 6m carriageway and two 1m hard strips, with a further 1.5m verge at each side. This, providing the 1m strips are kept clear of s**t and grit, does not present a reduction in cycle facility, in fact improves things slightly and we have emailed Transport Scotland to confirm this view. A web link to the proposals is here.

1.6 **NEW** Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) Regional Transport Strategy – Public Survey, closes 20 March

Here’s a super wee survey from SPT – we’d been led to expect one way back in November, with a report in Digest 22, Item 2.2 and here it is. Do please spend a few minutes to complete it. Let’s look forward to our walking, cycling and public transport getting better.

1.7 North Lanarkshire Council Local Development Plan, closes 05 April

All you out there in North Lanarkshire, do let us, and North Lanarkshire Council know your views. We haven’t had time yet but we will peruse the plan for active travel content.

1.8 *Hoped for revival* Glasgow Jura Street proposed cycle lane construction, in abeyance!

GoBike notified you that there was consultation upcoming for Jura Street in our Digest 3, Section 2, last year. The consultation event planned for the end of February 2018 was postponed because of the bad weather at the time, but we attended the rescheduled event at the end of March and our response was in Digest 6, item 1.4
We now hear, from Calum, who’s a member of the local Community Council , that there is renewed interest in the project, but a phone call to a member of the design team at the City Council this morning told us that one of the funding streams is no longer available and the project was shelved because of local opposition. The information on the Council’s website has been amended to suit, with only last year’s information available, see this link. Let’s hope that renewed interest from the Community Council augurs well for active travel in this part of the city.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1 Glasgow Byres Road Design Workshop 06 March

Further to the meeting on 20 December that GoBike and Space for People Byres Road attended with Glasgow City Council representatives, (see Digest 25 items 2.2 and 3.4) we had been expecting that a Traffic Regulation Order would have been issued by now. This hasn’t yet happened, but we have now been invited to another Design Workshop to be held on 06 March. We’ll let you know what we find out.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1 North Lanarkshire Council Residents Parking Scheme to be introduced

We have only just started to receive consultation information from North Lanarkshire, but here’s the result of an earlier consultation, which we welcome:

3.2 Glasgow, University Avenue, meeting 14 February

GoBike is far from happy with what we hear about proposals for University Avenue, as you will have seen from our letter to the university and council, our protest and our resultant media appearances.

We are grateful to Councillor Martha Wardrop, who forwarded this information she had received from the university:

“From 4 March, the University will begin work to make University Avenue a safer and more useable environment. You may recall for those who attended that this was discussed at the last community engagement meeting, held in November.
These changes are important to ensure our students staff and residents can continue to use the Avenue safely.
It is important that this work is undertaken in time to accommodate the higher footfalls that will follow with the opening of the new learning and teaching hub; the first project to be completed in our £1 billion campus development. As part of our capital investment programme, we are also committed to place making and improving the look and feel of the urban realm.
We want to make sure that we take this opportunity to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and balance the requirements of pedestrians, cyclists, users of public transport and drivers of vehicles.
The first stage of these plans is to build two new wider pedestrians crossings- often referred to a “super crossings”. These are wider crossing points which means larger numbers of pedestrians can cross at any one time and help ensure safe crossings of pedestrians but still support the flow of cycles and cars through the Avenue.
They better manage significant pedestrian flows, keeping people safer. Later in the programme, we will resurface the road and footpaths, install better street lighting, install bespoke street furniture and plant more trees. 

You can find out more about our plans for University Avenue on our website.

In developing our Campus Development Framework and Masterplan, which set the overall place-making vision, we latterly undertook a period of public consultation and detailed discussion with Glasgow City Council and other key stakeholders. We also identified a number of measures which will make the Avenue safer for cyclists.
When we resurface the road, we will formalise 1.5 meter wide cycle lanes on the uphill portions of the road, better delineating them with solid lines and coloured surfacing. We believe that these measures, together with the removal of on-street parking and the reduction of the speed limit on the Avenue to 20mph, will make optimum use of the limited space available.
As part of our sustainability and wellbeing plans, we are keen to encourage cycling and are investing heavily in cycle parking on the campus.
We did consider options for segregating the cycle lanes and providing full-length cycle lanes on both sides of the road as part of our development process. However, it was concluded that there is not enough space to provide segregated cycle lanes as well as footpaths and bus stops which are wide enough to safely accommodate the number of pedestrians this area will receive. We appreciate that some cycling lobby groups would want us to do more for cyclists, and we appreciate their views. We can however only do this at the expense of the pavement and keeping our pedestrians safe.
As you will appreciate as this is a major route for pedestrian movement of our 35,000 staff and students and, where we sadly experienced a fatality in 2018, we are keen to ensure safe movement of pedestrians.  
We will continue to engage with all parties during the construction delivery of the works on University Avenue in order to achieve a significant improvement to current conditions for everyone.”

Further to our demonstration on 10 February we were invited to a meeting on 14 February at the university. Our Co-Convenor, John, attended, along with Euan and Iain from Space for People Byres Road and a host of people who are working on the plans. John submitted these questions in advance of the meeting:

“Please see below a few questions that we would be grateful if you could get answered for us.

1. Is Glasgow University carrying out the work On University Avenue by way of Planning Gain?
2. Did Glasgow City Council advise what was required for the road design? (Questions 3-5 assume Yes to this question)
3. What date the council informed you of requirements?
4. Was this advice either in writing or by reference to Planning Guidelines?
5. Which department and officer provide this guidance?
6. What are the current traffic levels on University Avenue?
7. What traffic reduction level they are the University looking for?
8. What quantitative research has been carried out on cycle traffic on University Avenue? Could this be shared with us?
9. Does the University have a target for growth in cycling and what is this?
10. When will the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Public Notice for University Avenue be published?

Finally could you please share the scope and timescale of the public consultation on University Avenue, including details of: who was notified about any events; any surveys carried out; if any online consultation was held.”

At the meeting with representatives of the project we were disappointed to find that the University remain steadfast in their view that painted lanes on only one side of the road will make conditions safer for cycling. John has responded with the following letter, and we will continue to attempt to find out more information from the council. The road is an adopted highway and so also their responsibility.

“Thank you and your colleagues for taking the time to meet with us last week.

Unfortunately, I came away from the meeting with the feeling that there is a lack of understanding of what constitutes safe cycling, as well as how bad University Avenue currently is for those who use a bike as a means of transport.

The changes that will be made to the footpaths, to improve the safety for pedestrians, is welcome by GoBike. To make explicitly clear, GoBike is not looking to take away space designated for pedestrians. This is about the reprioritisation of University Avenue to provide safe space for those using bikes for transport, as per both the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council’s transport hierarchy.

As pointed out during the meeting, the changes that you are proposing will not make the road any safer for cycling, than the current measures in place. The removal of on road parking spaces, along university Avenue, are welcome. However, with only painted lines, demarcating the cycle lane, there is nothing to stop vehicles from parking on the cycle lane. This was demonstrated, in the photo taken prior to the meeting, to already takes place on the current painted lanes.

Highway code Rule 163 states that a driver should “give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car”. Narrowing of the carriageways, as proposed, while putting in only painted cycle lanes will legitimises close passes of those on bikes on University Avenue.

The reduction of the speed from 30mph to 20mph is welcome, though will also have limited impacted on cycle safety in your current design. The average speed on University Avenue will already be close to this. While, due to University Avenue being a hill, the average speed of cyclists is much lower than 20mph.

It was indicated during the meeting that drivers are often going in excess of 30mph on University Avenue. It is requested that this is taken up with Police Scotland as a matter of urgency. For a 20mph limit to be successful it would also need to be rigorously enforced.

When asked why GoBike had not been engaged earlier in the process it was pointed out that the University had not heard of the group until 2 weeks prior to the meeting. This is disappointing as, it would have been expected, as part of the consultation process, that the University would have actively tried to identify key stakeholders. A google search of “Glasgow Cycle Campaign” would have been all that was required.

Being that the University remain steadfast in their view that the changes to University Avenue will be made safer for cycling, could you let us know which independent active travel groups you consulted to back that view?

As discussed, we are liaising with the local councillors as well as being in communication with Glasgow City Council. We are particularly keen to find out: how these designs were allowed through without safe cycling provision, particularly when both LES and DRS were cognisant of the situation on Byres Road; as well as how the plans for University Avenue were given council approval without meaningful public consultation, compared to similar schemes elsewhere in the city.

I look forward to your response to our earlier questions, as well as the supplemental question above.”

We have since had good news in from the trade union, Unite, at the University of Glasgow, who have contacted us in support of our campaign. Their members voted in favour of a motion to support our campaign for segregated cycle lanes, and they have proposed to also contact the university to back our position.

We continue to work on having these plans improved, but if you work, live, study or commute through University Avenue, please add your own support by contacting your local councillors with your own support for better active travel provision on the currently dangerous street.

3.3 East Dunbartonshire Council, High Street Kirkintilloch, no waiting restrictions to be introduced.

Last May, before we started to receive consultation information from East Dunbartonshire, it was proposed to ban waiting at any time on the High Street in Kirkintilloch. Here’s a copy of the Order, which comes into force in May this year. This should improve the environment for people walking and cycling.

3.4 Glasgow Sauchiehall Street and Elmbank Street one-way, GoBike to attend local Community Council meeting this evening.

GoBike’s concern about the lack of access from Bath Street to Sauchiehall Street has been completely ignored by the City Council, with the member of staff responsible for making Elmbank Street, shown above, one-way southbound for cars with no contraflow for bikes, saying that it is “out with the scope of this amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order” to get people on bikes from Charing Cross Railway Station to Sauchiehall Street.

On Tuesday evening our Co-Convenor, John, and Tricia will be attending a meeting of the Blythswood and Broomielaw Community Council to ask them to help establish a robust cycle route from the King’s Theatre to Sauchiehall Street that does not entail cycling in three lanes of traffic over the M8 and back again, or on the footway. We’ll report back in the next Digest.

3.5 Toryglen Greenspace and Active Travel Design Project, meeting 13 February

Co-Convenor, Iona, had a positive one-to-one consultation with Gemma from Urban Roots, who is leading on the Toryglen Greenspace and Active Travel Design Project. There was a public consultation back in November (see Digest 23, item 1.6 for details) and they are now engaging more closely with stakeholders of which we are one. The project is progressing well and Iona was shown some designs that haven’t gone public yet, for the green space and travel corridors. These are looking very promising – as well as a through route to Rutherglen, the wildlife reserves, wetland and allotments in the area could see this area becoming very like the Cuningar Loop. The long term vision for North Toryglen could see a green corridor stretching from Queens Park to North Toryglen via Cathkin Park. This first stage of design has been funded partly via Sustrans and they are now going forward for the next stage of funding with another stage of public consultation coming up.

Urban Roots are still consulting on the first phase via their online map but haven’t been getting very much local engagement. We’d encourage you to take a look and add some thoughts if you can. We have word that Camglen Bike Town may be taking their guided bike rides past the site if you fancy having a look on two wheels. More information about the project can be found here, and the online consultation map is here.

That’s it for this fortnight, but lots to keep you busy and we will have another package of actions from the powers that be in two weeks.