Additions and Updates to this site www.spokes.org.uk Frames version

SPOKES recently sent responses to two consultation documents.

TACKLING CONGESTION and Scottish Tourism Strategy

Conservative Leader Declines Holyrood Parking Space

Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie MSP has become the latest MSP to say that he does not "require an individual dedicated car parking space in the new Parliament complex at Holyrood". (Mr. McLetchie is the ONLY leader of a party with more than one MSP to have responded.)

SPOKES recently surveyed all MSPs and asked whether they would need the planned parking space at Holyrood. Over half the MSPs have so far replied and more than half of these say that would not need their own parking space. Many of the others conceded that they would not need a space all the time and a few suggested that there should be a booking system.

Mr. McLetchie commented "I would expect some spaces to be allocated to my Party Group and our staff so that we can use a few cars on a pool basis to undertake journeys during the working day which cannot be conveniently undertaken by any other means. "

SPOKES has written to Presiding Officer David Steel suggesting that the whole business of parking at Holyrood should be reviewed urgently. Sir David has already decided that the Parliament, currently situated in the Church of Scotland's Assembly Hall on The Mound, should not rent any more parking spaces (in the Castle Terrace car park or elsewhere). He noted that most MSPs currently arrive by public transport and also that the cycle racks were well used by Parliament staff and that more should be installed.

SPOKES press release. SPOKES letter to 'yes' MSPs SPOKES letter to Sir David Steel

TABLE SHOWING RESPONSES TO SURVEY ASKING IF MSPs WERE WILLING TO GIVE UP 'THEIR' PARKING PLACE IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

	Con	Green	Ind	Lab	Lib Dem	SNP	TOTAL
Response	14	1	1	27	10	24	78
YES	3	1	1	16	5	14	41
NO	7	-	-	9	7	9	31
Not at Present	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Undecided	3	-	-	2	-	-	5
No Response	4	-	1	29	6	11	51
Party Total	18	1	2	56	17	35	129

Details of who said yes, no. other and did not reply

Transport and Environment Minister Sarah Boyack MSP has agreed to speak at the Home Zones Conference in Stirling on the 29th of November. The conference is being organised by Stirling Council with the help of organisations including SPOKES offshoot Lothian Safe Routes.

'Home Zones', common in Europe, are areas where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over motor vehicles. The UK Government has just initiated a pilot scheme through the DETR, but so far this only involves England and Wales. At present the Scottish Executive seems happy to wait (for three years!) for the results of the DETR trials. Perhaps Ms. Boyack will be able to announce an extension of the initiative to Scotland at the conference.

More details plus BOOKING FORM

NAAG the No Alignment Action Group which is fighting plans by Midlothian Council to build a major new road near Loanhead is looking for people to swell numbers on Thursday (9th Sept) when the Council meets to discuss the planned A701 dual carriageway from Edinburgh City Bypass towards Penicuik. The Group will present a petition to the Council before the meeting at 11am.

Anyone interested in joining those going to the meeting ring Joan on 01968 675 109 to find out more. Details of the hugely destructive plans are on the NAAG website (www.spokes.org/naag/).

The Council meeting will be at Council Chambers, Midlothian House, Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith. Call 0800 23 23 23 for bus times and numbers.

If you can't attend you can still register your objection by e-mailing the Head of Transportation at: info@midlothian.gov.uk

Or by writing to:

Head of Transportation

Transportation Unit

Midlothian Council

Fairfield House

8 Lothian Road

Dalkeith

EH22 3ZN

In recognition of its very positive moves to encourage cyclists, ScotRail has been awarded a CycleMark. SPOKES enthusiastically proposed that Scotland's principle rail company should receive the stamp of approval from cycle organisations the Cyclists' Public Affairs Group, the CTC and Sustrans.

Not only has ScotRail abandoned the much hated £3 charge but it has spent £150,000 (with equal amounts from the Scottish Office Cycle Challenge and rolling stock company Porterbrook) increasing cycle carrying capacity on 70 of its train sets. Travellers between Edinburgh and Glasgow no longer have to book their bikes.

SPOKES letter of recommendation

Bikes on Trains Leaflet

Members of the Liberton Primary School Safe Routes to School Group and Head Teacher Susan Laidlaw took part in a trial to see how the proposed pavement widening 'blisters' in Glenallan Drive would work in practice. Although Glenallan Drive is a quiet side street off the busy Gilmerton Road it is transformed into a traffic jam on school days when a significant proportion of parents drive their children to school making it more difficult for those who walk. The blisters will narrow the road to one lane, making it easier to cross. It will enable the school to promote walking as a safe option for more children, which in turn should reduce the number of cars. It is hoped that work will be completed before next term.

Please e-mail us with your comments and suggestions.

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