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SPOKESWORKER 2nd. March 1998


Spokesworker is an occasional ("roughly monthly") news sheet, with stop-press news of forthcoming events, and of road, traffic and planning matters. It is not automatically sent to all members. A copy is enclosed if we are writing to you anyway, and copies are handed out at meetings of working groups. It is also published here on the website. Also, you can make sure of getting a copy by sending Spokes 10 or so stamped addressed envelopes.  

FOR YOUR DIARY

March 2: Canal and Water of Leith exhibition at McDonald Road library, for 2 or 3 weeks. Details: 0131.529.5636.

March 16: Spokes Public Meeting with Mayer Hillman of the Policy Studies Institute. More details on the Diary page.

March 17: Seminar with Dr Mayer Hillman, 9.30-1.00pm, Adam Ferguson Building, George Square, Edinburgh University. Topic: Transport and Planning Policies - inadequacy of current responses to the threat of climate change. Cost £20 non-members, £15 members. Details: Transform Scotland 0131.467.7714.

May 9/10: UK Cycle Campaign Network weekend conference, hosted by SPOKES and Edinburgh Council. Opening speech by Cllr David Begg (now a government adviser on the forthcoming Transport Policy White Paper). Possible Civic Reception (not confirmed). 100 delegates from across the UK expected to attend. Spokes members welcome: there will probably be a charge, around £10. Events/activities are likely to begin on Friday evening, with the main conference on Saturday. Rides/visits may take place on Friday and/or Sunday. We also hope to hold a get-together of Scottish Campaign Group representatives during the weekend. Lots of volunteer help still required. To offer (free) floor/bed accommodation to delegates, phone Mark 0131.229.7190 or Peter 0131.453. 3366. To help organise before or at the weekend, or to help lead rides round local bike facilities, phone Sandy 0131.551.2663.

May 30/31: The New Scotland - conference, Tron Theatre, Glasgow. Speakers include Donald Dewar and Jim Wallace MP. Workshops include: Integrated Transport Policy, Environmentally Sustainable Scotland, Healthy Scotland, Local Government, Rural Scotland, Children's Scotland, etc. Weekend tickets £10/£20. Details: Centre for Scottish Public Policy 0131.477.8219.

More events: See  Diary page.

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NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRAFFIC-REDUCTION GUIDANCE

The government has issued draft guidance to councils on strategies for traffic-reduction on local roads, following the 1997 Road Traffic Reduction Act. The guidance may need to be modified in future due to the forthcoming Transport White Paper and, if passed, the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Bill. To comment on the draft guidance you can get a free copy from the Scottish Office at 0131.244.0848.

QUANGO-MEMBERS WANTED!

The government is seeking (unpaid) members for its Advisory Group on Sustainable Development. The appointments are for three years from 1.4.1998 (initially one year). The Group brings together individuals from industry, academia, local government, and voluntary organisations, and meets several times a year. Applications close on 13.3.1998. Details from Geoff Pearson, Scottish Office Sustainable Development Team 0131.222.7718.

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION

Spokes is affiliated to The Ramblers Association. We need a member who is interested and able to represent us at Ramblers' Council, which meets five or six times a year. If available, phone Dave du Feu 01506.670165. Ideally, you would also occasionally attend Spokes Planning Group to report back on relevant issues.

'CYCLING IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY'

The tourist board has issued a useful booklet of cycling routes and background information for cycling holidays in the area. The booklet is free (we think) from 01387.245550 Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board, 64 Whitesands, Dumfries DG1 2RS.

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GRANTON ROAD PROPOSAL

The council has now lodged its planning application for the link road along the line of the Pilton Path between Ferry Rd and West Granton Rd [SPOKES 67/SPOKES 68]. Thanks to extensive lobby-ing by many members, as well as Spokes itself, the proposal now incorporates excellent cycling facilities. In this respect, it is difficult see what else we could ask for! However, we remain unconvinced of the case for the new road itself, for a number of reasons. Our Planning Group hasn't yet decided if to object.

1. The site will be accessed by this road (the Southern Access), and a proposed Northern Access to West Harbour Road. These two accesses will be linked by a bus-only road. However, we are very concerned that in future this could be made all-traffic, thus enabling the long-feared North Edinburgh Bypass.

2. The road is intended to promote local development/ employment in Granton. However (Spokesworker 17.2.98) the recent SACTRA interim report questions the belief that road investment necessarily regenerates depressed areas or benefits their local economy. It says that such roads should only be considered if all possible negative as well as positive impacts have been fully assessed, and it is not clear whether this has been done in this case. Certainly it would appear that this road could generate car-commuter traffic to the new development, in place of potential local employment.

3. The cost of the project at a time when the council's transport budget is very hard-pressed, and there are important priorities such as traffic-reduction and promotion of walking/cycling.

4. The design of the road also concerns us, as it appears likely to encourage undesirable speeds in what is a residential area.

On one detailed point, the proposals include an overbridge between West Pilton Place and Crewe Road Gardens. Local residents have requested this bridge not be suitable for motor traffic, to keep down noise levels and traffic danger.

The plans are on display at the City Development Dept, 1 Cockburn St, in working hours. Ask for Planning Application C17/98. You can object/comment by writing as soon as possible to: Director of Planning, 1 Cockburn St, Edinburgh EH1. Say you are objecting/commenting on planning application C17/98.

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PUBLIC HEALTH GREEN PAPERS

As explained in Spokesworker 17.2.98, we are extremely concerned about the treatment of transport/travel in the new Scottish Office Public Health Green Paper, Working Together for a Healthier Scotland. The parallel English Green Paper, Our Healthier Nation, is far more satisfactory.

We particularly hope you will make your own personal submission - by 30 April 1998 at the latest. A short letter with your main concerns will be really valuable. The Green Paper is available in all public libraries, on the Internet at www.official-documents.co.uk, and price £7.50 from the Stationery Office, 71 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh [£10.30 for the English Green Paper]. Comments must be sent to Mrs J Niven, Public Health Policy Unit, Scottish Office, Room 433, St Andrew's House, Edinburgh EH1 3DG. Please copy your comments to Spokes.

Our  draft submission on the Green Paper is available on this web site. The English bit has now been added!
 



 
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