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SPOKESWORKER 25.10.1999

Spokes, The Lothian Cycle Campaign, St Martins Church, 232 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2JG 0131.313.2114 http://www.spokes.org.uk/


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 working group meetings. You can make sure to get a copy by sending us 10 or so stamped addressed envelopes. Spokesworker also appears on our Internet web site - if you wish to be notified of such updates by email, contact spokes@spokes.org.uk


FOR YOUR DIARY [items after Spokes 74 printed]

Nov 2 CRAG [Capital Rail Action Group] Speaker: Neil Renilson, new chief executive of LRT. 7.30, City Chambers. 449.5003.

Nov 4 Traffic-generating developments - retail planning policy Transform Scotland seminar. 7pm. 467.7714 Colin Howden.

Nov 4 SRPS [Scottish Railway Preservation Soc] meeting. Speaker: Jane Liston, St Andrews Rail Link campaign, STARLINK. 7.45, Friends Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. 334.5232.

Nov 5 CRAG manifesto launch by Robin Harper MSP. 10am, Scottish Parliament. 449.5003, John Webster, to book a space.

Nov 6 SAPT [Scottish Ass for Public Transport] Members' meeting. Stirling, 10.30 to 12.30. Topics - transport priorities post 2000; and Womens' Public Transport Issues [speaker Donna Heaney, Scottish Consumer Council]. Details: 01505.502164.

Nov 8 Conference - Moving Scotland into the New Millennium Glasgow. Speakers incl. Sarah Boyack, Transport/ Environment Minister. Also David Begg, Richard Dixon [FOE], Cllr Mark Lazarowicz. Conference Fee £70.50 or £141. 0131.477.8219.

Nov 27 RDS [Railway Development Society] autumn meeting. Speaker: Alastair McPherson, ScotRail Director. Edinburgh City Chambers, Liberal Democrat Room, 2pm. Good opportunity to raise and discuss bike/rail improvements/problems. More info by email from davidh@spidacom.co.uk.

Dec 2 Cutting Traffic & Reclaiming Streets Transform Scotland seminar. 7pm. Limited spaces 467.7714 Colin Howden.

Dec 7 CRAG [Capital Rail Action Group] Speaker: Cllr Mark Lazarowicz. 7.30 [tea/biscuits 7pm], City Chambers. 449.5003.

Nov 20, Dec 4, Jan 8, Feb 12, Mar 25, Apr 15 Railway Ramblers - walks on disused rail lines Various parts of Scotland, most with rail connections from Waverley. Note, these are walks, not cycles. 01506.842897 Arthur Homan-Elsy.

April 29/30 Sustrans National Learn to Cycle weekend. If interested in helping, contact Andy Dunn 01505 614302. See also new leaflet Spokes 74 page 3 for local proposed Edinburgh Cycle Training group - they may get involved in this weekend.


SPOKES NEWS ITEMS

SPOKES MAPS

We have set up a new group called Spokes (Maps) to promote our work on cycle maps, and to make it easier to apply for funding for map projects. Any ordinary Spokes members interested in joining, please phone Peter Hawkins 453.3366. You will need to pay an extra donation separate from your ordinary annual Spokes donation, but you will qualify for reduced prices on maps produced by Spokes.

VOLUNTEERS TO BE INTERVIEWED/ PROVIDE INFO

Spokes sometimes gets enquiries from students and others doing projects on cycling, or wanting info about cycling, Spokes, and related matters. Often they wish to speak to someone over the phone, or interview somebody. We keep a list of members willing to handle such enquiries, and be interviewed etc. If you have been a spokes member for some time and have a general interest in the area, we need you on our list - currently there are only two people on the list, as several have left. We are unlikely to call on you more than 2 or 3 times a year.

VISITING THE SPOKES OFFICE

Spokes is all voluntary, but volunteer George Anderson is often in the office on Friday mornings, should you wish to go along to look at maps or for any other reason. Please phone George in advance to check when he is there. 229.0954.

CAMPAIGNING NEWS

EDIN COUNCIL - LOCAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY

As mentioned in Spokes 74, Councils are consulting on their Local Transport Strategies. We understand Edinburgh is to circulate a summary document with the Herald and Post in the last week of October. It will also be on www.edinburgh.gov.uk or by phone from 0131.226.5035. [We haven't yet seen it]. The document apparently includes various options for road-user charging, and depending on which is chosen, that determines the amount of money available for improvements for cycling, public transport, etc. Please do read the document and send in your comments [send us a copy if possible]. Also write to the newspapers, attend public meetings, etc. The strategy will form Edinburgh's transport policy for several years to come.

NEWHAILES ESTATE

Newhailes Estate (south of the Brunstane Burn) is to be restored by the National Trust for Scotland. There has been informal access to the estate from the north for years, but one option is for this to be closed off with a stone wall. A path access, however, would serve users from much of the city, coming from the Innocent. If you would like to write in support, please contact Peter Hawkins for further details of the issues 453.3366. Letters go to Charles Strang, National Trust for Scotland, Newhailes Project, 5 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 0DF.


SCIENNES PRIMARY AWARD

The school has won this year's National CTC Cycling Award for the category best complementary/promotional activity. The school's Safe Routes project has featured in several issues of Spokes and is linked to from our web site.

The decision was unanimous and the judges were "highly impressed with the enthusiasm and energy invested in developing a valuable package of activities to encourage active, sustainable and healthy travel to school". Whilst the award will be presented at a national conference in Salisbury on 6 Nov, a later event will also be held at the school - details later from Cathy Scott 667.6740

Cathy and the other school project leaders send a big THANK YOU to the many people, including spokes members, who helped Sciennes through cycle training, helping in classroom safe routes projects, donating bikes, accompanying rides, and so on. There are now increasing numbers walking & cycling to school, and more bike racks are on order as the current ones are often overflowing!

The Sciennes SRS group hopes the council will now do more to make the roads in the catchment area safer - and to achieve the group's proposal to extend the playground across Sciennes Road, leaving only a path for walkers and cyclists. If you can help in this lobbying or in any other way, please contact Cathy.

 
 
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