The Council is consulting residents about changes to the roads associated with the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Connection. On its consultation website, it writes:
**************************************************************************
In 2020 and 2021, we made changes to the roads between Greenbank and the Meadows. This was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide safer walking, wheeling and cycling. It included the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Connection.
We also closed Braid Road to vehicles in both directions between Hermitage Drive and Braid Hills Hotel. We re-opened it to southbound traffic in May 2021 and in November 2021 councillors agreed to reopen it to traffic in both directions.
In September 2022, councillors agreed to keep these changes for another 18 months using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). This allowed us to test them over a longer period when traffic had returned to ‘normal’ levels as part of the Travelling Safely project.
In June 2023, councillors agreed that the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Connection should have its own ETRO. Councillors agreed that we should review parts of the scheme, taking in to account feedback from local residents.
Concerns you have raised
- Volume of traffic on
- Midmar Gardens
- Hermitage Gardens
- Clinton Road, combined with vehicles driving on the pavement due to the limited available street space
- Choice of materials used throughout the scheme
- Ease of wayfinding along the route
Next steps
We have developed options to address these concerns while retaining a safe route for walking, wheeling and cycling. We will also improve wayfinding and materials throughout the scheme.
We now want to hear your views on the proposed amendments to help us identify options for further technical design work prior to the 18-month ETRO trial.
There are two locations within the wider scheme area where we are proposing specific amendments:
- Braid Estate
- Clinton Road and Whitehouse Loan
There are several principles which have influenced the development of these options:
- Reduction in the volume of traffic on
- Midmar Gardens
- Hermitage Gardens
- Removing conflict between vehicles on Clinton Road
- Retaining a safe walking, wheeling and cycling route
*************************************************************************
Cllr Scott Arthur is the Convenor of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee and he has posted on his own blog to give his commentary on some of the political background to the developments of this project.
Leaflets are being delivered to properties shown in this area to advise about the consultation. However, all affected residents are encouraged to respond to the consultation, including those in the Grange. You can complete the online survey here. The survey is open until 22 October 2023. A hard copy version of the consultation is available here, which can be completed and submitted at the Library.
The consultation shows the existing arrangements in:
It then presents options for each of the areas as:
Whitehouse Loan and Clinton Road
and for the Braid Estate
Option 1 includes (numbering as on map above):
1. Rotate the modal filter at the junction of Cluny Drive and Hermitage Gardens
2. Add a new modal filter on Braid Crescent between Hermitage Gardens and Braid Road
5. No motor vehicle access to Braid Avenue from Cluny Gardens
6. No vehicle access to Midmar Gardens from Hermitage Drive.
Option 2 includes (numbering as on map above):
1. Remove the modal filter on Braid Avenue.
2. Remove parking on one side of Braid Avenue and Hermitage Drive
3. Rotate the modal filter at the junction of Cluny Drive and Hermitage Gardens
4. Add a new modal filter on Braid Crescent between Hermitage Gardens and Braid Road
5. Introduce measures to improve safety for cyclists at a number of junctions.
6. Introduce segregated cycling on Hermitage Drive and Braid Avenue between Braid Road and Cluny Gardens.
Option 3 includes (numbering as on map above):
1. Remove all modal filters in the Braid Estate.
2. Remove parking on one side of Braid Avenue and Hermitage Drive
3. Introduce measures to improve safety for cyclists at a number of junctions.
4. Introduce segregated cycling on Hermitage Drive and Braid Avenue between Braid Road and Cluny Gardens.