- This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 7 months ago by Clint.
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[This thread originated in November 2020 in the forum of Grange Association’s old website which is now closed. Here is a transcript of the archived thread.]
The Council is consulting residents about changes to the roads associated with the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Connection. On its consultation website, it writes:
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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
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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.
I am pleased that the Council is reviewing the Whitehouse Loan and Clinton Road location and the Braids Estate location in this Quiet Route. As a Grange resident I am regularly affected by the impact pof the changes introduced some 3 years ago.
Whitehouse Loan and Clinton Road
I favour option 1 a. Both Whitehouse Loan and Clinton Road were already quiet and the opening of Whitehouse Loan to southbound traffic will make a small but appreciated contributon to easing presure on Strathearn Road. Note that the existing road blocks outside the school on the northern part of Whitehouse Loan will greatly limit the impact of this change and that is probably welcome. Most traffic using Clinton Road is for local access. There is no need to inflict ugly Modal Filters on the residents who will only end up driving round already busy roads when using their cars.
Braid Estate
The Modal Filters in the Braid Estate are particularly ugly and gather a lot of litter and other debris adding to the eyesore. When my late mother was a resudent of the Cluny Lodge Care Home these filters caused a lot of problems for taxi drivers who ended up driving around the estate trying to access the front door. In light of this experience I prefer option 3. That said, I would be happy to see the Modal Filter retained at the Draid Road – Hermitage Drive junction if it could be smartened up and we avoided the need to introduce measures to improve safety for cyclists at an unstated number of junctions.
You are incorrect to say that most traffic using Clinton Road is for local access. The closure of Whitehouse Loan has diverted traffic and Clinton Road is now a rat-run for traffic going east-west.
Options 1 and 1a would remove all parking from Clinton Road. Not only would this inconvenience residents but it would exacerbate rat-running and increase the already substantial amount of speeding.
The Whitehouse Loan Group has proposed an Option 3 which includes:
· Enhanced safety features at the Whitehouse Loan/Strathearn Road junction including a raised table across the junction (similar to Lauder Road), improved lights and limited egress to north and west only from Whitehouse Loan.
· A cycle lane in Whitehouse Loan.
· Traffic-calming measures (eg speed tables/bumps) in Clinton Road but no modal filter. - Volume of traffic on
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