The New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) has given a general welcome to the notion of improving Leith Walk, but has serious doubts about some aspects of the Council's preliminary designs. (NTBCC's area of interest runs south of McDonald Rd.)
Transport Convener Patrick Hutton said road users would be pleased by resurfacing of the thoroughfare 'after all the damage inflicted during the tram [utilities-related] MUDFA works'.
He also favours the increased emphasis given to cycling (partial provision of dedicated lanes) and walking (pavement and streetscape enhancements). These, he argues, would encourage increased footfall and so help local businesses.
However, NTBCC – like several other community and special-interest bodies (Issue 214) – fears the safety implications of some proposals, particularly for those on two wheels.
On the approaches to roundabouts at Picardy Place and London Road, cyclists are restricted to vehicles' near-sides, where they would be harder to see. NTBCC argues that cyclists would be much safer approaching on the off-side.
[img_assist|nid=3699|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=196]Bays for parking/disabled/loading are in places separated from the pavement by a cycle lane. These represent accidents waiting to happen.
Narrowing the already crowded pavement outside the Playhouse in order to accommodate a new cycle lane would endanger both pedestrians and cyclists.
NTBCC goes on to question the utility of small traffic islands at the London Road roundabout. Since these are not intended as pedestrian refuges, NTBCC suggests planting here rather than paving. It also queries the labelling of pedestrian crossings at London Road, Blenheim Place, Elm Row and Union Place as 'new' – these exist already.
Council officials are now reviewing the public's response to their proposals (see below as they relate to Broughton), and aim to present a final design for approval by the Transport and Environment Committee on 19 March.