Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 108, 17 March 2022

Learning Quarter routes map ('people-first' Townhead/Cathedral St)

It’s a long road that has no turning.

Happy St Patrick’s Day! There’s good news about Spaces for People measures in the city – the TRO for Kelvin Way is out. However, there’s more mixed news on SfP measures in towns. After East Renfrewshire’s about turn on Ayr Rd/Fenwick Rd, now Renfrewshire’s Paisley to Howwood protected route is being removed. In contrast, Inverclyde vote to keep an SfP route in Greenock.

The long-awaited city centre campuses consultation is open about (steep!) routes around Strathclyde Uni and City of Glasgow College. Meanwhile, a few Avenues are under scrutiny, there’s more secure bike parking on the way and Barclays is nearly finished with West St.

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Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 107, 3 March 2022

Ayr Rd A77 cycle lane protected by rows of wand bollards

Coming unstuck?

After praising East Renfrewshire Council for sticking with their temporary bollards on the A77, they now have a consultation about removing them! It has a tight deadline before the official pre-election period starts.

There’s even less time to respond about active travel hubs in North Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire have published plans for the new Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, including active travel paths. Also, North Lanarkshire Council have a TRO about parking at schools.

In Glasgow, the George Square consultation ends soon. The next Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation starts for Yorkhill to Anderston. In contrast, construction for the South West City Way Extension hasn’t started due to an issue between the council and contractors. There are also a few TROs for Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire.

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Consultation Digest (National) Issue 11, 25 Feb 2022: The one with the STPR2 response guide.

Cyclists entering Kelvin Way cycle lanes

We have certainly been well battered by storms this month and I guess it’s curtailed a few planned rides. As well as a windy month it’s also been a very busy time for both policy consultations and local elections planning ahead of the 5 May polls.

Continue reading “Consultation Digest (National) Issue 11, 25 Feb 2022: The one with the STPR2 response guide.”

Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 106, 17 February 2022

Plan of George Square showing statues repositioned

March-ing Orders & musical statues?

The Public Sector is getting close to its ‘end of year’ in March. That may explain why half a dozen new Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) have just been published. Also, an older Order was passed for 20mph on Byres Rd in the West End. A few TROs are for Spaces for People measures in Glasgow. Obviously, none of East Dunbartonshire’s TROs are for SfP (as the only mainland Scottish council not to put in a bid).

‘What do we want for our city’s front room?’ – asks the latest George Square consultation. Elsewhere, North Lanarkshire is sounding people out about two active travel hubs and East Renfrewshire is sticking to its guns.

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Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 105, 3 February 2022

School Street zone signs at St Anne's Primary School, off Crownpoint Rd, Glasgow

Back to School Streets…

Traffic Orders in this issue include School Streets road restrictions and banned turns on Haggs Rd at Pollok Park. Glasgow’s Active Travel Strategy has gone through changes and council committee.

The first two Liveable Neighbourhoods areas, Langside–Toryglen and Ruchill–Cowlairs, have progressed to planning projects. The next two, Dennistoun–Cranhill and Govan–Kingston, are still online but there’s probably not much time if you want your suggestion included in the first lot of projects…

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Consultation Digest (National) Issue 10, 28 Jan 2022: The one with the carrots

In my nearly 20 years of policy work, I’ve never known a time where there have been so many major consultations live at the same time. It’s time to get busy – plus there’s the local elections on 5 May, now less than 100 days away.

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Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 104, 20 January 2022

Ardrossan Connections illustration

Let’s go round again.

A repeat consultation for Pollok and next steps at an Ayrshire harbour (in time for Burns Night). Also, South Lanarkshire’s Ayr Road (A70) pops up again.

After criticism of Spaces for People measures in South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, now East Renfrewshire‘s Ayr Road (A77) completes the hat-trick.

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Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 103, 6 January 2022

Visualisation of proposed new Shawlands Arcade

Happy New Year!

The first Digest of 2022 has a few loose ends to clear up from last year. Firstly, there’s the proposed regeneration of Shawlands Arcade on Kilmarnock Rd (as shown in split image, above). Secondly, there’s North Lanarkshire Council’s Active Travel strategy, which is a long way off the pace set by Glasgow’s.

The last edition featured negative reaction to Spaces for People lanes in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. Another issue has come up elsewhere – a petition against SfP lanes between Paisley and Howwood in Renfrewshire.

While cycling is usually on the agenda in Glasgow it’s often missed out in surrounding areas, which feed the city’s traffic issues. Cars are king in suburban towns so any projects that try to redress the balance will need support. On a more positive note, Sustrans are funding minor upgrades to existing NCN routes in Renfrewshire and elsewhere.

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Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 102, 23 December 2021

Side-by-side crossing at Brouster Hill, East Kilbride

Season’s greetings

This time of year is known for excess and there’s a glut of consultations and responses in this issue. Contra-flow cycling is a theme with responses from Glasgow ruling it out while South Lanarkshire have quietly implemented it in East Kilbride.

However, EK’s Spaces for People project (as seen in featured image, above) is up for consultation and needs support to counter local criticism.

Without wanting to tread on the toes of our national consultations digest, Transport Scotland’s long-delayed pavement parking consultation has started. Most GoBike members will have experiences to add to that!

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Consultation Digest (National) Issue 9, 10 Dec 2021: The one after the Budget

We are a few month’s into the current parliamentary term and here come the consultations on government policy. I expect quite a few over the coming months. The 4th National Planning Framework is the main focus of this digest with two live consultations – from the Government and from a Parliamentary Committee.

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