Consultation Digest (Local) Issue 73, 10 November 2020: Good news on a protected junction survey and sad news for Pollok Park

The Digests are changing! Hopefully, you saw the recent post by Jim Densham, who will now be writing a monthly article about national (Scotland and UK) consultations. These Digests, still to be fortnightly, will concentrate on issues from the Local Authorities where we have members.
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Reminder: GoBike AGM online: 19th November 2020 (Pedal on Parliament AGM: 17th Nov).

Contents

Section 1: Current Consultations

1. *NEW* Glasgow City Council, “Yorkhill Quay masterplan to fulfil River Clyde blue corridor vision”
2. Glasgow City Council – new City Development Plan, closes 11 December
3. East Dunbartonshire Council – Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), closes 15 January 2021
4. OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme
5. *NEW* Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

1. Traffic Regulation Orders to make Covid 19 pop-ups permanent

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

1. Glasgow City Council (City Centre) (Traffic Management) Order 2010 (Variation No 27) Order 202, waiting and loading, plus EV parking, GCC response to our submission
2. Glasgow City Council (Ruchazie Road) Traffic Calming Scheme (OFFICIAL) and a query as to the effectiveness of these measures, survey information from GCC
3. East Renfrewshire Council, update on Proposed Local Development Plan 2
4. Glasgow City Council, Pollok Park planning application approved

Section 1: Current Consultations
(in date order for responses)

1.1: *NEW* Glasgow City Council, “Yorkhill Quay masterplan to fulfil River Clyde blue corridor vision”

GoBike member Brenda tells us there’s an online consultation for a pre-planning application for the strip of land along the river between Riverside museum and the new distillery.  Includes the offer of ‘live chat’ on Thurs 12 Nov between 10am and 1pm.  Looks like a row of massively tall blocks of flats surrounded by parking, with a relatively narrow, completely exposed strip along the riverside providing the advertised ‘complete permeability’. (I may be biased).
We think this is a requirement for major developments, and gets reported in the Design and Access Statement that forms part of the eventual planning application.  Perhaps they even need to show that they’ve addressed concerns raised by respondents…
There’s a summary of the possible proposal and a consultation.
Available for viewing till 30 November.

Doesn’t look like Glasgow at all, does it?

1.2: Glasgow City Council – new City Development Plan
(Closes 11 December)

First covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.7. GCC’s email said “We are working with our partners, The Future Fox to host an online engagement called Placebuilder. It is designed to help us understand the experiences and ideas of Glasgow’s different neighbourhood communities on what they think works, what could be better and what they would like to see change.“ Plenty of scope there – link to Placebuilder online engagement.

1.3: East Dunbartonshire Council –
Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2)
(Closes 15 January 2021)

East Dunbartonshire were the only mainland council that didn’t bid for any funding from the Spaces for People programme by Sustrans. If you’d like to encourage EDC to improve on that record (and maybe finish the Bearsway or something) then you have a chance to mention it in this consultation. As covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.8. See the Council website: www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/LDP2. Apparently “your representation should be submitted by e-mail to” development.plan@eastdunbarton.gov.uk. 

1.4: OnBikes and St Paul’s Youth Forum – short survey for Sustrans’ Places for Everyone scheme

This multiple choice survey (as covered in Digest issue 72, Item 1.1) was originally looking for quick feedback but remains open. OnBikes and SPYF (St Paul’s Youth Forum) are working on a Places for Everyone project to improve active travel infrastructure in parts of North East Glasgow like Smithycroft, Riddrie and Blackhill.

1.5: **NEW** Glasgow City Council – Protected Junction Trial consultation

Posters of a new junction on Victoria Road have been appearing on bus shelters around Glasgow (as seen by GoBike member Steph). The City Council’s website says:
“As part of the South City Way, we will be trialling protected junctions on Victoria Road at the Calder Street and Allison Street junctions. Protected junctions are widely and successfully used across Europe, however they are relatively new in the UK and these will be the first in the UK outside of London!
A ‘protected junction’ is a road junction designed so that people travelling on foot, by cycle, and in vehicles are all separated as they pass through the junction. The aim is to make the junctions safer for all road users, and particularly for those on cycles. Unlike other junctions, which normally require right-turning cyclists to wait in the centre of the junction for a suitable gap in the traffic, the protected junction offers a safer alternative. Protected cycle tracks – like those on the South City Way – make it easier for people to make everyday journeys by cycle instead of by car. ”

That last sentence may seem obvious but there will be plenty of people in the city who struggle to get their heads around it. The stately progress of the South City Way may be a source of frustration for many. However, it is innovative (for Scotland) and we do need to see more along similar lines. So, if you want to show support for the new junctions, or just find out more, see GCC’s Protected Junctions webpage for further images, a video, a PDF document and a contact link. The junction trial will last two years but there’s no deadline mentioned for feedback.

Section 2: Forthcoming Consultations

2.1: Traffic Regulation Orders to make Covid 19 pop-ups permanent

Michael Matheson spoke at the Cycling Scotland online conference on 05 November. He was very hopeful that local authorities would choose, and be able, to make many of the measures permanent. TROs, which will come through the normal consultation channels, will be required.

Section 3: Consultation Feedback

3.1: Glasgow City Council (City Centre) (Traffic Management) Order 2010 (Variation No 27) Order 202, waiting and loading, plus EV parking, GCC response to our submission

In Digest 71, Item 1.5, we published this consultation and mentioned our concern that there was no mention of the proposed introduction of two-way cycling on Candleriggs. Here’s the letter we submitted on 26 October and on 29 October we received this response:

“Thank you for your correspondence regarding the above named Traffic Regulation Order.

With regards to contraflow cycling on Candleriggs, I can advise that this aspect of the TRO has been withdrawn since the first consultation.  This is as a result of an existing goods vehicle loading facility located on the west side of Candleriggs, approximately 15 metres south of Bell Street which will remain in place.  It has been noted that the publicised drawing incorrectly shows existing double kerb markings at this location instead of single kerb markings and the removal of this proposal should have been included in the consultation email that stakeholders received.  This was omitted in error after the implementation of this TRO was passed from our Project Services department to our Parking Services department.

In view of the above loading facility remaining in place, a decision was taken to remove contraflow cycling at this location in order to prevent the possibility of northbound cyclists having to cycle into the centre of the carriageway if a goods vehicle was situated at the above loading facility, with limited visibility of oncoming traffic and potentially come into conflict with an oncoming southbound vehicle.

I appreciate that you may feel frustrated at this decision, however, it has been taken with road safety in mind, particularly for cyclists.  However, I would advise that the Council remain committed to introducing contraflow cycling where it is deemed safe and will keep this area under consideration for future proposed TRO’s.

I trust this is of assistance at this time.

Yours sincerely

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads
Neighbourhoods and Sustainability”

This is sad news and yet another blow for the permeability that cycles offer for getting around in Glasgow.

3.2: Glasgow City Council, (Ruchazie Road) Traffic Calming Scheme (OFFICIAL) and a query as to the effectiveness of these measures, survey information from GCC

In our last Digest, issue 72, Item 3.4, we published Glasgow City Council’s confirmation that speed cushions will be installed on Ruchazie Road and in reply we asked the question as to before and after speed checks to confirm the effectiveness of speed cushions. Here’s the response we received on 02 November:

“Thank you for your undernoted enquiry.

I can advise that due to the circumstances caused by Covid-19, we are still awaiting the results of the “after” surveys for the traffic calming schemes that were installed towards the end of the last financial year and this financial year.

I can however provide results for other locations at which we have installed speed cushions over the past 18 months. A survey was carried out prior to the implementation of traffic calming on Sunnybank Street, between 23/04/2019 and 29/04/2019, during which time the average speed of vehicles was found to be 22mph and the 85^th percentile speed was 28mph. Although this may not seem excessive, it should be noted that there is a newly built primary school on this street and a bus gate adjacent to the school was to be removed as part of the works associated with the formation of school. After the traffic calming had been implemented, a survey was carried out between 25/11/2019 and 30/11/2019 and found the average speed had dropped to 17mph and the 85^th percentile speed had significantly dropped to 21mph.

A survey was also carried out prior to the implementation of traffic calming on Kingsland Drive, between 11/02/2019 and 17/02/2019, during which time the average speed of vehicles was found to be 28mph and the 85^th percentile speed was 33mph. After the traffic calming had been implemented, a survey was carried out between 19/02/2020 and 25/02/2020, during which the average speed had dropped to 21mph and the 85^th percentile speed had significantly dropped to 25mph.

I can advise that, should you wish, once we receive the results of the most recent surveys and have comparable “before” and “after” data available for the latest schemes, I will forward these to you.

I trust the above information is of assistance, however, should you require any further information, please contact (details removed by GoBike).

Kevin Hamilton
Head of Roads, Neighbourhoods And Sustainability“

GoBike has confirmed that we wish to see the results of any further before and after tests. The results look good but we have asked for details of how they are carried out.

3.3: East Renfrewshire Council, update on Proposed Local Development Plan 2

GoBike responded to the Local Development Plan 2 as reported in Digest 49, Item 1.3 and received an initial response that was included in Digest 50, Item 3.9
East Renfrewshire Council have now informed us our “representation has not been resolved” about LDP2 and so Scottish Government reporters have been appointed to examine it:

“DPEA PLAN REF NO: LDP-220-3

The above proposed plan was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 18 August 2020 for examination.  The local development plan is a document that sets out which types of development should take place where, and which areas should be protected from development.  It also contains policies that inform the planning authority’s decisions on planning applications.

You had previously made a representation regarding this plan when it was consulted upon from 21 October until 13 December 2019 and Scottish Ministers have been made aware that your representation has not been resolved. 

The Scottish Ministers have appointed Mr Alasdair Edwards MA(Hons) and Mr Malcolm Mahony BA(Hons) MRTPI as the reporters who will carry out the examination of the above proposed plan.  The administration of the examination will be carried out by the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

We have provided the reporters with a summary of the issues that we consider should be assessed at the examination, and a copy of your full representation.  Your representation will be considered by the reporters. 

Please note that additional reporters may be appointed to support the speedy delivery of the report.

The reporters will now commence the examination of conformity with our participation statement as required by Section 19(4) of the Town and Country Planning Scotland Act 1997 (as amended).  To comply with Section 19(7) of the Act, the examination of the above proposed plan under Section 19(3) of the Act will not commence until the examination of conformity with the participation statement has concluded, or until four weeks from the date of the appointment of the reporters, whichever is the latter.  Therefore the earliest date upon which the examination of issues raised in representations will commence is 19 November 2020. 

A notice regarding this examination has been published in the Evening Times and Barrhead News.

A copy of the proposed plan will be available for public viewing on our website: http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/ldp2

You do not need to take any action in response to this letter.  The reporters are not expected to require further information from you, but if they do DPEA will write to you specifying what is needed and how and when you should submit it.

Information about the examination including a summary of the issues being addressed by the reporters (known as Schedule 4 Forms), Further Information Requests and Responses, Document Lists, any Hearing and Inquiry Statements, and in due course, the Recommendations by Issue Table and the Examination Report can be found at the DPEA’s website using the link below:
http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=121161;

Further guidance on the examination process is available from the Scottish Government’s website using the weblink below:
https://beta.gov.scot/policies/planning-architecture/development-plans/

A guidance note that explains development plan examinations for people who have submitted representations is available at the weblink below:
https://beta.gov.scot/publications/development-plan-representations-guidance/

If you require further information about the progress of the examination please contact Jayne Anderson , Planning and Environmental Appeals, 4 The Courtyard, Callendar Business Park , Falkirk , FK1 1XR, or telephone 0131 244 6934, or email Jayne.Anderson@gov.scot

Please note that DPEA will be moving office with effect from Monday 16 November. 

The new address will be Planning and Environmental Appeals Division, Scottish Government, Ground Floor, Hadrian House, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk FK1 1XR

All telephone numbers and e-mail addresses will remain the same.

DPEA collect information if you take part in the planning process, use DPEA websites, send correspondence to DPEA or attend a webcast.  To find out more about what information is collected, how the information is used and managed please read the DPEA’s privacy notice – https://beta.gov.scot/publications/planning-and-environmental-appeals-division-privacy-notice/

Yours faithfully

Gillian McCarney
Head of Environment (Chief Planning Officer)”

We’ll update you on any further news.

3.4 Glasgow City Council, Pollok Park planning application approved

You might have seen in the press that the planning application, 20/01352/FUL, to build a new access road into the Park has now been approved. See details on the City Council’s Planning website.
In confirmation we received this email from the City Council yesterday, 09 November :

“We are writing to let you know that the Planning Application for an Active Travel Management Plan in Pollok Country Park was approved on the 6^th November 2020. The full application is available to view here (Reference Number 20/01352/FUL): https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=QAZZ49EXIKO00&activeTab=summary

The status of the application will be updated shortly.
Kind Regards,
Glasgow City Council/Glasgow Life“

This Glasgow Times article reports on the forthcoming Council meeting that confirmed the decision. GoBike and one of our members are both quoted. It’s bad news: trees being removed to make way for cars in a park, of all places. Yes, we know it’s to a world-renowned museum; we just hope the private, non-blue-badge, cars are controlled and kept to the new car park at the edge of the park.

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This Digest is a joint effort by the old and a new compiler. If you would like to join our consultations team just drop an email to consultations@gobike.org giving some details of your interests and/or skills in the topic.