Glasgow's first shot at a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, Dennistoun

A year ago Glasgow City Council consulted on Traffic Management and Parking changes for Dennistoun and Royston. Post Covid they have now radically changed their plans to be far more what we think of as a Low Traffic Neighbourhood, with improvements for those of us who cycle.

A year ago the plans were very similar to what has happened elsewhere across the city; streets are redesigned to more safely accommodate motor vehicle parking with streets becoming one way to ALL traffic, including cycles. GoBike is a very strong supporter of contraflow cycling, which helps make cycling a very convenient way to travel, and we submitted this letter of objection to the plans.

The proposals were not implemented before Covid 19 struck and thus we were pleased when we saw the emergence of a new sub-section on the City Council’s website on 04 December: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/26417 and based on this information, one of our members drew up this plan of the area:

The local Community Council were not involved in the details of these proposals either, although they have made representation to the City Council on rat-running motor traffic in the area and related matters. Soon after the City Council released its plans, Dennistoun Community Council (DCC) put out this statement: http://dennistouncc.org.uk/2020/12/06/statement-on-traffic-and-streetscape/
DCC clearly recognises the limitations of the proposals and like GoBike, looks to build on them to ensure that Dennistoun does become a much pleasanter place.

On Tuesday afternoon, 08 December, we received this email from the City Council:

“MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ANDREW BEGLIN, ASSISTANT GROUP MANAGER (PARKING SERVICES), neighbourhoods and sustainability

Dear Sir / Madam,

Please find attached a copy of the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for the Spaces for People Dennistoun Area – Low Traffic Neighbourhood.  

I trust this information is of assistance.

Andrew Beglin
Assistant Group Manager (Parking Services), Neighbourhoods and Sustainability“

There has been no consultation on this, although the City Council is well aware of GoBike’s views on the abundance of motor vehicles stored on our streets, the lack of cycle routes and the lack of contraflow cycling. Here’s the content of the Temporary Order:

“OFFICIAL
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL
(DENNISTOUN AREA, LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD)
(TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION)
ORDER 2020
Glasgow City Council in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended by Schedule 1 of the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991, and of all other enabling powers, hereby makes the following Order: –

1. This Order may be cited as “Glasgow City Council (Dennistoun Area, Low Traffic Neighbourhood) (Temporary Traffic Regulation) Order 2020”.
2. This Order makes it unlawful for any person to drive or cause or permit to be driven or park any motor vehicle, except authorised vehicles, on the following road(s):-
   Road Closures
3. Ark Lane – at its junction with Broompark Drive
   No Waiting at any time
4. Ark Lane – on both sides, from the extended south kerbline of Circus Drive southwards to the extended south kerbline of Broompark Drive.
5. Ark Lane – across the carriageway at its southern extremity
6. Armadale Street – on both sides, from the extended south kerbline of Alexandra Parade southwards to the extended north kerbline of Craigpark Drive.
7. Broompark Drive – on both sides, from the extended west kerbline of Dunchattan Street westwards to the extended east kerbline of Ark Lane
8. Broompark Drive – across the carriageway at its (temporary) western extremity
9. Meadowpark Street – on both sides, from the extended north kerbline of Roslea Drive northwards to the extended south kerbline of Finlay Drive
   Prohibition of Driving (except for Pedal Cycles)
10. Armadale Street (southwards) at its junction with Alexandra Parade
11. Armadale Street (northwards) at its junction with Craigpark Drive
12. Armadale Street (southwards) at its junction with Roslea Drive
13. Craigielea Street (northwards) at its junction with Craigpark Drive
14. Craigpark (northwards) at its junction with Craigpark Drive
15. Craigpark (southwards) at its junction with Onslow Drive
16. Ingleby Drive (eastwards) at its junction with Whitehill Gardens
17. Marne Street (northwards) at its junction with Craigpark Drive
18. Meadowpark Street (southwards) at its junction with Alexandra Parade
19. Meadowpark Street (northwards) at its junction with Duke Street
20. Meadowpark Street (northwards) at its junction with Roslea Drive
21. Whitehill Street (northwards) at its junction with Duke Street
22. Whitehill Street (southwards) at its junction with Onslow Drive
    One Way Operations (with Contra-Flow for Pedal Cycles)
23. Armadale Street (northwards) between Duke Street and Roslea Drive
24. Armadale Street (northwards) between Golfhill Drive and Alexandra Parade
25. Armadale Street (southwards) between Golfhill Drive and Craigpark Drive
26. Craigielea Street (southwards) between Alexandra Parade and Craigpark Drive
27. Ingleby Drive (westwards) between Meadowpark Street and Whitehill Gardens
28. Marne Street (southwards) between Alexandra Parade and Craigpark Drive
29. Meadowpark Street (northwards) between Craigpark Drive and Alexandra Parade
30. Meadowpark Street (northwards) between Garthland Drive and Ingleby Drive
31. Meadowpark Street (southwards) between Finlay Drive and Roslea Drive
32. Meadowpark Street (southwards) between Roslea Drive and Duke Street
33. Whitehill Street (southwards) between Roslea Drive and Duke Street
    
    OFFICIAL
    The Order will come into effect at 00:01 hours on Tuesday 8 December 2020 until 23:59 hours on Wednesday 8 June 2022.
    Given under the Seal of Glasgow City Council and signed for it and on its behalf by Andrew Beglin, Assistant Group Manager, Parking Services, Neighbourhoods and Sustainability on the First Day of December Two Thousand and Twenty.“

That’s a lot of information to take in but we understand that work is now under way to install all the necessary markings and signage so it should all become clearer. It’s expected that this work will be done by Christmas (yes, this year!) – a good Christmas present for anyone getting a new bike in Dennistoun, or even going out on an old one.

You will have noted that the Temporary Order expires on O8 June 2022, giving 18 months for everyone to get used to the new layout. There will be formal consultation, all being well, to make the arrangements permanent sometime in the spring of 2022. We’ll obviously need to be aware that some people aren’t too pleased with the arrangements – just see the comments to this Glasgow Times article from last Friday when the news first broke – and we will need to get the counter arguments in!