Tag: safety

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News

Pencaitland road works set to close A6093 in January

Due to planned works to extend a gas main to Glenkinchie and upgrade the road surface, the A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed.

The A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic (but open to pedestrians) from January 20th to February 10th.
The A6093 at the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic (but open to pedestrians) from January 20th to February 10th.
Carried out by contractor Fulcrum, information began to emerge earlier this week with the appearance of signs at the eastern entrance to the village explaining some of the details to motorists. The most significant disruption occurs between the 20th of January and 10th of February when the Tyne Bridge will be closed to road traffic but, crucially, it will remain open for pedestrians, cyclists and anyone using a pram or wheelchair.

Outside the actual road closure dates, roads works begin on the 6th of January and are expected to finish by the end of February with most delays expected during rush hour, as work on other parts of the A6093 through Pencaitland will use temporary traffic signals.

Today the Community Council received a more detailed breakdown of what is set to happen and when from Bill Laird, the Road Network Officer at East Lothian Council, which we are reproducing below.

The closure will be from Lempockwells Road at the west end eastwards to the west side of the entrance to Pencaitland Parish Church / Old Pencaitland House where the carriageway widens sufficient for the use of traffic signals.

During the closure the residents of the lodge house of the estate and Dovecot Way will still have access .

Pedestrian access will be unrestricted.

The contractor will also take the opportunity to carry out works at the junction with Lempockwells Road in preparation for the remainder of their programme – this will ensure that they are clear of this junction when the other works commence.

Works are likely to commence in the village week commencing 6th January – under standard 2-way traffic control but with a suspension of parking – Main Road – (Church to crossroads), then after the closure week commencing 10th February on Lempockwells Road (Main Road to Huntlaw Road) and Huntlaw Road (Lempockwells Road to railway bridge at No 45)

EL Road Services will surface the closed section of road week commencing 3rd February – 1 week only this is part of our capital programme of surfacing works and we are taking the opportunity of the road closure to complete the works and reduce the impact on the residents of the village. At this time the works will NOT include anything other than surfacing of the carriageway and re-applied road markings.

Apart from reinstating any excavations Fulcrum will not be undertaking any works on our behalf.

The contractor has also been asked to produce a letter to be issued directly to those properties adjacent to the streets listed and to supply a copy to me so that I can pass it on to you. They have also agreed to consult with the community council, school and bus companies – advance warning signs are already in place.

Where possible I want to make sure that as many people are aware of the works and effect it will have on their daily travel.

Bill Laird

The Community Council has also been contacted by contractors Fulcrum. The company’s Project Manager for this work, John McLuskey, is keen to hear from anyone with specific questions about the planned works which he will endeavour to answer. John can be contacted via email.

Please remember to share this information with any neighbours and friends living locally, to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of the expected disruption in advance.


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News

STV News reports on accident victim Harry’s return to school

Shortly before the summer break local boy Harry was knocked down and seriously hurt walking home when a white van crashed into him from behind, putting him in a coma.

Last night’s STV News followed up on the accident, reporting on his recovery and return to school whilst looking at issues of pedestrian and cyclist safety in and around the area.

Harry's recovery and issues of pedestrian safety were highlighted by STV News - the story starts 15m 55s into the report which can be watched online by clicking the image.
Harry’s recovery and issues of pedestrian safety were highlighted by STV News – the story starts 15m 55s into the report which can be watched online by clicking the image.

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News

Courier covers van crash victim Harry’s recovery from coma

The East Lothian Courier reported on accident victim Harry’s recent recovery from a medically induced coma after being knocked down by the driver of a white van, whilst heading home from school along the edge of the B6363 through Boggs Holdings.

The Courier reported on the accident and Harry's recovery across the cover of it's current issue and on page 2. If you missed it, click above to read the story by Mairi Gordon.
The Courier reported on the accident and Harry’s recovery across the cover of it’s current issue and on page 2. If you missed it, click above to read the story by Mairi Gordon.
You can read the front cover story here and page two follow up here.

This recent accident is all the more poignant given that the Community Council has been looking at issues of road safety in and around Pencaitland. This followed ELC’s Transport team providing the community with outline plans last year suggesting a number of possible road safety changes.

You can see those original plans and what was proposed by ELC by clicking here.

We still need your views

Tell us your views on the preliminary response to ELC’s plans via email to website@pencaitland.org or by simply leaving a comment on this page. You can also leave a comment in a dedicated box that can be found in the local Pencaitland Post Office.


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News

Pencaitland Community Council proposes road safety measures to ELC

Last year ELC’s Transport team provided the community with drawings suggesting a number of road safety changes. Your Community Council wants to hear your views before a response is sent.

An alternative roundabout layout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland would avoid relocating the war memorial. For details of other provisional recommendations click here.
An alternative roundabout layout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland would avoid relocating the war memorial. For details of other provisional recommendations click here.
In July last year, after a request from Pencaitland’s Community Council for joined up thinking on how to improve overall road safety across the village, ELC’s transport team responded with drawings outlining a number of ideas. You can see those original plans and what was proposed by clicking here.

In response to these suggestions the Community Council set up a Roads Working Group (RWG) to review the thoughts and comments of local people which have come via this website, social media and through word of mouth.

The Roads Working Group now has a provisional response to the ELC’s initial plans which it is ready to share with you (see map below), before a final set of recommendations is sent to ELC Transport for consideration.

These include:

  • A roundabout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland to replace the current crossroads. The RWG agrees that this is a good idea but could be achieved without moving the War Memorial to a different location, as originally suggested in ELC’s plans.
  • Road narrowing on the A6093 inside Pencaitland. The RWG believes this is unwise in light of the need for parking which already acts to slow traffic. Instead it is seeking the introduction of a painted cycle lane would achieve the same ends and benefit all concerned, at much less cost and disruption.
  • Further restrictions on speeds should be considered in areas where there are large numbers of kids/pedestrians, in some cases (such as the B6363 through Boggs Holdings) with no pavements for a measure of protection from road vehicles.

Please share this information with your neighbours, especially those who are not comfortable using the web, and encourage everyone who has an interest in road issues around Pencaitland to send us feedback. Tell us your views via email to website@pencaitland.org, by replying below in the comments or simply leaving your views in a dedicated comments box that will shortly be found in the local Pencaitland Post Office.

What is the Roads Working Group proposing to ELC?

The issues surrounding traffic and pedestrian safety can be best summarised visually with the map below. Click the blue lines on roads or the markers to see details of what the RWG is planning to send to ELC. Whether you agree or disagree we want to know. Equally, if there are issues that you believe have not been picked up by the RWG please inform us.

If you find it too difficult viewing the map below, you can view a larger version by clicking this link: Pencaitland road traffic calming measures.


View Pencaitland road traffic calming measures in a larger map

A printed copy of the map and a list of the proposed responses to ELC Transport’s original suggestions will also be available for review at the Pencaitland Post Office.


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News Photos

ELC upgrades speed signs entering Wester Pencaitland

East Lothian Council’s transport team have almost finished making upgrades to signage coming in and out of Wester Pencaitland.

The 30mph speed signs have moved out from the start of Wester Pencaitland to try to reduce cars entering the village over the speed limit. Speed is an issue here as there is little room for error with cars parking on one side effectively making the road a single lane.
The 30mph speed signs have moved out from the start of Wester Pencaitland to try to reduce cars entering the village over the speed limit. Speed is an issue here as there is little room for error with cars parking on one side effectively making the road a single lane.

As part of the upgrade to signage there are also plans to add three sets of yellow rumble strips before reaching the newly installed 30mph signs. This gives cars and their drivers notice that they are coming to a slower section of road.

This is part of wider plans, some of which are still under discussion, to improve road safety throughout the village. The main road through Pencaitland is also due to be resurfaced, most likely later this year.


Categories
News

ELC begins moving speed signs in Pencaitland

Following consultation last year, East Lothian Council’s transport team have begun making some improvements to signage coming in and going out of Pencaitland.

A car approaches Pencaitland with 30mph signs now placed outside the village entrance, to encourage drivers to slow before arriving at houses.
A car approaches Pencaitland with 30mph signs now placed outside the village entrance, to encourage drivers to slow before arriving at houses.

This is part of wider plans, still under discussion, to improve road safety throughout the village. However, it is unlikely that any major changes will take place until after the main road through Pencaitland is resurfaced, most likely later this year.


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News

Reporting road problems to East Lothian Council

The last few days of freezing temperatures have taken their toll on the main roads through Pencaitland with tarmac breaking to form fresh potholes.

A section of pavement in the centre of Pencaitland broken up by heavy vehicles parking wheels over edge. A child tripped over the rubble caused by this damage.
A section of pavement in the centre of Pencaitland broken up by heavy vehicles parking wheels over edge. A child tripped over the rubble caused by this damage.
On both sides of the Tyne Bridge there are rapidly growing potholes which could damage a vehicle or, as happens in wet weather, splash pedestrians, particularly whilst they walk on the narrow section of pavement.

The good news is that in this digital age it really couldn’t be easier to report problems to the Council, both directly or via other means. Here’s one method…

Fixmystreet.com is a fantastic concept from the mySociety team, which in turn is a charitable initiative from the UK Citizens Online Democracy. All you need to do in order to report a local issue is enter your postcode, supply (optional) contact details, upload a picture (it’s better if you have one). Then just hit the send button.

You then receive a confirmation email with a link from FixMyStreet. Click the link to confirm and you’re done. Your local council, in this case East Lothian, will been alerted courtesy of Fixmystreet.com.

Contact the Council

Alternatively, you can go directly to East Lothian Council with reports of road problems by filling in an online form. You can choose to register or submit problems anonymously.

It then asks for the street and town plus details of the fault. There doesn’t seem to be a way to send in a picture with the submission unfortunately. Once submitted you are given a reference number for follow up and you receive an email confirming the submission has been received.

If it’s an emergency or particularly urgent you can call:

  • 01875 824305 during office hours (Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm or Friday 8am-4pm)
  • 01875 612818 out of office hours


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News

ELC’s transport team recommends alternate footpath again

After the recent public consultation held in Trevelyan Hall, ELC’s Transport department has returned a recommendation to Cabinet that the plan proceed with one change – no additional car parking spaces will be added to the school.

Following a recent public consultation ELC's Transport department is recommending the footpath plan proceed minus the additional (in pink) car parking spaces at the school.
Following a recent public consultation ELC’s Transport department is recommending the footpath plan proceed minus the additional (in pink) car parking spaces at the school.
The proposals included the addition of car parking spaces in the school grounds. A number of Glebe residents, who live around the school’s entrance, were supportive of the parallel footpath but stated they felt they had to object to those current proposals as they did not wish to see further car parking spaces added to the school as part of pedestrian safety improvements.

The original intent was that these further spaces would provide additional car parking in the heart of the village which, courtesy of a new disabled access footpath between the Church, Carriage House and school, would mean that cars could utilise these facilities on evenings and weekends where required. The view was that this would alleviate parking issues on both the main road outside the church and remove the need for cars to potentially park in the Glebe.

Now, with Transport recommending the footpath proceed without the additional parking facilities for the community, it is hoped that Glebe residents’ concerns will be addressed.

The public consultation consisted of an event held in the Trevelyan Hall plus both a paper and online survey. After removing any duplicate responses the results of that process were as follows:

From the public consultation comment book:

  • 44 For the parallel footpath
  • 24 Against the parallel footpath
  • 12 Not stating a position

The online element was more emphatic:

  • 61 For the parallel footpath

There was also a door to door survey:

  • 31 for the parallel footpath Plan

In addition the Community Council received one email for the footpath plan to be completed and one against.

In summary, this meant that there were 137 in total for the parallel footpath, 25 against and 12 where a view on the footpath being completed wasn’t expressed.

Next Steps

The parallel footpath proposals are already widely supported by a number of community groups, many of whom contributed to these proposals after plans to move the lights and widen the main road pavement were rejected by the ELC.

Now that ELC’s Transport department has submitted its recommendation to cabinet, it will be debated on the 11th of December. If the recommendations of ELC’s Transport department are accepted by Cabinet it will then go before a future Planning Committee meeting for a final decision.

Update 8 March 2013

Interested parties received a letter today informing them of the Planning Committee’s decision to go ahead with the revised plan for a parallel footpath through the middle of the village, thus avoiding the narrow pavement. However, it remains unclear as to when this work will actually be completed and the alternate path usable by members of the community.


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News Notices

Flood alert for the Lothians

We’ve received notice of a new flood alert from Scotish Environment Protection Agency covering East Lothian.

A new flood alert for the lothians was issued
A new flood alert for the Lothians was issued
“A spell of wet and windy weather is expected throughout the region on Thursday. There is a risk of surface water flooding in built up areas and on the road network. There is also a risk of flooding from rivers and small watercourses. SEPA will continue to monitor the situation and further updates will be issued as necessary. The worst of the rain is expected to clear by Thursday evening.”

Keep your community informed

If you have to travel and spot a dangerous section of road please tweet details to @pencaitlandcc or to the Pencaitland Facebook page. This way the information will automatically be passed on to others.

Example Twitter message:

@pencaitlandcc Bend of A6093 coming into Wester #Pencaitland water over both lanes on final bend. #flood #eastlothian

You can use the same text whether sending to Twitter or posting to Facebook or Google+… whichever you prefer.

the # symbol is often placed in front of keywords on Twitter in order to help people discover relevant updates. If you have room, by adding #eastlothian and #flood to your message it is more likely to be found by those looking for information on areas under water around in the county. Try to be specific, using, for example, #ormiston or #pencaitland hash tags to help geographically pinpoint where the problem is.


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News

East Lothian trials car ban near Schools

The media reports East Lothian Council’s decision to ban cars from streets near a school in Haddington. If it proves effective it could be rolled out across the county.

Car Chaos at the Glebe - should East Lothian Council extend its car ban to Pencaitland?
Car Chaos at the Glebe – should East Lothian Council extend its car ban to Pencaitland? Tell us what you think with a comment below.
The issue of parked cars near schools is a divisive one in many areas, especially where schools and residential homes are in close proximity. In Pencaitland’s case the main point of access to the school is via the Glebe — a cul de sac which can struggle to accommodate the volume of cars that arrive for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.

In the past the local school has attempted to address the problem with repeated requests for parents to avoid the use of cars to bring their children to school or, if they must, to park further away. Other efforts have included carrots such as the regular ‘walk to school’ week, or more visible policing with the local PC and traffic warden being on site.

There is some anecdotal evidence that such campaigns have alleviated problems for a period but it invariably reverts back to previous levels fairly quickly.

In light of this, it now looks as if East Lothian Council has decided to adopt a fairly radical new approach, effectively banning cars from designated streets — other than those of residents and the disabled.

The Scotsman reports that the council’s senior area officer, Peter Forsyth, said “The behaviour of these drivers, who make dangerous turning and reversing manoeuvres and contribute to congestion, cause difficulties for the majority of pupils and parents who walk or cycle to and from school.

“It is totally inappropriate to try and carry out these sorts of manoeuvres close to schools where there is a great number of schoolchildren present.

Radio Scotland had a phone-in on ELC's plans earlier today - 16th Nov 2012
Radio Scotland had a phone-in on ELC’s plans earlier today (16th Nov 2012). Just click the image above to listen now.
“Following representations from the parent councils of the three schools, it was agreed to introduce the experimental traffic regulation order. East Lothian Council may be the first council in the whole of the UK to take this 
approach.”

You can read the full Scotsman report here.

On the Radio

Did you hear today’s (16th Nov 2012) Radio Scotland phone-in on this topic? If not you can still catch it using the BBC’s catch-up service for the next fortnight.

Q. What do you think of this approach? Would you welcome a ban on cars using the Glebe in Pencaitland or is it an over-reaction? Leave your comment below.