Latest news with #ChristopherCowdy
Scotsman
5 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh's Craiglockhart Primary School parents look to bid for council cash to make children's route to school safer
Parents campaigning for improved road safety around an Edinburgh school are looking at bidding for council cash to fund measures to make children's journey to school safer. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A long-promised crossing point outside Craiglockhart Primary School in Ashley Terrace is due to be installed next year. But it is only a "build out" of the pavement rather than a fully-fledged pedestrian crossing and parents fear it might not be enough to slow down traffic. However, they don't want to delay the project any longer by pressing for an upgrade. And now they could expand their campaign to other parts of the routes children take to the school, for example nearby Harrison Road, to see if they can secure safety improvements there. Craiglockhart Primary School on Ashley Terrace - the build-out for the crossing point is due to be built where the bins now stand on the left of the picture. | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They are considering applying to the council's Local Traffic Improvement (LTI) programme, which has an annual £500,000 pot of money for schemes to improve road safety and accessibility for all road users. Concerns about road safety in the area have been fuelled by a recent accident in which an 80-year-old woman suffered serious injuries when she was hit by a car on Ashley Terrace. It sparked a protest against speeding motorists, with parents and other residents standing in the road. Lynsey Houston, chair of the Craiglockhart Primary parents council, said Ashley Terrace was a busy road, made even busier by the current closure of the Harrison Road railway bridge, which means a lot more traffic diverting onto Ashley Terrace. She said: "We want children to be independent, and as they get older we would want them to make their own way to school, but at the moment it doesn't feel safe to do that." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She thinks some people are going to be disappointed when what appears outside the school is not a pelican-style crossing. "I think a lot of residents are expecting it to be an official crossing because it has been referred to as a crossing, but actually it's just a crossing point. Conservative councillor Christopher Cowdy outside the school | supplied 'What the council has promised is a build-out from one side of the street on Ashley Terrace. It will improve visibility because it's going to stop cars from being parked on either side. So it's helpful, but it's not really going to slow traffic down at all." She said the council's plan also included a second crossing point on Ashley Terrace near the corner with Harrison Gardens, where there will be build-outs on both sides of the road, which she thinks might be more likely to slow traffic down. But she continued: "I think the LTI programme is definitely worth a look. It's not something the parent council could take on by itself, but I've just created a Facbook group with another local resident to see if we could collectively apply for something, either to improve the Ashley Terrace situation or look at measures on Harrison Road, the next street across, which is also part of the route to school. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I feel the council has oversold their permit parking there and there is literally no space to cross, so it's always between parked cars and there's no drop in the kerb - it's a road the council have completely neglected. 'While we've focused on Ashley Terrace because it's the road the school is on, I'm keen to look at the wider catchment because it affects more than just one street.' Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart Conservative councillor Christopher Cowdy said a pedestrian crossing had been promised for the school for over 10 years. "Delivery of the pedestrian crossing is a painfully slow process,' he said. 'Even when the crossing is delivered it is woefully below what is needed as it is simply a build-out of the pavement on one side of the road and not the fully signalised crossing that locals want. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "However there is a real worry that to change plans now could mean starting the process from scratch and getting nothing for another 10 years, so the community supports the current plan, but also want further improvements. 'I've been encouraging them to apply for the LTI programme and come up with another project to help road safety.' Ian Doig, chair of Merchiston and District Community Council, which applied successfully for the LTI programme to fund the replacement of the Polwarth roundabout with traffic lights, said there was widespread concern about road safety in the area. And he suggested parents could join forces with others to press the case for action. He said: 'There is a lot of diverted traffic and a lot of complaints about speeding. The head of the Steiner school said he also has concerns about traffic around his school, which is just round the corner. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The school is not alone in this and residents are also complaining about road safety issues in that area. A local group of residents and the school community would be effective. That's what worked for us with the Polwarth project - extensive outreach and communication with residents and local businesses, cycling interests and so on- and that powered a compelling case to the city council.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edinburgh residents urge Hearts to do more to stop illegal parking
FOOTBALL fans are being forced to park illegally on match days – with neighbours calling on Hearts to 'do more' to avoid the congestion being caused. Hearts fans have no allotted car parking space when visiting Tynecastle Stadium on game days. In a stadium that holds a little under 20,000 people, there's been 'little wonder' from fans as to why people take the risk to park illegally. Hearts currently advertise as having 'no special parking arrangements' per their website, only referencing areas available nearby for street parking. One resident of Dundee Terrace, which is an eight minute walk from the football ground, said: 'It happens obviously, but they've got to park somewhere.' Another neighbour described the street during game days as 'congested' and 'jam packed,' noting that: 'The football club should do more.' Football journalist and Hearts fan Aaron Fraser said: 'My dad has driven us to games at Tynecastle on too many occasions to count since I started going to games with him. It's something we now avoid entirely due to the lack of spaces. 'Since the stadium is tightly packed into a residential area, there is very limited space for parking in the surrounding streets. If you're wanting to get a space, arriving several hours before kick-off is basically the only viable option.' Edinburgh City Councillor for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart Christopher Cowdy said the issue of game day parking in residential areas was brought to his attention over a year ago, to which he responded with calls to introduce double yellow lines. Promises have been made to Cowdy from Edinburgh City Council, but the solution is yet to be brought in. Cowdy said: 'It is a massive issue for Tynecastle and for match days and there is a stadium review being promised, lots and lots and lots and whether that would pick up I hope so." READ MORE: There are no official plans to build an exclusive car park for Tynecastle Stadium, but one Merchiston Community Council member suggested that there should be accessible public transport schemes, which include reduced fares to dissuade people from driving. 'Transit validation' is a scheme in which sporting venues contract with public transport operators to allow all ticket holders to ride buses and trains for free on game days. According to Bloomberg, it can reduce traffic congestion, save energy, and reduce pollution and carbon emissions. Seattle's Husky Stadium introduced the concept in 1984 and saw a 17% increase in ticket holders arriving by public transit. It would also have the potential to encourage fans who live outside the city to commute for the game and reduce the rate of drunk driving after matches.
Edinburgh Reporter
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
A peaceful protest on Ashley Terrace – but with a serious message
On Wednesday evening locals took to the streets in a peaceful protest drawing attention to the amount of traffic, the speed of the traffic and the lack of pedestrian crossings. An 80-year-old woman was seriously injured at the junction of Ashley Terrace on 28 April. Cllr Christopher Cowdy said to The Edinburgh Reporter: 'The biggest problem is lack of resources in the council. So when I came here in 2022 there was already a pedestrian crossing programme. There were hundreds of crossings being promised. But within a year, when I was on the Transport Committee that had already run over two years late, because they had bitten off more than they could chew, they said, and they were lacking in resources. 'So I know that the city council is short of money, and it's running on a budget deficit about £50 million a year, and trying and trying to make that up, and trying to get the resources to provide all of the crossings for all of the schools across the entire city is very difficult.' David Hunter of Living Streets said: 'I think it's fantastic to see. I think pedestrians often don't kick up as much of a fuss as maybe other groups do, so it's great to see it mobilised. 'There must be quite a strength of feeling to have this amount of support. 'But of course there has been a really serious injury to an old lady here. You can see the speed, some of this traffic's going at. I think we really need a strategy for the whole city. I would like to see more money going into these kind of routine improvements, particularly around schools, and I think it would get a lot of public support.' Despite the council promising crossings three years ago nothing has happened, although Cllr Stephen Jenkinson the Transport Convener has said that 'Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment 'pedestrian safety across the city is a priority' He said: 'I fully understand the safety concerns raised by the community in relation to the junction at Ashley Terrace and Harrison Gardens, particularly given the recent road traffic accident which took place there. 'As outlined in the Road Safety Delivery Plan, there are plans in place for two footpath build-outs on Ashley Terrace. Unfortunately, we have experienced some delays due to necessary design revisions and coordination with other services. 'In relation to Ashley Terrace, the installation of a build-out directly in front of the school entrance requires the relocation of a nearby bin hub. This is being progressed through a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) by the Waste team, and we are awaiting further updates from them.' Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
07-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Two Edinburgh schools become phone free zones
Two schools in Edinburgh will become phone free zones this month. From today pupils at Portobello High School will be asked to store their phones at the beginning of each day in a lockable pouch. The Yonder pouches are locked and unlocked magnetically with phones remaining in each pupil's possession all day. From 14 May pupils at Queensferry High School will join the pilot project. There has been engagement with pupils and parents to determine what to do and to set a new policy for the schools. At Portobello 86% of parents and carers support the new phone ban. The hope is that it will encourage young people to stay in class focussed on lessons without any distractions. The schools are basing their decisions on research which shows that a phone free school impacts mental health and wellbeing positively. Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener, said: 'I'm pleased to see Edinburgh schools leading the way in introducing a mobile-phone free school environment. Mobile phones in classroom settings are increasingly competing with the teachers for learners' attention and limiting access to mobile phones during the school day is only a positive thing for our young people. 'I know that schools across Edinburgh, and indeed the country, are exploring ways to manage mobile phone use, including restricting phone use during the school day. The new pouches provide an innovative way for our young people to have distance from their devices while having the reassurance that they are still in their possession. We hope that this new policy will increase focus on learning, reduce classroom distractions and help improve wellbeing.' Scottish Conservative education spokesperson on The City of Edinburgh Council, Cllr Christopher Cowdy said: 'Making sure children can focus on their education without distractions is basic common sense. 'In April last year I raised a Motion in Council, highlighting concerns raised by teachers about mobile phone use in schools that can encourage seriously disruptive behaviours in the classroom. I was very disappointed not to get support from other political parties to help Headteachers with a more robust Council policy on smartphone use but delighted that 2 High Schools have now decided to press ahead themselves with pilot schemes to control use during the school day.'\ 'Having heard, back in March, that Portobello High school intended to introduce a pilot ban on mobile phones, I spoke to the Headteacher to hear about his plan and offer my support. 'I applaud the initiative of both Portobello and Queensferry High Schools with their pilot smartphone initiatives. This is exactly the sort of bold action the Scottish Conservatives support Headteachers to take in helping combat the national rise in poor classroom behaviour and to drive improvements in our lagging attainment record. 'Other parties were resistant to initiatives of this kind for too long, despite the Scottish Conservatives repeatedly highlighting how removing access to mobiles could help improve discipline in schools. 'It is welcome schools are now taking these measures and SNP ministers must continue to give them powers to maximise opportunities for students. 'Under the SNP standards have declined and proposals to reverse the damage have been little more than cosmetic. They must deliver real change if Scotland's once world-leading education reputation is finally to be restored.' Photo by RDNE Stock project on Like this: Like Related
