Replacement of HLR / Seafield / Portobello Rd Roundabout

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 03 Dec 2008, 11:21

It is intended to change the pedestrian route
(from Cllr Childs)

Ever heard the old adage" The road to hell is paved with good intentions" ???

Pedestrian access should be given *equal* priority to car access. That is plain common sense. It should be safe access - I would not walk alone through the Industrial Estate either.

The whole roundabout saga is a squalid farce and a stunning example of bad planning and pathetic execution. The Council need to hold their hands up and do something about it before someone is injured.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 03 Dec 2008, 11:52

squalid?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 03 Dec 2008, 14:09

I know this is probably an incredibly stupid question ..........

............ have we any idea when all this is going to be over?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 03 Dec 2008, 14:15

Jay wrote:I know this is probably an incredibly stupid question ..........

............ have we any idea when all this is going to be over?

The weekly roads report issued by the Council still indicates April 2009. This has been the case for some time now.

Ive had a wee look on the Orb at work but cant see anything different.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 03 Dec 2008, 17:12

michael_traill wrote:
Jay wrote:I know this is probably an incredibly stupid question ..........

............ have we any idea when all this is going to be over?
The weekly roads report issued by the Council still indicates April 2009. This has been the case for some time now.

Ive had a wee look on the Orb at work but cant see anything different.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:05

seanie wrote:squalid?

"Squalid: neglected, uncared for, poverty stricken"
Chambers Dictionary

Seems to pretty much sum up the Council atitude to the roadworks.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:06

michael_traill wrote:
Jay wrote:I know this is probably an incredibly stupid question ..........

............ have we any idea when all this is going to be over?
The weekly roads report issued by the Council still indicates April 2009. This has been the case for some time now.

Ive had a wee look on the Orb at work but cant see anything different.

This wasn't the original timescale though, was it?

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 04 Dec 2008, 14:16

seashell wrote:This wasn't the original timescale though, was it?

Original timescale was November (2007)

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 04 Dec 2008, 15:09

seashell wrote: This wasn't the original timescale though, was it?

Nope, But it has been the timescale since early October.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 04 Dec 2008, 16:10

And it's shocking. No explanation, no apologies - nothing.
Hardly good customer service.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 04 Dec 2008, 16:29

seashell wrote:And it's shocking. No explanation, no apologies - nothing.
Hardly good customer service.

You should make proper representation to the council about it, see what they have to say.

promqueen · Post by **promqueen** » 05 Dec 2008, 08:34

As a pedestrian, mum and resident with the roadworks right outside my bedroom window, a few replies !
1. The provision for pedestrians to cross at Seafield Road East is appalling and dangerous - cars come speeding round from Portobello Road and all we have to protect us is.. well, nothing. The cones are all tied together with blue rope, so in an emergency, you couldn't just nip to the safest spot. A wee ramp and a decrepit ' pedestrians' sign isn't really good enough.
2. I don't want my son walking to school through the Industrial Estate, alone or otherwise.I also don't want him him being tempted to nip round the corner at the top of King's Road, as the path there has been closed from day 1, and the detiur DOWN King's Road is a pain. No thought has been given to the inconvenience to pedestrians.
3. Working hours - 7am 'til 10pm -although it seldom HAPPENS, it's noise pollution of the highest order when it DOES. Not to mention workies using the stair door as a handy place to chuck cigarette ends.
I'm totally fed up with the whole thing, and am seriously considering moving... ah , yes... now to the property market situation.... !

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 05 Dec 2008, 08:38

promqueen wrote:As a pedestrian, mum and resident with the roadworks right outside my bedroom window, a few replies !
1. The provision for pedestrians to cross at Seafield Road East is appalling and dangerous - cars come speeding round from Portobello Road and all we have to protect us is.. well, nothing. The cones are all tied together with blue rope, so in an emergency, you couldn't just nip to the safest spot. A wee ramp and a decrepit ' pedestrians' sign isn't really good enough.
2. I don't want my son walking to school through the Industrial Estate, alone or otherwise.I also don't want him him being tempted to nip round the corner at the top of King's Road, as the path there has been closed from day 1, and the detiur DOWN King's Road is a pain. No thought has been given to the inconvenience to pedestrians.
3. Working hours - 7am 'til 10pm -although it seldom HAPPENS, it's noise pollution of the highest order when it DOES. Not to mention workies using the stair door as a handy place to chuck cigarette ends.
I'm totally fed up with the whole thing, and am seriously considering moving... ah , yes... now to the property market situation.... !

Have you made a proper complaint to the Council about these matters? What was their response?

promqueen · Post by **promqueen** » 05 Dec 2008, 09:12

Not yet, but the straw is now final !!

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 05 Dec 2008, 12:31

You should make proper representation to the council about it, see what they have to say.

Given there was a meeting between council official and Portobello traders on Monday about the delays and extended period of works, I'd say they are already more than aware of things.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 05 Dec 2008, 12:48

seashell wrote:

You should make proper representation to the council about it, see what they have to say.
Given there was a meeting between council official and Portobello traders on Monday about the delays and extended period of works, I'd say they are already more than aware of things.

I dont doubt the Council are aware of the general complaints raised by people, I was just wondering if you had spoken direct to the council about your own specific complaints and what the response had been thats all. Obviously im not to know who is a 'trader' or who isnt.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 05 Dec 2008, 17:16

From the Evening News today, Accident fears delay roundabout road works.

MULTI-million pound plans to remove a busy city roundabout will be finished up to five months late after part of the scheme was scrapped due to fears of head-on collisions.

Work to replace the Seafield roundabout in Portobello with traffic lights ground to a halt last month after engineers discovered that temporary traffic management measures were confusing drivers and creating a "serious risk" of collisions.

The meaADVERTISEMENT sures were abandoned and work on the roundabout is now not expected to be completed until February or March, five months later than planned.

Planners took the unpopular decision to close Portobello High Street to traffic last month after it was discovered that the temporary traffic lights were too dangerous.

It had been hoped that all five roads approaching the roundabout could remain open during the work, but the plans had to be ditched after it emerged that the temporary traffic management measures were not working.

Cllr Aitken said: "It is clear that this incompetent SNP/Lib Dem administration couldn't run a bath. The replacement of the Seafield roundabout is a good project, but their handling of it has been a disaster. The whole project is at least five months late and local people will have to suffer the ensuing chaos."

In a letter to councillors, one of the city council's senior officers explained that temporary traffic signals, which came into force on August 6, had confused motorists, causing them to drive slower than normal.

This meant vehicles were not clearing the roundabout before traffic began approaching from the opposite direction.

The official said it was "unacceptable" that the design created a "serious risk" of a head-on collision and meant the previous layout had to be reinstated.

Retailer Carol Imato, of Get Creative on the High Street, said the closure of the road had hit businesses hard.

She said: "It's affecting business, but the council just does what it wants. They will just go ahead and do what they want."

A council spokeswoman said: "We anticipate the work will be finished by late January or early February 2009, if work is not significantly delayed or disrupted by bad weather. We will not have a complete costing until some time after the project is complete."

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Dec 2008, 12:16

From today's EN:

Portobello tempts shoppers back with chance to win £200

I can hardly contain my excitement.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 06 Dec 2008, 14:18

Bob Jefferson wrote:From today's EN:

Portobello tempts shoppers back with chance to win £200

I can hardly contain my excitement.

It doesnt seem much but maybe does deserve its own thread, perhpas with a link to the business directory.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 07 Dec 2008, 16:25

Bob Jefferson wrote:From today's EN:

Portobello tempts shoppers back with chance to win £200

I can hardly contain my excitement.

Wow, budget blowing stuff.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 08 Dec 2008, 10:53

Unbelievable - we have had 172 customers in our shop already. It's working!

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Dec 2008, 11:58

Pal of Porty wrote:Unbelievable - we have had 172 customers in our shop already. It's working!

Which shop is that?

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 Dec 2008, 17:51

Does anyone know what shops are involved?

Joe Findlay, owner of Findlays the Butcher, said: "I just wish they had told us. We have not heard a thing.

So if they aren't involved who is?

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Dec 2008, 18:14

SoupDragon wrote:Does anyone know what shops are involved?

Joe Findlay, owner of Findlays the Butcher, said: "I just wish they had told us. We have not heard a thing.

So if they aren't involved who is?

Where I come from there were regular shop local campaigns, mostly at Christmas time as I recall. The chamber of trade, along with the Community Council worked together with the regional council and it worked well, rather just one faction going off on their own tangent and the whole thing being a flop.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 08 Dec 2008, 21:39

On Sunday bailyfield garage made a shrewd move.

They parked their advertising trailer & truck in the work area at the roudabout so that cars driving towards port from town were looking straight at it.

Makes a change from their usual flyposting style.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 08 Dec 2008, 23:20

Did the shops in Portobello not have a loyalty card scheme at one time? That didn't seem to last long if I remember correctly.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 08 Dec 2008, 23:52

Yeah we did - Graham kitchenser did lots of good work on it but it eventually faded away. Did you see the package on nardiins on TV tonight- how good would something like that be on the prom?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Dec 2008, 09:15

Yeah we did - Graham kitchenser did lots of good work on it but it eventually faded away. Did you see the package on nardiins on TV tonight- how good would something like that be on the prom?

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 09 Dec 2008, 11:29

Returning to the roundabout - last night, at 16.30, it took 23 minutes to get from Meadowbank House to Portobello Town Hall, thanks to all the lovely roadworks. A journey that must be under 2 miles.
When the bus passed the roundabout - surprise surprise - there was nobody working! A few guys were making sure the power generators were switched off - and work had clearly finished for the day. Great stuff, Edinburgh Council

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 09 Dec 2008, 14:47

Not so good. I got on a little better though.I got a bus at half 4 from Lochend. 16:33 I think the bus should be at the stop, and we got through the lights no problem. Two cycles of the lights got us through and the traffic was nae hassle going through the industrial estate. For the bus I was on and the one in front atleast.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 09 Dec 2008, 18:42

seashell wrote:Returning to the roundabout - last night, at 16.30, it took 23 minutes to get from Meadowbank House to Portobello Town Hall, thanks to all the lovely roadworks. A journey that must be under 2 miles.
When the bus passed the roundabout - surprise surprise - there was nobody working! A few guys were making sure the power generators were switched off - and work had clearly finished for the day. Great stuff, Edinburgh Council

Took note of the times of my journey home this evening.

The 21 entered the Portobello Road from Craigentinny Avenue at 17:17 and my bus stoped at the bus stop on Porty High Street outside McColls at 17:26. Not too bad a journey for me.

PortyConvert · Post by **PortyConvert** » 09 Dec 2008, 20:57

I was suprised this evening at how quickly the 26 got through it around 17:30... however this morning was bad leaving portobello for town with the traffic back up along the high street. Took about 10/15 mins just to get onto Portobello road. I think less and less people are taking the diversions & are going along the high street & baileyfield instead.

BeachBum · Post by **BeachBum** » 11 Dec 2008, 18:17

Bob Jefferson wrote:From today's EN:

Portobello tempts shoppers back with chance to win £200

I can hardly contain my excitement.

In a Council wide email today I got information about festive promotions in Leith, something to do with shop.

Still no sign of a Council wide one about the Porty vouchers up for grabs and since there are a fair few council workers a few sent this way would probably be nice for the local traders.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 11 Dec 2008, 18:32

I really wish they would fix that roundabout.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 11 Dec 2008, 18:46

Porty wrote:I really wish they would fix that roundabout.

The roundabout it gone, it i being replaced by a poorly implemented traffic light scheme. You'll have to wait another 10-15 years for it to be replaced with a roundabout again.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Replacement of HLR / Seafield / Portobello Rd Roundabout

Roadworks

Re: Roadworks

Roundabout again !