STREET ACTION APPEAL TO STOP ‘DAILY DANGERS’
Petition to Glasgow City Council on tackling ‘inconsiderate’ drivers around Kelvin Way
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for action to tackle “inconsiderate” drivers blocking cycling and walking routes at Kelvin Way. A petition will go before councillors on Thursday requesting segregated cycle lanes to improve safety.
Those behind the calls say pedestrians and cyclists are “forced to either overcrowd onto the pavement or pull out into busy traffic”.
Council officers have reported there is “insufficient available” road space to “provide segregation of the existing cycle lanes”.
They also say police accident statistics show no “notifiable accidents” at the location in the past two years, with three in the past five years.
Ms Nayanika Noy Basu is the lead petitioner and is set to address a council committee next week.
Her petition states: “Everyone who lives, studies, works or travels around Gibson Street, Bank Street, University Avenue and Kelvin Way area knows all too well the daily dangers and hazards vehicles in this area.
“Every day during school pick up and drop off times, children, students and families experience dangerous road safety and pollution hazards, as well as regular near misses on these streets.”
There are 179 signatures on the petition, which was sent to the council in November.
“Inconsiderate behaviour peaks from the University Union bus stop along the approach to the junction of Kelvin Way and up University Avenue to the university car park,” the petition states.
Access at Kelvin Way is “often blocked by illegally parked or idling car”, it adds.
The campaigners believe installing lane separators as well as reviewing traffic queues and traffic light priorities would make the area safer.
“These will create safer spaces for all users and deter unsafe parking and traffic encroachment onto pavements and cycle paths.”
In May last year, Kelvin Way was of commuter
closed to vehicles in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to give extra space for physical distancing.
A council report states several on-street parking places, within the closure, are unavailable.
“This has led to issues around private vehicles stopping and waiting on University Avenue at the junction of Kelvin Way,” the report adds.
The council recognises there are “challenges” at the location – near to Hillhead Primary School – “in relation to driver behaviour and irresponsible parking”.
There are currently ‘no waiting/ no loading’ restrictions in place and any private vehicle “stopping within these zones is committing an illegal and irresponsible manoeuvre and would be subject to penalty charge notices”, the council states.
But targeted enforcement has been “limited” due to Covid-19.
The council plans to engage with the school and parent council over a travel plan, survey existing road user behaviour and encourage more walking and cycling.
It is also working with Police Scotland to address road safety issues around cars parking on footpaths.
However, the report states the result of segregated lanes would be “the narrowing of the cycle lane to below the safe limit or the narrowing of the carriageway running lane to below safe minimum for a bus route”.
“Both of which are not acceptable as this would allow insufficient space for the buses or cyclists to pass safely.”
The council recognises there are challenges at the location
AN East End community is now home to Scotland’s first Tiny Forest – one of a dozen around the UK bringing green benefits to deprived areas.
Sited on Avenue End Road in Easterhouse, the forest is no bigger than a tennis court but organisers promising significant boosts from the scheme.
It forms part of Earthwatch Europe’s scheme to plant hundreds of Tiny Forests across urban areas of the UK by 2023.
Clara Stevenson, Programmes and Partnership Director at Earthwatch Europe, said: “Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting young people with the environment and sustainability.
“It’s vital that we give people the knowledge and skills to protect our natural world and inspire them to take positive action from a young age.
Earthwatch Europe has worked with Glasgow City Council and the Seven Lochs Project to create the forest, which will be looked after by volunteers from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) Scotland and local schoolchildren.
The forest is funded by OVO Foundation and the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.
It is hoped the forests will educate 9000 children on global and local environmental challenges and support 1200 young people in conducting scientific monitoring of each Tiny Forest.
Councillor Maureen Burke, chairwoman of the Seven Lochs Partnership, said: “I’m delighted to be working with Earthwatch to bring a Tiny Forest to Easterhouse and the Seven Lochs.
“It will be an excellent opportunity for local children to learn about the importance of trees and forests in fighting climate change.
“It’s also great that this project is going ahead in the year that the COP26 climate conference is coming to Glasgow, and I hope that this will be the first of many Tiny Forests in the city”.
As well as connecting schools and communities with nature, Earthwatch will draw on its experience of engaging members of the public – citizen scientists – to collect scientific data to assess the benefits of Tiny Forests in urban spaces.
With the help of young people from local schools, Earthwatch will collect data on: carbon absorption, flood mitigation, thermal comfort and biodiversity, as well as assess the social and wellbeing benefits.
The Seven Lochs Project is an initiative to create a new heritage and nature park that spans the Glasgow City / North Lanarkshire council boundary between Easterhouse, Coatbridge and Stepps,
Supported by a £4.5 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will improve places for people and nature, and help more people learn about nature on their doorstep.
The Easterhouse Tiny Forest is next to three primary schools and two additional support needs schools, and will be used by pupils for a range of outdoor learning activities.
Caroline Silke, Head of OVO Foundation, said: “We’re passionate about educating the younger generation on how to reduce their carbon footprint, protect the physical environment, and limit their impact on the planet.
Tiny Forests help children learn about the environment and sustainability in a really accessible way.
“By planting 12 Tiny Forests in urban communities across the UK with Earthwatch, we will help connect children with their local green spaces and show them how they can protect it for future generations.”