Live Better Locally
Article published in the Currie & Balerno News, September 2021 - Full Newspaper also contains articles from local councillors, MSPs and community groups.
Do you miss your local post office or bank? Would you like to see your pavements free of clutter and badly parked cars? Would you like to see more carefree children (and parents) using our roads safely, easily, as a fun way to move about and get to know everyone in the community?
A ‘20 minute neighbourhood’ is somewhere residents can access most of what they need with a short journey, by walking, wheeling, scooting or cycling. It reduces social isolation, builds resilience and a stronger community which helps mental and physical health regardless of age, ability or status. It also helps support local businesses and, crucially, helps improve our local environment - reducing noise and air pollution while helping address the worsening climate crisis. There’s even a growing body of evidence showing property prices increase where these changes are made.
A new local group has formed to help promote these benefits. South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods (SW20) are local residents and parents with a wide range of backgrounds and occupations. We want to create opportunities for local people to access businesses, public services, schools and green spaces in the Water of Leith villages in a healthy, happy and sustainable way.
Picture this: your community is one where people can combine daily tasks with social activities and use our great local businesses and green spaces by active travel, walking or wheeling or by ensuring it is accessible to those most in need.
As more new homes are built in the west, our concerns are focused on the needs of our new and existing residents. How can we make sure everyone in our community can easily access what they need? We would suggest some subtle changes to the way we move around as a start; with a little infrastructure. It makes it easier for all of us to access local services, it can also create a more enjoyable space to be in. It is not a credible plan to simply drive our way out of congestion, air pollution or the climate crisis.
As we move on from Covid-19 the council has now confirmed the removal of many temporary “Spaces of People” schemes, but there’s a good chance that Lanark Road’s plastic bollards can be replaced with widened pavements, improved pedestrian crossings, safer junctions, and a better, more inclusive permanent design which still retains protected cycling.
Local residents who are part of SW20 joined forces with Edinburgh Bus User Group and Living Streets as well as local businesses to agree and sign an open letter to the council calling for them to improve, not remove the Lanark Road scheme. Members were also pleased to share views on ensuring the designs are accessible and inclusive with the Edinburgh Access Panel.
If we want the council to prioritise our communities for investment in schemes like the ‘education corridor’ linking Currie High School with feeder primaries, we cannot start by forcing councillors to return a very wide four lane road back to its old racetrack feel. Lanark Road will need to become the spine of a South West active travel & public transport corridor if we are serious about our children’s future.
Council investment for the foreseeable future will focus on schemes which rise from the ashes of Spaces for People. South West Edinburgh should make sure we are part of that investment and not watching enviously from the sidelines.
If you or your business is interested in getting involved, get in touch we’ve published more on these themes on our website (search for @SW20Ed) – fresh thinking and ideas are always welcome!
Dave McCraw
Rashmi Kakde
On behalf of SW20