A woeful lack of coordination - Sue Webber
Part of Edinburgh Council’s grand plans to “improve” transport includes the closure of Dalry Road to through traffic and as a wee taster of what that might involve is now in place for six months, with the closure of Gorgie Road for sewage works.
Scottish Water’s £3 million scheme to protect the Water of Leith may eventually be a worthwhile project, but in the meantime it will result in long delays for journeys across the city, particularly for South West Edinburgh people attending appointments at the Western General.
Obviously, infrastructure maintenance and improvement is unavoidable in a major city, but the inability to coordinate work is every bit as inescapable, or so it seems.
For Lothian Buses it’s not just an inconvenience but a cost, and at the same time other routes in South Edinburgh are also being disrupted, with a four-month closure of Lower Gilmore Place for resurfacing threatening to turn Bruntsfield Road into one big bus depot.
Utilities have the power to dig up the roads as they see fit as long as due notice is given, but they are not compelled to coordinate. Nor do they appear bothered about closing roads for weeks without any work being done, which is unacceptable and entirely avoidable, but projects are seemingly timed for their convenience, not the road users.
Chaos can be limited if there is a responsible and common sense attitude from both the council and the utility firms, but we all know from bitter experience that all too often it’s sadly lacking.