We have seen draft plans for the new Polwarth junction design, and they look good!
After consulting with local businesses, the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) recently shared the near-final designs with the Merchiston Districts Community Council (MDCC).
This is part of the CEC’s commitment to redesign the junction under the Local Traffic Improvement Programme. We have been working closely with the CEC Road Safety team over the last 10 months to ensure designs reflect our community’s vision, as laid out in the 2023 Polwarth Roundabout Report.
Here’s what we know
The existing roundabout will be completely removed and replaced with a T-junction that prioritises the existing east-west bus route, substantially widens footways, significantly enhances pedestrian crossing points, and aims for better management of speeding. The remodelled junction will include formal loading bays serving local businesses, two new disabled parking spaces, and features new cycle parking and greenery.
The final details are now being fine-tuned before the designs go to public consultation. There are likely to be a couple of options, which residents will want to look at closely. A key issue for CEC is how best to balance the interests of pedestrians and those of local businesses. The options that will be presented offer two slightly different approaches.
We warmly welcome all of this, and we believe these improvements address the majority of safety concerns raised by the community.
We learned from the City Council that the pavements near the Polwarth junction have not been substantially altered since the turn of the 20th century, when the trams rolled along Polwarth Gardens and Granville Terrace. This upgrade is long overdue!
What happens next?
In the next few weeks:
- The CEC will finalise and share with us the two design options for the remodelled junction
- MDCC will prepare visuals to aid public understanding and engagement
Towards the end of the Summer:
- MDCC will actively distribute and share the designs with our community through this newsletter, street events, media and more
- Residents will be encouraged to comment on the designs, and send this feedback directly to CEC. Your voice will be crucial at this stage – we need to show support for these changes! We also need residents to explain which option they prefer.
- The Community Council will prepare its own response and share this with community members and the CEC. We have already taken a view on the options and this is recorded in the minutes of our last public meeting.
- Final approval of the works will be subject to Councillors’ approval.
We will share the timelines as soon as they are confirmed!
Community engagement updates
Our Polwarth junction team has been busy speaking to residents across our council area.
We took part in the fantastic Bruntsfield Primary School Summer Fair in May where we spoke with parents, carers, and children who expressed their concerns about road safety on the way to school. People were very pleased to hear that positive changes are afoot! There was a feeling that change could not come soon enough, as traffic near the roundabout has increased due to the ongoing closure of Harrison Road.
We also spoke with the head of Craiglockhart Primary parents council. They have been tirelessly advocating for safer pedestrian crossings and speed reductions on Ashley Terrace. Inspired by the Polwarth roundabout project, the parents council hopes to apply under the CEC’s Local Traffic Improvement Programme for a road safety project focused on Harrison Road or Ashley Terrace. We support this step and look forward to sharing our experiences with them. The Edinburgh Evening News has been covering their ongoing campaign.
Dates for your diary
On 17 June is the next MDCC public meeting + Annual General Meeting. It will take place in-person at the Polwarth Tennis and Bowling Clubhouse at 7pm. Residents are welcome to attend and raise any issues. Full details here.
On 21 June we will be at the Edinburgh Canal Festival, with a stand close to Ashley Terrace (across from the boathouse). Please come and say hello and let us know what you think about the latest developments, as well as any other issues.
We value your feedback
Thanks to all of you who have stopped to chat, share your stories and suggestions. Please spread the word and encourage your neighbours to sign up for the newsletter as well, to get vital updates and hear about opportunities to engage. Every voice matters!
