An objection to a planning application from the CTC
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We object to this planning application on the grounds that there is, as far as we can see from the plans, no provision whatsoever for cyclists.
Ideally, the access road would have coloured cycle lanes in both directions, an advance stop line (coloured) at the junction, and signage to the location of the cycle parking.
However, this application brings up the issue of the access to Sainsburys from what might be regarded as the main cycle route to the store, the one from the Telford Path and (South) Groathill Ave., which is unsatisfactory in a number of ways:
1 Coming from Telford Path, the store is signed at the path itself, along a spur, but there is no further signage. (Years ago, the access to Craigleith was directly opposite the exit of the spur, therefore fairly obvious. Now, that access is closed, and the route requires turning right (south) from the path exit, then left)
2 The path exit is obstructed by an unnecessarily tight barrier (think cyclists laden with shopping, pedestrians with buggies, etc) and THERE IS NO DROPPED KERB onto the street.
3 The entrance to Craigleith from S. Groathill Ave is via an obscure, unsigned path through a small play-park, which is then obstructed by a square of small separated blocks designed to stop trolleys, but which also stop any other form of wheels.
4 There is no obvious on-ground provision for cyclists or pedestrians to cross the car park to access the store and its cycle parking - and no signage either.
5 For all the above reasons, the access from the Telford Path is also non-DDA compliant.
Although this access is strictly beyond the terms of reference of the current application, we feel Sainsburys should be working with the Council to address these issues, which have been a long-standing source of complaint from our members, and which actively discourage cyclists from shopping at Sainsburys.
Yours etc,
Peter Hawkins
CTC Lothians
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