12/08/2009

MSP consultation reveals Penicuik’s attitude to town centre changes

71 percent of Penicuik residents have said the town centre should remain pedestrainised following an extensive consultation undertaken by SNP MSP Christine Grahame. Ms Grahame also consulted residents on a new zebra crossing situated at the town’s Lidl store and the notorious Leadburn junction. Ms Grahame, who received just under 3000 responses following her consultation which was carried out during July, said:

“I have had a very good response from the consultation and a clear result in relation to pedestrianisation, the zebra crossing at Lidls and the Leadburn Junction, which I have been pressing Midlothian Council to improve.

“The consultation has highlighted specific areas where people in Penicuik want to see improvements made. Among these have been improvements for disabled users and ideas to improve the presentation of the town centre.

“One bus driver who responded to the question on the zebra crossing warned that it was only a matter of time before there was an accident there.

“Concerns were also raised about the safety of the Leadburn Junction which has been the site of many road accidents. Both of these I hope the Council will seek to address as a priority and I have written to them to add my own voice to that and share with them the concerns of local people in Penicuik.

“There has been some limited improvements at Leadburn but clearly the overwhelming feeling of 65 percent of respondents was that the junction remained dangerous.

“The high number of responses shows that local people want to add their voices to improvements in and around the town. I will pass on these concerns directly to the Council and urge them to take appropriate action soon.”

Ms Grahame also criticised Labour run Midlothian Council failing to make competent applications for the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund and added:

“The Labour run Midlothian Council has neglected Penicuik for years and in the first round only made an application for Dalkeith. Even this was rejected because of the poor quality of the submission.
“Although they may be submitting an application in this second round for Penicuik, this is simply to resurface one road. If the Council had consulted with the people as I have done then they would have found a range of innovative ways to improve Penicuik.”

Residents were asked the following questions; should Penicuik’s town centre remain pedestrianised? 71% said yes, 24% said no and 5% remained undecided.

 The following comments were also made in relation to this question:

"Pavements lowered (not low enough at Kerbs for people in wheelchairs and scooter). Also major repairs on road access to car park at rear of shops off Jackson Street." Ms. G.

"It would be an excellent idea and greatly needed to open John's Street one way to enable disabled cars to park to have easy access to post office, hair dressers - make it a 4 hr parking patrolled by ECP." Ms. T.

"Why can't Penicuik have a monthly farmers market? I travel to Howgate and Edinburgh to visit these. It would regularly bring people to Penicuik centre." Mr. and Mrs. W.

"Stop cutting trees down. Who gave him permission to do that? Name names! Stop turning us into a part of Edinburgh. We are a proud country town." Ms. W.

"More should be done to encourage business in the area and eliminate the derelict areas of the precinct which are an eye-sore. The present area should be re-furbished/rebuilt with more flower-beds and colour - it looks like it was done "on the cheap" with little though/care. Something perhaps to encourage a better community atmosphere with scope for cafes/restaurants with outside seating" Mr. C.

Residents were also asked; Do you think the zebra crossing at Lidls is the best solution? Only 26% agreed with 64% of respondents stating no. 10% were undecided. Amongst the comments made were:
"As a bus driver what they have done is an accident (serious) waiting to happen due to where they have put the zebra crossings. I would put a pedestrian crossing back and situate it in safer areas of the road and away from any blind spots or accident areas." Mr. D.

"I think a proper light crossing would be the safest way to cross this busy part of town. Especially for older people and children, it should be changed now before an accident happens". Ms. B.

On the question of the Leadburn Junction which has seen a number of serious crashes including a fatal accident respondents were asked; Do you consider the Leadburn Junction dangerous? 65% said yes, 16% no and 17% of respondents were undecided. Residents made the following observations on the junction:

"As a cyclist I have witnessed, over the years, many near misses at this junction. Often, due to the speed of a car approaching junction from Penicuik… Some kind of speed control may be helpful". Mr. E.

"It all comes down to people be more aware on the road. Maybe a speed camera and signs so people know what is ahead. Marking the road so they might slow down. If it came to a push put in traffic lights that work at a peak times or when the road is really busy with vehicles. Make the road a lot safer with speed checks by the traffic police." Mr. D.

SNP It’s time.....