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North Queensferry Lane Access Improvement |
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Friday, 27 August 2004 |
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When Cruicks Quarry in North Queensferry expanded in the 1970s, the operators built a new Ferryhills Road and modified part of the old road to retain access to the lane serving certain properties. Unfortunately, the camber of the lane junction was poorly designed, making it extremely difficult for vehicles to drive round the 120-degree corner, especially in poorer weather conditions. Lorries in particular found it difficult to negotiate the steep uphill slope even in dry weather. The project aims to improve the road camber by infilling it with bottoming material, compacting and tarmacing.
Overview
KEY PARTNERS
North Queensferry Community Council
FUNDERS
Forward Scotland (CERS) - £5000
Plan
NEED
This road improvement is required to improve access and safety for local residents and all other users of the road. Currently vehicles have difficulty travelling uphill on the road in the snow and frost without skidding and even in the drier weather, lorries often wheel spin when using the road. As the Council has not adopted the road there is an even greater need for this improvement work to be carried out.
The Community Council consulted with all interests in the area (31 including residents and trades people) who confirmed the need for the project and their support. The lane is open to all and is also part of a footpath to / from Port Laing.
PURPOSE
The project will improve access and safety for residents, tradesmen and services such as the council refuse lorry. Consequently, the project directly targets the local community and indirectly all potential road users.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this project is to improve the access and safety of the existing road. The Community Council liaison officer who is a householder in a lane property and is familiar with the problem will test this during the working stage of the project.
Progress
GETTING ESTABLISHED
North Queensferry Community Council is an established community group that has taken the lead in the management of this Lane Access Improvement project as it affects members of the local community. This has been a relatively short project, with the concept first taken on by the group in September 2003 and completed by February 2004.
IMPLEMENTATION
This has been a relatively straightforward project, with planning permission not required for the road improvements and the contractor appointed to do the work without any difficulties. The goal of improving access and safety of the road junction was achieved on project completion in February 2004 and confirmed by means of questionnaires to users and tradesmen.
FUTURE STEPS
The materials and techniques used conformed to Roads Specification BS 594 to achieve a durable finish with a design life of 25 years.
Review
THE PROCESS
This project has been led by a community group and consulted with all affected local North Queensferry residents prior to any work being carried out.
THE OUTCOMES
The project will have a direct impact on local lane access residents, visitors and tradesmen. Future nearby physical infrastructure could also benefit from the project as previously building permission had been refused for development of a gap site in the vicinity due to the unsatisfactory lane access.
THE LESSONS
The question of planning permission proved to be the only significant problem on this project. Whilst planning permission to carry out the work was not necessary, the Community Council still had to wait for the Council's planning department to confirm this. The grant application to Forward Scotland was consequently held up due to confirmation on this decision from the Council being required prior to any funding application being made.
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Communities 