Pollution in Corstorphine

[The_Todd]

I don't know how many of you live in or near Corstorphine but you'll have seen the headlines about air pollution in St Johns Road recently. The local Labour Party are having an Air Pollution campaigner to give a talk at their next meeting which is going to be open to anyone to attend not just members.

I don't want to turn this into a debate about Labour, the SNP, the "vow", Quislings, Traitors, EVEL, "evil Cybernats",the election - just air pollution.

5th November, Clermiston at 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/855802241205879/

[easty]

Yeah I saw about this on the BBC last week - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34518941

It's just up the road from me, and while I've always thought it was a really busy road for traffic, I'd never considered the impact of pollution.

[RyeSloan]

I don't know how many of you live in or near Corstorphine but you'll have seen the headlines about air pollution in St Johns Road recently. The local Labour Party are having an Air Pollution campaigner to give a talk at their next meeting which is going to be open to anyone to attend not just members. I don't want to turn this into a debate about Labour, the SNP, the "vow", Quislings, Traitors, EVEL, "evil Cybernats",the election - just air pollution. 5th November, Clermiston at 7pm https://www.facebook.com/events/855802241205879/

Not my side of town but what are the options that would reduce the emissions? I suppose one would be lack of road works, not sure I have ever driven along that road without seeing it being dug up!

Or maybe the government could promote clean diesel...oh wait a minute...

[Moulin Yarns]

Air pollution is an issue wherever there is traffic congestion. Even in Perth. 2 street in particular, Atholl street and south street have above the permitted levels of NO2

[stoneyburn hibs]

Email Lesley Hinds, convener of transport in Edinburgh. She's taken a wedge for however long, she must be good for something now.

[Geo_1875]

It's been bad for years due to the weight of traffic and poor traffic management in Edinburgh. Can't see any way around it unless they speed up traffic flow.

[Colr]

I don't know how many of you live in or near Corstorphine but you'll have seen the headlines about air pollution in St Johns Road recently. The local Labour Party are having an Air Pollution campaigner to give a talk at their next meeting which is going to be open to anyone to attend not just members.

I don't want to turn this into a debate about Labour, the SNP, the "vow", Quislings, Traitors, EVEL, "evil Cybernats",the election - just air pollution.

5th November, Clermiston at 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/855802241205879/

There seems to be a market failure in the availability of infrastructure to support things like electric vehicles. Should the public sector not address this market failure given especially that it has control of the roads?

[easty]

There seems to be a market failure in the availability of infrastructure to support things like electric vehicles. Should the public sector not address this market failure given especially that it has control of the roads?

It's a good point, and idea, in principle, but there's no way any councils are going to be putting any money into this when cuts need to be made in public spending.

[Colr]

It's a good point, and idea, in principle, but there's no way any councils are going to be putting any money into this when cuts need to be made in public spending.

Should be a revenue generator. They borrow PSLB build the network then sell it to the private sector. Only the public sector could coordinate it. Could be a successful as the trams!!!!

[Jack]

It's been bad for years due to the weight of traffic and poor traffic management in Edinburgh. Can't see any way around it unless they speed up traffic flow.

The Council could clear it up at the stroke of a pen by banning high emission vehicles, like buses and lorries unless they have a similar certificate to what was required to drive in London. Not sure what they have in place now. Ban them from inside the bypass.

The First busses, private busses and other non LRT buses that stream in through that area are, in my experience, the most likely to be spewing out excessive clouds of fumes. Get these companies to up their game or die and expand LRT.

It's the same with lorries. Decent companies will keep their fleet in decent condition while others don't appear to carry out even minimum servicing.

Some trains could do with banning too.

[Moulin Yarns]

It's a good point, and idea, in principle, but there's no way any councils are going to be putting any money into this when cuts need to be made in public spending.

All councils are required to provide the infrastructure.

https://chargemap.com/city/edinburgh/


http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2015/03/council-to-add-on-street-charging-points-for-electric-cars/

[Hibbyradge]

I voted for the congestion charge for this exact reason. That photo (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34518941) was taken at the bottom of my old street at the time (VPT).

I've moved up the hill since then, but it's rarely as quiet as that!

[HappyAsHellas]

One modern lorry manufacturer ran tests in London several years ago and found that the air coming out of the exhaust was cleaner than the air going in to the vehicle. Companies have made huge impacts concerning diesel engines, which are infinitely cleaner than they were years ago. The problem as I see it is the sheer volume of traffic. What is the ratio of cars to trucks and buses? How many cars are single driver occupied. When the new bridge opens this will undoubtedly add to the number of vehicles entering Edinburgh, which can only be accessed through Barnton or Maybury, both of which are nightmares. We have a really good transport system with LRT, but we need someone to address the number of cars entering the city from whichever direction. The park and rides have helped, but where can we build more of them? Taxing the motorist will not be popular, especially for those who live in the area.

[CropleyWasGod]

One modern lorry manufacturer ran tests in London several years ago and found that the air coming out of the exhaust was cleaner than the air going in to the vehicle. Companies have made huge impacts concerning diesel engines, which are infinitely cleaner than they were years ago. The problem as I see it is the sheer volume of traffic. What is the ratio of cars to trucks and buses? How many cars are single driver occupied. When the new bridge opens this will undoubtedly add to the number of vehicles entering Edinburgh, which can only be accessed through Barnton or Maybury, both of which are nightmares. We have a really good transport system with LRT, but we need someone to address the number of cars entering the city from whichever direction. The park and rides have helped, but where can we build more of them? Taxing the motorist will not be popular, especially for those who live in the area.

As one of the half-a-dozen who voted for the congestion charge :greengrin, I'm not going to say "I told you so" (mainly because I don't know). However, the past years have seen the Council and others tinkering with what we have to try and minimise car travel. Increased parking charges, bus lanes, the trams (tinkering? :greengrin)..... but I'm not sure there's been any substantial effect.

Does anyone know what effect the congestion charge has had on traffic levels in London, or any other city?

[HappyAsHellas]

Not sure about the congestion charge scheme, but the Dutch have had other car free zonal schemes which appear quite successful. If no vehicles are allowed in the city centre, you're not going to try to drive there.

https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/car-free-city-centre-in-utrecht/

I believe that delivery trucks etc are allowed in through the night and it's obviously still "open" for emergency vehicles.

[CropleyWasGod]

Not sure about the congestion charge scheme, but the Dutch have had other car free zonal schemes which appear quite successful. If no vehicles are allowed in the city centre, you're not going to try to drive there.

https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/car-free-city-centre-in-utrecht/

I believe that delivery trucks etc are allowed in through the night and it's obviously still "open" for emergency vehicles.

Yeah, but let's leave the Dutch out of things. They have centuries of dealing with limited resources and battling the environment, so they tend to get things sussed.

:greengrin