Spaces for People: Dennistoun

[Note: An updated article to show the progress made at Dennistoun was published in  March 2021 and can be found here.]

To encourage connected walking, wheeling and cycling, whilst reducing or preventing access to 'through' motor traffic, we're making temporary changes to some of the road layouts in Dennistoun. 

Creating people-friendly streets (or a low traffic neighbourhood) in this area through our Spaces for People programme, will make for quieter, calmer and more pleasant streets, where active travel is more appealing.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods are a simple and effective way to make changes to streets that we know are routinely used as 'rat runs' or as a means to avoid main roads.

By adjusting the road layout to focus on making the streets more people-friendly, active travel is encouraged whilst access to through motor traffic is reduced or prevented. Dependent upon requirements at each location, typical measures in such schemes are likely to include widened footways, contra-flow cycling facilities and no entry points/full road closures for motor vehicles.

Making changes in this way offers many benefits. Children can play out more, neighbours catch up, air pollution is lower, road safety improves; and walking, wheeling and cycling become a more natural choice for everyday journeys. Streets that were once noisy and polluted can become safer and more pleasant places to be.

Dennistoun

Changes to the road layout in Dennistoun started in December 2020, with work to install the remaining planters and signage along with the completion of carriageway lining, expected to be completed by mid-March 2021.

Full details of this specific scheme which can be found on our Dennistoun programme page, will include one road closure (Ark Lane at Broompark Drive), several no entry points for motor vehicles (one side of the road only), and the implementation of some contra-flow cycling routes on existing and new, one-way streets.

For those with motor vehicles, it will still be possible to drive to your home or business, as will visitors, but you may need to take a slightly different route. Trade, taxi and delivery vehicles will still be able to access all addresses. The aim of making changes is to make the surrounding streets quieter, safer and more enjoyable with lower amounts of traffic, and fewer drivers using residential areas for quick short-cuts.

The changes in Dennistoun will be delivered via our Spaces for People programme which is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland. The programme is providing temporary walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure across the city to protect public health during COVID-19 by enabling safer physical distancing, in particular where there are space constraints or user safety concerns.

Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, Councillor Anna Richardson said: "I'm delighted that through our Spaces for People programme, work will start soon in Dennistoun to discourage the local streets being routinely used as a through route for motor traffic. 

"Making some relatively minor road layout changes will help to create a more peaceful and calmer neighbourhood where residents and visitors can move around more freely, and walk, wheel and cycle with less traffic around. These positive changes do not affect local access and indicate our ambition and commitment to make active travel safer and more appealing within city neighbourhoods , particularly given the known benefits to health, wellbeing and the environment."