4th DECEMBER 2006
Mr Andrew Holmes
Director of City Development
1 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1BJ
Dear Mr Holmes
George Street Pavement and Public
Realm
We welcome the adoption of “The Edinburgh Standards for
Streets” document which recently was approved by the Council.
As an Association we have been concerned for some time at the
poor quality of manufacture of the paving, the poor state of their
repair coupled with a coherent approach to street furniture. We
have completed a photographic survey of the street, which is attached.
Essentially the pictures, which are a representation of the real
situation, highlight the following:
1 Pavement Quality. There is no consistent colour used, a large
proportion are damaged with some not flush thus posing a potential
hazard for pedestrians.
2 Visually Impaired Pedestrian Paving. There are three colours
of this in evidence along the street.
3 Junctions. The manner in which the junctions are provided with
safety fencing ranges from none, two 2 styles on the three bisecting
junctions.
Included within the pack are examples of good practice; being
the quality of paving along North Charlotte Street along with
the sympathetic use of colour for visually impaired pedestrian
paving being used on the junction of George and Hanover street
north side.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss or learn of any plans
the Council has to replace and enhance the paving and public realm
along George Street and those adjacent streets to ensure the paving
reflects the central position George Street has within the UN
World Heritage site.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Denzil Skinner
Treasurer
Please reply to:
Denzil Skinner
Treasurer
George Street Association
87 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3EY
Copy to:
Mr Andrew Holmes,
Director of City Development
Mr Mark Turley,
Director of Services for Communities
Clr Ricky Henderson
Clr David Guest
Miss Moira Tasker,
Director, The Cockburn Association
Mr Ian Broadfoot,
City Centre Management Ltd
George Street - Junctions
The above photographs demonstrate the inconsistent
approach to each junction along George Street: different designs
for fencing or no fencing.
The fencing at the Castle/George Street junction being of a much
better quality than at Hanover/George street.
George Street – Pavement Quality
| 
Poor quality work undertaken to secure
street signage into the pavement |
Uneven slabs presenting a risk to pedestrians
|
Contra slopes, looking unsightly and
also acting as watering catches during wet weather
|
An example of a section of paving, showing
5 different colours of slabs in a 3 meter section
|
Inconsistent paving with both coloured and
grey slabs in evidence
|
An example of one area of cracked paving |
George Street – Visually Impaired
Pedestrian Paving
|
Visually Impaired Pedestrian Paving
1 |
Visually Impaired Pedestrian Paving
2 |
Visually Impaired Pedestrian Paving
3
|
GSA fully understands and appreciates that
dedicated paving is required to warn visually impaired pedestrians
of the locations of pedestrian crossings, however why do the paving
stones have to be in three different colours along a single street.
George Street/Charlotte Square –
Street Lighting
| 
Street Lighting 3 types |
Street Lighting 2 types
|
Although not quite within George Street the
above shows an inconsistency in approach to street lighting
George Street – examples of good
practice
| 
Visually Impaired Pedestrian Paving
North Charlotte Street
The colour of slabs used on the central pedestrian island
at the George/Hanover street junction is an example of a
more pleasing visual result. |
This pavement to the east side of North
Charlotte Street is a good example of recently replaced
paving; interestingly it is on a street which is not well
used by pedestrians.
|
