Edinburgh History

[Stuart Lyon]

https://www.scotsman.com/news/massive-city-centre-traffic-shake-approved-2457816

 

The article at the link above refers to plans to make Morrison st, W Maitland St and Torphichen St all 2-way again! I couldn't open the article because it behind a pay wall. If I recall the proposals correctly they were going to widen the pavements in Morrison street with only one lane of traffic in each direction. This was to accommodate the millions that walk the street every day. No idea why the plan was abandoned. The CeC have no idea either on anything!

Edited Tuesday at 15:34 by Stuart Lyon

[Mister T]

20 hours ago, Maroon Sailor said:

1943

 

That looks sinister. What / where is it? 

[been here before]

48 minutes ago, Stuart Lyon said:

https://www.scotsman.com/news/massive-city-centre-traffic-shake-approved-2457816

 

The article at the link above refers to plans to make Morrison st, W Maitland St and Torphichen St all 2-way again! I couldn't open the article because it behind a pay wall. If I recall the proposals correctly they were going to widen the pavements in Morrison street with only one lane of traffic in each direction. This was to accommodate the millions that walk the street every day. No idea why the plan was abandoned. The CeC have no idea either on anything!

 

Its easy to get round paywalls... the 

 

EDINBURGH is on course for the biggest shake-up of its road system since the notorious city-centre traffic management scheme which had to be largely abandoned after a public outcry.

 

Councillors have approved plans to review one-way systems in the West End and city centre as part of a wider strategy to create a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly environment.

 

Officials are expected to start drawing up detailed proposals later this year, but it could be up to three years before the changes are introduced.

 

As well as rethinking the one-way systems, the strategy proposes changes to the Tollcross junction, further restrictions in the Royal Mile, cutting traffic speeds and putting in place new pedestrian and cycle routes.

 

Planning convener Jim Lowrie today vowed the council would avoid the mistakes made the last time it attempted to revamp the Capital’s road system.

 

The controversial 2005 Central Edinburgh Traffic Management cost over £4.5 million and included retractable bollards in George Street and Frederick Street and a series of road closures in the New Town.

 

The council reversed most of the measures after more than 1000 people backed an Evening News campaign to change the scheme, which had a chaotic effect on trade and traffic.

 

Councillor Lowrie, pictured lef, said any changes under the latest plans would be introduced in stages and on a trial basis.

 

He said: “We slipped up with the city-centre management system. Now we would do it in small sections, perhaps for three- or six-month periods, to see how it operates.”

 

A masterplan approved by the council’s planning committee, covering the city centre’s “southern arc” from Haymarket to Holyrood, says the ambition is for Edinburgh to become “one of the most liveable cities in the world” and backs projects which will “create better conditions for pedestrians and cyclists”.

 

It highlights Morrison Street as a key pedestrian route between Haymarket station and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, but says the journey is uncomfortable because the area is dominated by traffic. “Changing the one-way system to two-way traffic has many benefits – more space for pedestrians, slower traffic and a safer environment at night.”

 

Senior planner Will Garrett said changes to Morrison Street would mean a review of traffic in a wider area. “Morrison Street is at the core, but it links to the Haymarket one-way system and Shandwick Place into Morrison Street and you can’t look at that without looking at what is happening with the trams.”

The review would also extend to the one-way systems at Semple Street, Fountainbridge and Bread Street; and Lady Lawson Street at West Port.

 

The plan proposes reducing road space at Thornybauk, West Tollcross and Lochrin Place, with knock-on changes to the road and footpath network.

 

Neil Greig, head of policy for the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Scotland, said one-way systems were a good way to get the most out of limited road capacity, but it was right they should be reviewed to make sure they were working.

He said: “I understand that for pedestrians, crossing four lanes of traffic in Morrison Street is not pleasant.

 

“But they have to get the detail right. It was the detail they got wrong the last time – people found themselves in illegal cul-de-sacs, it didn’t make sense and the sign- posting didn’t work.”

 

Local business owners today welcomed any change to Morrison Street’s one-way system.

 

John Berry, owner of the Kinnaird Guest House, said: “It couldn’t be any worse than the way it is now. It’s a wide street with four lanes of traffic and at times you’d be taking your life in your hands to cross it.”

At Tollcross, where pedestrians currently have to cross several separate stretches of road to reach the other side, one option is to halt all the traffic at the same time so people can cross in one go.

Councillor Lowrie said: “Tollcross is a major issue – it’s very difficult to get across.

 

“I think we need to phase the lights so you can walk straight across. It does slow the traffic flow down, but not hugely.”

 

Bilkis Ali, of Tollcross Pharmacy, said: “It would be easier to just have one junction but the traffic from Lothian Road does have to go somewhere.”

 

The council is keen to cut traffic on Chambers Street and plans to remove the central car parking aisle to create more space for events.

Cllr Lowrie said one option would be to make it a one-way street, using Nicolson Square for vehicles going in the other direction.

 

He said: “We want to get the road clear in front of the museum which now has such a super entrance.”

Traffic controls on the Royal Mile could be extended. Cllr Lowrie said the existing restrictions on the stretch between North Bridge and George IV Bridge were working well and could be extended down towards St Mary’s Street.

He said: “We would probably keep the bus that runs down there, but try to limit the cars.”

 

The plan also proposes a family cycle route between the West End and Holyrood and new footpath routes, for example at Quartermile from the Meadows to Lauriston Place, a safe pedestrian and cycle route between Tollcross and the Lochrin basin and a new pedestrian crossing in Lothian Road between Festival Square and the Usher Hall.

Traffic systems under review

 

1. Semple Street: Changes to one-way system

 

2. Morrison Street: Highlighted as key pedestrian route. Proposed changes include removing one-way system

 

3. Lady Lawson Street: Changes to one-way system

 

4. Thornybauk, West Tollcross: Reduce road space and create more room for pedestrians

 

5. Chambers Street / Nicolson Square: Cut traffic on Chambers Street and use Nicolson Square for vehicles going in the other direction

6. Royal Mile: Extend traffic controls to limit cars

 

 

[The Frenchman Returns]

31 minutes ago, Mister T said:

That looks sinister. What / where is it? 

Ferranti Crewe Toll

 

 

[Stuart Lyon]

21 minutes ago, been here before said:

 

Its easy to get round paywalls... the 

 

EDINBURGH is on course for the biggest shake-up of its road system since the notorious city-centre traffic management scheme which had to be largely abandoned after a public outcry.

 

Councillors have approved plans to review one-way systems in the West End and city centre as part of a wider strategy to create a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly environment.

 

Officials are expected to start drawing up detailed proposals later this year, but it could be up to three years before the changes are introduced.

 

As well as rethinking the one-way systems, the strategy proposes changes to the Tollcross junction, further restrictions in the Royal Mile, cutting traffic speeds and putting in place new pedestrian and cycle routes.

 

Planning convener Jim Lowrie today vowed the council would avoid the mistakes made the last time it attempted to revamp the Capital’s road system.

 

The controversial 2005 Central Edinburgh Traffic Management cost over £4.5 million and included retractable bollards in George Street and Frederick Street and a series of road closures in the New Town.

 

The council reversed most of the measures after more than 1000 people backed an Evening News campaign to change the scheme, which had a chaotic effect on trade and traffic.

 

Councillor Lowrie, pictured lef, said any changes under the latest plans would be introduced in stages and on a trial basis.

 

He said: “We slipped up with the city-centre management system. Now we would do it in small sections, perhaps for three- or six-month periods, to see how it operates.”

 

A masterplan approved by the council’s planning committee, covering the city centre’s “southern arc” from Haymarket to Holyrood, says the ambition is for Edinburgh to become “one of the most liveable cities in the world” and backs projects which will “create better conditions for pedestrians and cyclists”.

 

It highlights Morrison Street as a key pedestrian route between Haymarket station and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, but says the journey is uncomfortable because the area is dominated by traffic. “Changing the one-way system to two-way traffic has many benefits – more space for pedestrians, slower traffic and a safer environment at night.”

 

Senior planner Will Garrett said changes to Morrison Street would mean a review of traffic in a wider area. “Morrison Street is at the core, but it links to the Haymarket one-way system and Shandwick Place into Morrison Street and you can’t look at that without looking at what is happening with the trams.”

The review would also extend to the one-way systems at Semple Street, Fountainbridge and Bread Street; and Lady Lawson Street at West Port.

 

The plan proposes reducing road space at Thornybauk, West Tollcross and Lochrin Place, with knock-on changes to the road and footpath network.

 

Neil Greig, head of policy for the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Scotland, said one-way systems were a good way to get the most out of limited road capacity, but it was right they should be reviewed to make sure they were working.

He said: “I understand that for pedestrians, crossing four lanes of traffic in Morrison Street is not pleasant.

 

“But they have to get the detail right. It was the detail they got wrong the last time – people found themselves in illegal cul-de-sacs, it didn’t make sense and the sign- posting didn’t work.”

 

Local business owners today welcomed any change to Morrison Street’s one-way system.

 

John Berry, owner of the Kinnaird Guest House, said: “It couldn’t be any worse than the way it is now. It’s a wide street with four lanes of traffic and at times you’d be taking your life in your hands to cross it.”

At Tollcross, where pedestrians currently have to cross several separate stretches of road to reach the other side, one option is to halt all the traffic at the same time so people can cross in one go.

Councillor Lowrie said: “Tollcross is a major issue – it’s very difficult to get across.

 

“I think we need to phase the lights so you can walk straight across. It does slow the traffic flow down, but not hugely.”

 

Bilkis Ali, of Tollcross Pharmacy, said: “It would be easier to just have one junction but the traffic from Lothian Road does have to go somewhere.”

 

The council is keen to cut traffic on Chambers Street and plans to remove the central car parking aisle to create more space for events.

Cllr Lowrie said one option would be to make it a one-way street, using Nicolson Square for vehicles going in the other direction.

 

He said: “We want to get the road clear in front of the museum which now has such a super entrance.”

Traffic controls on the Royal Mile could be extended. Cllr Lowrie said the existing restrictions on the stretch between North Bridge and George IV Bridge were working well and could be extended down towards St Mary’s Street.

He said: “We would probably keep the bus that runs down there, but try to limit the cars.”

 

The plan also proposes a family cycle route between the West End and Holyrood and new footpath routes, for example at Quartermile from the Meadows to Lauriston Place, a safe pedestrian and cycle route between Tollcross and the Lochrin basin and a new pedestrian crossing in Lothian Road between Festival Square and the Usher Hall.

Traffic systems under review

 

1. Semple Street: Changes to one-way system

 

2. Morrison Street: Highlighted as key pedestrian route. Proposed changes include removing one-way system

 

3. Lady Lawson Street: Changes to one-way system

 

4. Thornybauk, West Tollcross: Reduce road space and create more room for pedestrians

 

5. Chambers Street / Nicolson Square: Cut traffic on Chambers Street and use Nicolson Square for vehicles going in the other direction

6. Royal Mile: Extend traffic controls to limit cars

 

 

Thanks BHB!

[Sharpie]

1 hour ago, **** the SPFL said:

very busy wonder if it was kicking out time at the old tax office in Semple Street long before flexi time. actually looking again could be a queue for a show/gig

That was a big line up for a movie, could it have been when the Beatles were in town at the Regal.

[Sharpie]

22 hours ago, argyjambo said:

Causewayside, car park on RHS  used to be tenements backing on to Bertrams works. My late dads parents lived there until the late 1960's when they were demolished.

 The demolished buildings held Sandys fish and chip shop where we got our threepenny bag of chips, then going home ran into one door of the pub on West Preston Street shouting "your beers made o' water" and out the other door. I guess they did have watery beer because nobody ever seemed to bother about us.

[Sharpie]

It is really strange to look at places that were so important in your life now gone, and the others are subjects that will be used when teaching history. You realise you are old when you are now a part of history.

[Maroon Sailor]

Niddrie Marischal

 

[Sharpie]

18 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Niddrie Marischal

 

 Not to me it ain't.

[Lemongrab]

49 minutes ago, Sharpie said:

That was a big line up for a movie, could it have been when the Beatles were in town at the Regal.

I've seen the picture being attributed to the 1964 Beatles concert at the ABC ( I assume The Regal was a previous name?). If you zoom in, it looks like a lot of the folk in the queue are sitting down, so they must have had some wait.

 

 

[Sharpie]

7 minutes ago, Lemongrab said:

I've seen the picture being attributed to the 1964 Beatles concert at the ABC ( I assume The Regal was a previous name?). If you zoom in, it looks like a lot of the folk in the queue are sitting down, so they must have had some wait.

 

 

 Yes it was the ABC even when there and seeing it on the wall,  still referred to the place as the Regal.

[been here before]

11 minutes ago, Lemongrab said:

I've seen the picture being attributed to the 1964 Beatles concert at the ABC ( I assume The Regal was a previous name?). If you zoom in, it looks like a lot of the folk in the queue are sitting down, so they must have had some wait.

 

 

 

My mum was in that queue somewhere. Her and her pal camped out overnight and ended up with tickets for both the matinee and evening shows.

 

She ran home with them clenched between her front teeth to make sure she never lost them.

 

She still has them somewhere in a frame.

[Mister T]

2 hours ago, The Frenchman Returns said:

Ferranti Crewe Toll

 

 

That's a relief, I thought it was a crem 

[The Frenchman Returns]

1956

[Mars plastic]

6 hours ago, The Frenchman Returns said:

From another angle

Semple St one way then

The ABC should never have been allowed to be demolished. Classic old cinema just like the Odeon.

[Lemongrab]

1 hour ago, been here before said:

 

My mum was in that queue somewhere. Her and her pal camped out overnight and ended up with tickets for both the matinee and evening shows.

 

She ran home with them clenched between her front teeth to make sure she never lost them.

 

She still has them somewhere in a frame.

There's some photos of people in the queue here:  http://edinburghgigarchive.com/abc-regal-cinema/

[Sharpie]

3 minutes ago, Mars plastic said:

The ABC should never have been allowed to be demolished. Classic old cinema just like the Odeon.

 

Went to that cinema for a show with my new Canadian wife. They had just opened a Wimpey bar in the cinema and my wife had her first bought Hamburger  since leaving Canada.  She started to eat it and suddenly started choking, she eased a bit so I ran her downstairs and into our car for the short ride to S.O.P.D. she was looked at right away and they found she wasn't actually choking a too well fried piece of onion had put a good scratch in her throat. So the great pleasure of a real 'burger ended in panic, and missing a movie. 

[been here before]

12 minutes ago, Lemongrab said:

There's some photos of people in the queue here:  http://edinburghgigarchive.com/abc-regal-cinema/

 

Cant see her but then she'd have only been 14 . Ive sent her the link.

 

This one stood out though...

 

 

... cant help but look at that boy on the left and imagine that Fast Show sketch... 'A Beatles queue full of teenage girls.... sleeping in the pavement overnight... a secluded doorway...'

[Mars plastic]

1 minute ago, been here before said:

 

Cant see her but then she'd have only been 14 . Ive sent her the link.

 

This one stood out though...

 

 

... cant help but look at that boy on the left and imagine that Fast Show sketch... 'A Beatles queue full of teenage girls.... sleeping in the pavement overnight... a secluded doorway...'

They’ve all been into McColl’s to get their juice and sweets.  

[Lemongrab]

1 minute ago, been here before said:

 

Cant see her but then she'd have only been 14 . Ive sent her the link.

 

This one stood out though...

 

 

... cant help but look at that boy on the left and imagine that Fast Show sketch... 'A Beatles queue full of teenage girls.... sleeping in the pavement overnight... a secluded doorway...'

It's ok, the two wifeys on the right are on their way to sort him out.   

[Mars plastic]

4 minutes ago, been here before said:

 

Cant see her but then she'd have only been 14 . Ive sent her the link.

 

This one stood out though...

 

 

... cant help but look at that boy on the left and imagine that Fast Show sketch... 'A Beatles queue full of teenage girls.... sleeping in the pavement overnight... a secluded doorway...'

Some pair of winkle pickers on the boy kneeling on the pavement. 

[Maroon Sailor]

Lawnmarket

 

[Maroon Sailor]

Corstorphine High Street

 

[Maroon Sailor]

[Maroon Sailor]

1900s

 

[Maroon Sailor]

Rodney Street

 

 

Never heard of the Waverley biscuit factory but what they made rings a bell - pretty sure that was stamped on the cones

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:14 by Maroon Sailor

[Maroon Sailor]

Manse Road - can someone tell me where exactly on Manse Road this was from the Corstorphine High Street side. Only ever known the Snooker Hall on that road.

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:10 by Maroon Sailor

[The Frenchman Returns]

3 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Manse Road - can someone tell me where exactly on Manse Road this was from the Corstorphine High Street side. Only ever known the Snooker Hall on that road.

 

Where Iceland is now

[Maroon Sailor]

2 minutes ago, The Frenchman Returns said:

Where Iceland is now

 

Cheers - hard to picture that cinema there now

[The Frenchman Returns]

Just now, Maroon Sailor said:

 

Cheers - hard to picture that cinema there now

It covered the shop and car park, so was a reasonable footprint.

[The Real Maroonblood]

56 minutes ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Rodney Street

 

 

Never heard of the Waverley biscuit factory but what they made rings a bell - pretty sure that was stamped on the cones

 

 

The name was stamped on cones.

[SectionDJambo]

1 hour ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Rodney Street

 

 

Never heard of the Waverley biscuit factory but what they made rings a bell - pretty sure that was stamped on the cones

 

 

They made cones, wafers, nougat wafers etc for the ice cream trade. An excellent product, far better than any of the Askey stuff or the weegie manufacturers. Zaccardeli and Cervi families, if I remember correctly.

[Stuart Lyon]

1 hour ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Rodney Street

 

 

Never heard of the Waverley biscuit factory but what they made rings a bell - pretty sure that was stamped on the cones

 

 

Yes they made wafers for ice cream. It was owned by 2 families; Zacardelli & Cervi. I used to deliver their boardroom drinks to the factory and groceries and drink to the Cervi family flat in Bellvue Crescent in 1964/5.

Edited Wednesday at 07:37 by Stuart Lyon

[Jambo314]

1 hour ago, Maroon Sailor said:

Rodney Street

 

 

Never heard of the Waverley biscuit factory but what they made rings a bell - pretty sure that was stamped on the cones

 

 

Ritz .... my Saturday morning entertainment in the 60's😊

[Maroon Sailor]

The Picturedome Easter Road. Queuing for the penny matinee

 

[Maroon Sailor]

Juniper Green

 

[Maroon Sailor]

[Maroon Sailor]

[Maroon Sailor]

Viewforth (despite the name)

 

[Maroon Sailor]

1969

 

 

[Maroon Sailor]

1971 - Postal workers arrive at GPO following strike

 

[Maroon Sailor]

[Maroon Sailor]

 

[Sharpie]

The Salon brings for me a terrible memory. As a young garage worker I had money shortages. The Salon presented a movie theater I could afford. One night a man sitting in a row in front of me kept turning around and smiling at me, then offered me a candy, I refused and moved my seat. On future visits it continued and I stopped going, but that did not stop the stalking until one Sunday going out with my Dad I saw him standing at the bottom of our street. I said nothing because my father would have killed him. I saw him again a couple of times and always the leering smile. I was  now seventeen and off to the army. In January 1955 I was home on leave after twenty months in Egypt, I was now a corporal in the Guards, highly trained in all areas of infantry tactic, had just come from a Country where there was violence and in cases death, I was now a different person. 

 That day I was with my father walking from a Hearts game, we came up past the Cinema previously mentioned the ABC and were about to cross Lothian Road, to do so we were going to use the tram islands there to get across. At the first island I saw my stalker standing with his back to me, when we got to the island I gave him a bump on his back and he staggered on to the tracks, he was just able to get scrambled back on to the island when the incoming tram arrived. He looked around and saw me and knew exactly what the score was. When my Dad and I got further up the street he asked what that was all about and I told him he didn't want to know.

 

I saw the pig later when I was in the police, I advised him what i thought of him and for some reason seemed very happy to agree to never cross my path again, and he didn't. So that picture of the old Salon has just restored for me a memory of what was a terrible time for a young boy, but a feeling of satisfaction gained by a young experienced soldier.

[NANOJAMBO]

7 hours ago, Jambo314 said:

Ritz .... my Saturday morning entertainment in the 60's😊

Me too. If you don't mind me asking, where'd you live back then ? 

[NANOJAMBO]

7 hours ago, Stuart Lyon said:

Yes they made wafers for ice cream. It was owned by 2 families; Zacardelli & Cervi. I used to deliver their boardroom drinks to the factory and groceries and drink to the Cervi family flat in Bellvue Crescent in 1964/5.

Didn't one of them claim to own a piano that once belonged to Hitler ? My uncle was a delivery guy for them back in the 60s and told me this. It could obviously be utter b******s. 

[weehammy]

7 hours ago, Jambo314 said:

Ritz .... my Saturday morning entertainment in the 60's😊

You must have been a fellow ABC Minor! I remember there was a serial called ‘The Rocket Man’ where the guy had a jet engine strapped to his back and wore a sinister looking helmet. There was also a Batman serial where the hero had a definite paunch! 6d to get into the stalls and 9d for the balcony.

 

[Stuart Lyon]

15 minutes ago, NANOJAMBO said:

Didn't one of them claim to own a piano that once belonged to Hitler ? My uncle was a delivery guy for them back in the 60s and told me this. It could obviously be utter b******s. 

Hadn't heard that story!

[Mars plastic]

7 hours ago, Maroon Sailor said:

r

That's Roseburn Terraza.