| 1.00 | Introduction |
| 1.01 | In November 2006, Currie Community Council sought a quotation from MTLA for a Study to consider what amenity improvements could be made to the centre of the Conservation area, at Currie Post Office. MTLA were appointed in May 2008 following the award of a grant by City of Edinburgh Council. |
| 1.02 | The study area extended along Lanark Road West from Curriehill Road past the face of the former Curriehill Primary School as far as the Gibson Craig Hall, thence crossing the road to include Currie Kirk. |
| 1.03 | The C&B News for September, October, November and December 2008 described options, invited Currie Residents to offer comments and outlined a timetable for the consultation. The objective was to follow normal planning procedure where
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| (1) | a proposal is tabled, |
| (2) | consulted upon, |
| (3) | developed and then |
| (4) | resubmitted for further comment by the community at large.
On completion of the 4th stage, the document would be passed to the Planning Department |
| (5) | with the request that the Department develop the proposals with the Community Council for inclusion in the Development Plan. |
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The first three stages have been completed. Approval by the Community Council will allow the plans to be published in the C&B News as stage 4. It should be noted that MTLA have completed the work for which they have been commissioned. |
| 2.00 | Limitations of the Exercise |
| 2.01 | The consultants were engaged only to explore possibilities for improvements. The public was invited to comment and their views were taken into account in draughting up the proposals. CEC has not been invited to comment.
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| 2.02 |
Exclusions include land ownership (identified as "complex and fragmented"), locating buried services, costings, formal consultation with Currie residents and discussions with City of Edinburgh Council officials. |
| 3.00 | Research and the Existing Situation |
| 3.01 |
Considerable research was undertaken by the Landscape Architect and a road engineer to determine how the road system evolved, assessment of the setting of Currie in the landscape, analysis and identifying possible projects. |
| 3.02 |
Large number of listed and interesting buildings populate the area - from Currie Kirk (Category A) to Currie Post Office (C(S)). Since none are particularly large, their importance lies in being treated as a group. Other significant features are the Water of Leith (an Urban Wildlife Site and Site of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC)) and the Water of Leith Walkway. |
| 3.03 |
Historically, there appear to have been several shops but no market square or meeting space. However the area in front of the Post Office appears to have been at the widest part of the road (Fig. 14). By the mid-18th century, the daily coach would have given people the opportunity to shop in Edinburgh. |
| 3.04 |
The Report identifies several features that "sever" the buildings centred on the Kirk from the Post Office and those to the north the Lanark Road, the Water of Leith and the Walkway. |
| 3.05 |
Widening of Lanark Road West c1970 was accompanied by removal of Society Hall, the Toll House and the Currie Cottages on the south side. As a result, the sense of enclosure of Lanark Road West was replaced by an open view to Currie Kirk and the south. At this time Currie was rapidly expanding northwards with rendered houses in a different style to traditional stone and slate. |
| 3.06 |
Removal of the buildings allowed Lanark Road West to be widened, straightened out and the access to Kirkgate changed from an oblique approach from the west to a right-angled access from the east. The disappearance of the toll house and Society Hall removed a focal point from the west (Fig. 19) and a sense of having arrived at the centre of the village (Figs. 18 and 19). |
| 4.00 |
Points raised by members of the public during the consultation period |
| 4.01 |
The A70 Lanark Road now dominates the historic core (instead of the buildings that gave identity to the space). It is perceived as too wide and encourages speeding. There has been a loss of character and enclosure because of the demolition of "core" buildings. The visual link to the Kirk is blocked by trees. There is no sense of arrival, e.g. through a "gateway" such as identifies the extremities of Pathhead. There were differences of opinion on the siting of the Croslet stone and the Dougal Haston memorial. It was felt that some defined parking was needed for Post Office users. Concern was expressed that opening out the space in front of the Post Office might encourage rowdy behaviour as plants had been damaged and noise experienced in the past (currently not an issue according to the police). |
| 4.02 |
A specific matter raised by the owner of 194 Lanark Road West is that the ground in front of this premises is included in his title. Development of these proposals will require investigation of ownership of land in the vicinity of all affected properties. The creation of "defendable space" in front of this property and its neighbour is described in Fig.25. |
| 5.00 | Key Observations |
| 5.01 |
At this point, Lanark Road West encourages speed because it is wider than further east and west, has no pinch points and includes bus lay-bys. The road layout has removed connectivity between the village and the Kirk buildings and self-seeded broadleaved trees have exacerbated the effect. The Conservation Area's character has been diminished by signage, street furniture, an ugly crash barrier and poor quality pavements. Places for informal gathering are isolated and could be better designed. The Dougal Haston memorial and the Croslet Stone could be re-positioned to provide more impact.
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| 5.02 |
Constraints identified were the visual enclosure by buildings along the north side of the road, the steep slope to the south, lines of severance (the Water of Leith Walkway and the river and the siting of the bridges over the Water of Leith and supporting the Walkway, and the major bus routes using local roads.
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| 6.00 |
Opportunities |
| 6.01 |
Opportunities are envisaged through restoring the north-south link between the Post Office and the Kirk both visually and physically (by an alignment of features), "reclaiming" road space for pedestrians and removing the laybys to create "civic spaces" with defined uses. This could be helped by use of materials and street furniture that strengthen the character of the area a reduction of signage clutter. Section 5 ("Proposals") and Fig. 24 highlight these points. Fig.25 shows the amenity proposals in more detail and indicate the space that could become available, improved sight lines at Riccarton Mains Road while providing a pedestrian crossing, and limited car parking at the Post Office. The Croslet Stone could be moved to a meeting point with seating and art works (or other features) near the Post Office, while a viewing platform incorporating a plaque to commemorate past Currie notables placed alongside the repositioned
Dougal Haston stone could be sited on the south side of the road.
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| 6.02 |
The proposals are not particularly radical but are relatively simple. It is hoped they will encourage interest in looking at three other project areas identified in the Conservation Area and a reappraisal of the use of other spaces close by.
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