Anger over delays in giving green light to pedestrian crossing

Published on Monday 3 March 2008 09:30

CITY leaders have come under fire for not making a developer install a pedestrian crossing over a busy road – six months after they said they would take enforcement action.

The crossing was meant to go on Colinton Road as part of an agreement with developer Applecross, which saw 170 flats built on part of sports fields at nearby Meggetland.

Contractors even removed an existing pedestrian island in preparation. But a wrangle over the position of the crossing, its cost and associated lighting has led to two years of delays.

In August, city transport leader Phil Wheeler told councillors that enforcement action had been instigated on the 100,000 scheme. But officials today admitted that the enforcement notice was only agreed last week at a development management sub-committee and has not been actually served yet.

Applecross said it was keen to fulfil its obligations for the crossing but was not happy to foot all of the cost of the extra lighting and council delays.

But local Tory councillor Gordon Buchan said it was up to the council to get this matter resolved. He said: "I have been on at officials for months on this – it is not only embarrassing but it is downright dangerous for us not to have this crossing in place."

The planning condition was for a staggered pelican crossing to be installed at a suitable location on Colinton Road close to North Meggetland.

Applecross contractors actually started work on the crossing early last year but were told to stop by council chiefs after they realised they had not gone through the correct procedure with regards to neighbour notification.

There were then further complications when council chiefs tied lighting improvements in with the design for the crossing.

Steven Hyde, Applecross commercial manager, said his firm could have built the crossing over two years ago if it had not been for council delays.

He said: "We are looking for the council to make some financial contribution to reflect both the street lighting element to the revised scheme and also the cost of the delay, which has not been of our making."

There is another crossing 100 metres further down Colinton Road, near the junction with Lockharton Gardens.

A council spokeswoman said: "One of the conditions of the planning consent was that they had to include a new crossing on Colinton Road. It is disappointing that this work has not yet been completed and this action is a last resort.

"Members of the council's development management sub-committee agreed last week to take action in regard to a breach of condition."