2016 middlefield csa report

Community Street Audit Report Middlefield, Aberdeen City 28 & 30 June 2016

We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

We want to create a walking nation where people of all generations enjoy the benefits that this simple act brings, on streets fit for walking.

LIVING STREETS

1

Contents CONTENTS Executive summary

3

Living Streets

4

Introduction

5

Map of the area

6

Area context

7

Findings

8

Other activities

18

Recommendations

19

Conclusions

22

Appendices Appendix 1 – Action Plan

23

Appendix 1 – Suggested Survey Questions for Further Consultation

25

LIVING STREETS

2

Executive summary We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking. We are working with Aberdeen City Council to increase walking rates in Middlefield.

On 28 & 30 June 2016, we conducted a two-part community street audit (CSA) by using large maps and walking around the area identifying, discussing and recording issues that encouraged or discouraged everyday walking. Issues identified were then summarised into key short- and longer-term priorities to improve the walking environment.

Middlefield has a relatively younger population than the rest of Aberdeen city, with many families and a growing international community. Around three quarters of homes are rented (most from the Local Authority) and car ownership is comparatively low relative to the Aberdeen City average1 meaning that access to public transport and active transport modes are of critical importance.

With the exception of access to services (55-80th percentile) and housing (20-25th percentile), Middlefield is generally considered to be in the in the most deprived 15% of all data zones in Scotland. Health scores in particular are low, in the 0-10th percentile.

Increasing the attractiveness of active travel could go some way to helping redress this.

The key issues affecting Middlefield / Heathryfold are as follows: • Parking and traffic in the Heathryfold area, especially on football days • Unfit condition of access paths and recreational walking areas • Antisocial behaviour (motorbikes in particular) • Disappearance of current “safe routes” due to development and local regeneration Recommendations include: Short Term • Repair and maintain local recreational walking routes, including Healthy Routes garden • Improve pedestrian access on / off Provost Rust Drive.

• Improved partnership working between local service delivery groups Long Term • Upgrade Core Path to Sunnybank FC; use this for supporters to Park and Stride from new Middlefield Community Hub; enforce 1-way traffic system in Heathryfold • Realign footpaths and road crossings 1

Aberdeen City Council: “Middlefield Neighbourhood Profile 2016”

LIVING STREETS

3

Living Streets We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking.

We want to create a walking nation, free from congested roads and pollution, reducing the risk of preventable illness and social isolation and making walking the natural choice. We believe that a walking nation means progress for everyone.

Our ambition is to get people of all generations to enjoy the benefits that this simple act brings and to ensure all our streets are fit for walking.

For more than 85 years we’ve been a beacon for walking. In our early days our campaigning led to the UK’s first zebra crossings and speed limits. Now, our campaigns and local projects deliver real change to overcome barriers to walking and our ground breaking initiatives such as the world’s biggest Walk to School campaign encourage millions of people to walk.

Progress starts here: one street, one school, one step at a time.

LIVING STREETS

4

Introduction The aim of a community street audit (CSA) is to identify issues that encourage or discourage everyday walking. To increase walking rates, it is important that the condition of the streets and paths in the area be of a standard that encourages people to walk within both the area and the wider local community. This report provides more detail of these barriers and suggests practical solutions to overcome them.

Community Street Audit process The community street audit aims: • to identify ways to reduce the effects of busy roads on people who walk and cycle, without creating further delays for motorists, • to find ways to reduce congestion, enforcing and facilitating slower speeds and • to identify barriers to walking and to enhance opportunities to improve connectivity, attractiveness, state of maintenance and identify improvement measures.

The CSA allowed us to critically review walking routes. We were able to identify issues and make recommendations on priorities and solutions, with the aim of influencing on-theground changes.

The Middlefield CSA took place in two parts, on 28th June (12 noon-1pm) and 30th June (2-4pm). With 11 attendees overall, the group comprised a Living Streets staff member and an Aberdeen City Council Capacity Building Officer as well as representatives from the Transport Strategy & Programmes team. Most residents who attended lived in the north-western part of the area, in the vicinity of Heathryfold Park. Further discussions and consultations were carried out with stakeholders following the CSA. While the CSA was initially set to walk two circular routes around Middlefield – one on each day, participation on the day influenced the routes that were taken based on the uses and experiences of consultees. This flexibility allowed for the CSA to pick up on more unlikely routes to be assessed; these were then walked, identifying, discussing and recording issues that encouraged or discouraged everyday walking.

In addition to the CSA, a pre-audit and risk assessment were carried out by Living Streets staff to observe the behaviour of drivers and ensure the route was safe to walk.

LIVING STREETS

5

Map of the area

13

14

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Audit area 1

Points on map refered to in ‘Findings’ section

LIVING STREETS

6

Area context Middlefield, one of Aberdeen City’s 37 neighbourhoods, is an area with a relatively younger population than the rest of the city, and many families. Around three quarters of homes are rented (most from the Local Authority) and car ownership is comparatively low relative to the Aberdeen City average2 meaning that access to public transport and active transport modes are of critical importance. Housing in the area is a combination of semidetached homes (Heathryfold in particular) with more low-rise flats near Manor Avenue. It is possible that language could be a barrier to involvement in Community Planning for some members of the large international community living here.

With the exception of access to services (55-80th percentile) and housing (20-25th percentile), Middlefield is generally considered to be in the in the most deprived 15% of all data zones in Scotland. Health scores in particular are low, in the 0-10th percentile.

Increasing the attractiveness of active travel could go some way to helping redress this.

The area is changing: parkland adjacent to Sunnybank Football Club (FC) is due to see flood defence works; the open parkland just north of Manor Walk is being developed into homes; and the Lord Provost Henry E Rae Community Centre is being refurbished to become the new Middlefield Community Hub (“Middlefield CH”), which will host a range of services. Further to this, land use North of Middlefield is likely to change with plans to modify the road layout to bypass the Haudagain roundabout3.

Paths through the park land currently linking Heathryfold & Middlefield to these community facilities are likely to change alongside these developments over the next few years. It is hoped that the CSA findings can inform the development of this space to ensure that active travel benefits rather than suffers from these developments.

2 3

Aberdeen City Council: “Middlefield Neighbourhood Profile 2016” Aberdeen City Council: “Shaping Middlefield”, Shaping Aberdeen series.

LIVING STREETS

7

Area findings Around Manor Park School (1) Manor Park School has one the highest walking rates in Aberdeen City, with around 81% of pupils walking to school in 20144. While this does not necessarily mean that the local infrastructure is conducive to high walking rates, it suggests that any improvements could benefit a large proportion of users.

Pavements are generally wide, streets relatively quiet and crossing facilities adequate for the volume of traffic. Dedicated parking is provided for (1) Front of Manor Park School school staff and pedestrians have a segregated entrance to the school, police station and community facilities. No particular barriers to walking were noted on the CSA days.

Fowler Avenue to Manor Avenue – footpath alongside Middlefield Parish Church (2) •

Improve street lighting

Insufficient street lighting in some of the footpaths linking the main roads means that these are considered unsafe at night. On this particular footpath, all street lights have been neatly severed and taped up but we were unable to find out whether this was in view of upgrading them of as a result of vandalism.

The footpath surface was generally good and the area open and fine for daytime use.

4

(2) Severed lamp posts along the footpath

Sustrans & Scottish Government: “Hands Up Scotland Annual Travel to School Survey”, 2014

LIVING STREETS

8

Manor Avenue; central section (3) • •

Check and improve positioning of dropped kerbs / raised crossings Improve perceived safety of routes for travel in the dark

Dropped kerbs / raised crossing areas on road don’t quite match up and are a potential tripping hazard. There are few places to safely cross the road and traffic islands are generally narrow, though visibility on this long straight stretch is good, meaning approaching vehicles can be seen quite well.

(3) pavement condition on Manor Avenue

Residents say street routes along / across from Manor Avenue feel unsafe at night so they prefer to walk across the Manor Park open parkland (see below) when going to work outwith Middlefield in the very early / late hours as it feels safer.

Manor Walk (4) Lit, with decent pavement along grassy open parkland at Manor Park. This pedestrian access should become more important as the housing development on Manor Park takes shape, with routes currently going across the grassy site being redirected along this route

Manor Park; open parkland (5) •

Retain safe night route from Heathryfold to amenities at the Haudagain roundabout and north of Persley Bridge.

The main point to come out of discussions is that this open parkland space is used as a safe nighttime route from Middlefield and Heathryfold to the retail and recreation areas to the north-east.

This space is currently a walking destination in that it houses an informal football pitch as well as a small collection of swing sets and, about 100 away, a seating area. The football pitch seems well used (ground under the goalposts is worn) but it is hard to say whether the swings and picnic spots are used – there are no seats for those accompanying children.

It also is on the direct desire line between the centre of Middlefield and the Manor Park allotments, which are apparently well-used though

LIVING STREETS

(5) Open parkland due for development: safe route and recreational space overlooked by houses.

9

well-hidden and protected due to repeated vandalism.

This piece of land is being developed and turned into around 80 homes5. While the recreational facilities are due to be relocated to the refurbished Middlefield CH, and play areas available at the CH, it is important that a safe route to be used in the dark is retained as part of the development.

Manor Park; Healthy Routes play area (6)

•

Repair and maintain Healthy Routes play area

•

Introduce an educational trail to attract younger users

Planted and built as a wilderness area for children to play and hide in by community volunteers, it has recently lacked attention and, at the time of the audit, was suffering from neglect – very overgrown with grasses over a metre high, weeds and nettles on the access path. Damaged or missing structures (likely removed as unsafe) in a number of the small sites within the play area mean it is undoubtedly under-used by young children but, according to the cans of alcohol and cigarette packets found, more attractive to teenagers.

The impression given by the access path is rather intimidating, regrettably, as the wilderness area was apparently very popular in its heyday.

(6) Overgrown footpath

(6) Disused picnic area

Further along, the main path is wide and generally in good condition. This part of the path is overlooked by users on the open parkland. In general, this part of the park seems more desirable, and is currently a space used for walking dogs and as an area for young people to socialise in.

With better maintenance, refurbished play structures and perhaps a theme / trail aspect introduced for younger users, this could once again be a desirable destination and increase recreational walking.

(6) Vandalised climbing wall – tagged, burnt, with rusty nails showing and large splinters in wood.

5

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=ZZZY9GBZSK633

LIVING STREETS

10

Routes around Heathryfold Park (7) •

•

Maintain open grassy site behind the Heathryfold Circle houses, providing seating and recreational facilities / play structures / route or trail boards Change barrier at entrance points to exclude motorbikes

The main route investigated here is the path running alongside the West of Heathryfold Park football ground, home of Sunnybank FC. The path links in with a wider network of paths (including Core Paths) leading to Auchmill Community Woodland and Auchmill Road.

The path and open area leading to the Community Woodland have the potential to be very pleasant walking routes and, with a small additional amount of maintenance and supervision, could be a real asset to the community.

(7) Path along West of Heathryfold Park, due S.

The start of the path is in reasonable condition, though heavily littered and a little over-grown with weeds / thorns. At the time the CSA, the open area that the path leads to was very over-grown and neglected. Residents of nearby homes have put up high fences to maintain privacy in their back gardens but this has led to the area being almost completely hidden from view. In consequence, (7) Fire damage to fence there is evidence of motorcycle burning (at least 2 separate events; one of which was right up against a resident’s wooden fence) in this little close and some obscene tagging on the walls of the football ground.

This area could relatively simply be improved with seating and play structures, to transform it back into a usable space that would discourage antisocial behaviour. Upgrading and publicising routes around the area, with trails marked out and interpretation boards used strategically, would further help shift perception away from this being an undesirable area.

LIVING STREETS

11

Heathryfold Circle – SW part (8) • • •

•

Relocate refuse bins off pavements Enforce hedge-trimming Deter parking on football days by installing low-level fencing at kerb edges and providing alternative parking solutions at new Middlefield CH – ensuring there is enough parking capacity there.

Ensure pavements are free of potential tripping hazards and accessible by all including those with reduced mobility.

The main problems here are two-fold: pavement condition and clutter in the form of over-hanging shrubs, bins left out for collection and kerbs in very poor condition due to football-day parking on the grass and pavements; and heavy traffic / illegal parking on football days.

Residents suggested that shrubbery cutting should be better enforced and that bins could easily be relocated to a collection area within a nook in the open parkland, across the street from the homes.

Communal bins could be located in a small area and would then reduce street clutter and aid mobility.

On football days, cars can be parked 2- or 3abreast, making it very difficult for pedestrians to get about safely. With Heathryfold Circle being a 1way system, and traffic (including supporters’ buses) weaving around the whole of the area to go and park as near Sunnybank FC as possible, the area gets very congested and unpleasant for residents. Vehicles mount pavements and restrict access for users in wheelchairs / mobility scooters / with pushchairs. A solution should be found to encourage football crowds to park away from Heathryfold – for instance at the new Middlefield CH (see below).

The few trees that subsist on the pavements in this area (most are in the parkland), have grown very large for their situation and root damage to pavement surfaces is now apparent, as shown in the photograph taken outside #164. This could pose a possible tripping or mobility hazard.

LIVING STREETS

(8) Heathryfold circle

12

Heathryfold Circle – main part (9) •

Investigate one-way traffic flaps (as used in Marischal College car park) and install at entrance and exit to Heathryfold Circle if approved for use on public roads.

Heathryfold circle benefits from a good network of small path links that are unfortunately used by motorbikes, especially for evading the police. Better vehicle restriction could be used on the entrances to these paths, though while considering the needs of those with impaired mobility.

(9) example of pedestrian path in Heathryfold circle

Problems with parking and traffic, especially on football days, apply here too, but even more so as the road is narrow. When vehicles are parked on both sides of the road, it is not unusual for them to be parked on pavements so that traffic can get past. This causes visibility for pedestrians to be poor, especially for small children who cannot see over parked vans etc. Residents report that children used to play in the street as the park was too far, but with current levels of traffic and parking, that is now too unsafe.

It is reported that ambulances and the fire service have previously had trouble getting through due to poor parking practices.

Heathryfold circle is clearly signed as a one-way system, going clockwise around the estate from its entrance. Some residents, however, reportedly choose to ignore this and drive the shortest possible distance in and out of the estate, against traffic flow if that is shorter. This clearly poses a danger for pedestrians, children and other drivers who drive the correct way round, as cars could then have to mount pavements to cross each other. A method of enforcing the one-way system should be sought.

Open parkland South of Heathryfold (10) •

•

Install low-level fencing at the edges of the parkland (cf. Seton Park), to discourage kerb parking and motorbike access. Retain strategic access points for pushchairs and mobility impaired users.

Consider relocating playpark at the bottom of the hill, or adding to playing capacity at the top of the hill.

This stretch of open parkland is currently not used much, except for riding motorbikes in the evenings, with users “using it as a rally park and racing down towards Logie” (resident’s comment). This area

LIVING STREETS

(10) Open parkland

13

should be made less accessible to motorbikes, more usable and safer for all to use.

Thoughts during the CSA were that the playground sited by the Middlefield CH would have been better located here, where it can be overlooked by the houses, rather than where it is, at the bottom of a gully, completely out of sight in the evenings – when it “becomes a drinking den”.

Residents understand that this site may have been upgraded from the previous long chutes, but there is nonetheless a problem.

Routes between Heathryfold Park / Sunnybank Football Club and the Middlefield CH (11) • •

•

•

Upgrade and maintain Core Path between Sunnybank FC and Middlefield.

Ensure footpaths truncated by new Middlefield CH are restored or diverted and to an acceptable standard.

Publicise parking facilities near central Middlefield, with Park and Stride strongly encouraged to Sunnyside FC Add exercise equipment along the path to further enhance its appeal.

Sunnybank Football club used to be a real (11) Core Path leading to Sunnybank FC destination (with likely many pedestrian journeys) due to the sporting & entertainment facilities it provided but in recent times has found it harder to draw visitors, with facilities now being under-used.

The path linking Sunnybank FC and Middlefield is one of Aberdeen City’s Core Paths6, yet is currently of very mixed quality – in parts good, in others dressed with large stones / gravel and too steep to allow for wheelchair / pushchair access.

If, on football days, parking could be encouraged at the new Middlefield CH rather than in Heathryfold Circle, and supporters channelled to walk up to the pitch on the Core Path, this would solve some of the Heathryfold traffic problems and minimise damage to grassed areas and kerbs For this football Park and Stride to be a real option, the Core Path would have to be upgraded to be of a suitable standard for all to use.

From the CSA consultation a suggestion arose to turn this path into a destination in itself by adding a series of outdoor gym stations along the path. This has apparently been successfully done in Torry and could allow residents to exercise outdoors.

A network of smaller paths also links Heathryfold and areas South-West of Provost Rust Drive to the Middlefield CH and areas to the East. These paths are currently truncated by the Middlefield

6

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=29928&sID=3159

LIVING STREETS

14

CH building site and should be replaced or relocated following the completion of the project7; this is currently unclear on the planning documents.

Zebra crossing at West end of Manor Avenue (12) • •

•

Realign crossings along desire lines and footpath network, in safer crossing position Improve drainage and / or treat path in grassy area between West end of Manor Avenue and Provost Rust Drive.

Improve signage and advertising of linkages between paths locally to encourage walking between Heathryfold and Middlefield.

The pedestrian crossings on the West side of Manor Avenue (Zebra) and Provost Rust Drive (traffic island) near their junction are deemed to be (12) Desire line across the grass towards so close to the junction that cars often do not see zebra crossing (to right of the red arrow) them in time and fail to stop. These are an important crossings and would be well-used, as they take pedestrians to the bus stops (lines 12, 13 and 23), running to the hospital, city centre etc.

A strategy to re-align these crossings along the pedestrian desire line should be considered – this would then line up the crossings more effectively with the existing footpath network – though the section of path between Provost Rust Drive and Manor Avenue is known to be poorly drained and very icy in winter. This should be improved or treated to avoid unnecessary possible injuries to users.

More should also be done with advertising linkages with other local paths / Core Paths, forming a walking network. Maps and interpretation boards should be provided, outlining routes, trails and walking times to key destinations.

Provost Rust Drive (13) •

•

Trial a removal of guardrails on Provost Rust Drive, to remove the feeling of a physical barrier For issues of traffic speed and pedestrian crossing difficulties, install pavement buildouts or chicanes

Provost Rust Drive bounds the South edge of Middlefield and, lined as it is with side access

(13) Four driving lanes making up Provost Rust Drive

7

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.gov.uk/onlineapplications/files/3E6CE5B6D958DDAA3A08B94435D7038C/pdf/151039-Proposed_Site_Layout-1156274.pdf

LIVING STREETS

15

roads north and south as well as guardrails in places, very much feels like a barrier to pedestrian movement.

At most times, it is a reasonably quiet road but residents report that it becomes very busy with higher vehicle speeds during rush hour, when cars use the route to avoid congestion at the Haudagain roundabout. At those times, it is felt that the provision made for safe pedestrian road crossing is inadequate.

The question remains whether planned traffic measures to reduce congestion at the Haudagain, with a slip road being built through the area north-east of Middlefield, would alleviate this traffic at all or just sever another slice of the estate.

Provost Rust Drive – site of former Smithfield School (14) •

Urgently enable pedestrians to travel safely towards the East end of Provost Rust Drive and Anderson Drive by reducing area of side road taken by the building site.

This site is being redeveloped into 116 homes8 and, while on the day of the CSA there were no issues for pedestrians in the immediate vicinity, a problem was clear during a later visit.

The building site seems to now be encroaching on (14) Severed pedestrian access near the the pavement and side road on the northern side of building site Provost Rust Drive, with accesses to bus stops and pedestrian crossings fenced off – this is due to continue until mid-September 2016.

Pedestrians walking along the north side of Provost Rust Drive were seen to have to walk up a steep grassy bank, cross the road (away from the formal crossing, which is fenced off), then walk on the pavement along the south side of Provost Rust drive for the whole length of the works, only to cross again, through grassed sections, to the northern side.

The fenced-off section mainly seemed to be used for storing machinery and materials; we would expect a pedestrian corridor to be maintained on the northern side of the road by simply making the fenced off section a little narrower.

8

https://publicaccess.aberdeencity.gov.uk/onlineapplications/caseDetails.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=ZZZY9JBZSK763

LIVING STREETS

16

Other routes and issues beyond the immediate area •

Retain safe routes for active travel outwith daylight hours

Within the resident community, uncertainty remains as to the future of pedestrian links to the NorthEast of Middlefield, in the area designated for the Haudagain roundabout slip-road. For some, this is a main access to work and shopping, with the presence of the Post Office, Haudagain Retail Park and, slightly further afield but still within a walking commute, the Tesco Extra at Danestone.

It is critical that the importance of these walking routes are not underestimated, especially with regards to safe travel at night, as Tesco’s 24h opening means that for work and shopping this remains a key destination for the residents we consulted within Middlefield Community.

LIVING STREETS

17

Other activities For the purposes of this CSA exercise, the following outcomes of previous events were considered: • Grampian Housing Association – resident CSA / Walk-through – 11 May 2016 • Pre-CSA workshop with children of Bramble Brae & Manor Park schools – 16 May 2016 • Northfield Total Place Community Consultation, 2016.

Following the two CSA events, further consultation was carried out by Living Streets with the following key partners: • Andrew Stewart, Health and Transport Action Plan Manager, Nestrans & NHS Grampian (Andrew.Stewart@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) • Brian Harrison, Health Walks Coordinator, Sport Aberdeen, who knows the area well (bharrison@sportaberdeen.co.uk) • Holly Dawson, Active Schools Coordinator, Northfield network (HoDawson@sportaberdeen.co.uk) Following the publication of this report, further consultation should be carried out with Environmental Planners with responsibility for Core Paths (Karen van Eeden, kvaneeden@aberdeencity.gov.uk) and Sustrans’ Community Links Officer covering Aberdeen City (Rurigdh McMeddes, rurigdh.mcmeddes@sustrans.org.uk).

LIVING STREETS

18

Recommendations Area/Issue

Recommended Action

Level of Action Quick Win/ Long Term

Pedestrian access on Provost Rust / Smithfield school

Re-open pedestrian link on north side of Provost Rust Drive by reducing the width of the area taken by the building site.

Quick win

Football traffic / parking in Heathryfold Circle

Open discussions with stakeholders at Middlefield CH regarding parking there rather than in Heathryfold, with supporters walking up across the parkland to Sunnybank FC.

Quick win – but relies on path condition being decent.

Link between Heathryfold / Sunnybank FC and Middlefield

9

Improve the footpath along its whole length to make it a suitable walking route for all abilities and in all weather conditions.

This project is a strong contender for a bid to Sustrans’ 9 Community Links funding, so a good bid should be submitted

Medium- to longterm due to cost.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/scotland/what-we-do/communities/community-links-grant-programme-0

LIVING STREETS

19

Responsibility/ Involvement Aberdeen City Council (ACC) Roads (contact via Transport Strategy & Programmes team) / Developer Community / ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes, ACC Capacity Building Officers Community / ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes, ACC Capacity Building

Recommended Deadline

IMMEDIATE

Start informally ASAP; formalise when Core Path improved ASAP, with view to implementation by end 2018.

as soon as possible (funding applications are currently being received and any unsuccessful bids would be carried over to next financial year).

Link between Heathryfold / Sunnybank FC and Middlefield

Any bid would need to be match funded, but this could possibly be tagged with improvements to the Middlefield CH or the planned flood defence works.

Turn the journey into a destination by installing outdoor gym equipment as requested by residents, along the suggested improved link between the community facilities.

Officers / ACC Environmental Planners

Short- to Mediumterm

Night-time safe routes

Consider the needs of walking commuters who travel at night and retain safe routes within new developments. These routes should be open, lit and feel safe as well as being safe.

Medium-term, as new developments come, but critical.

Bins, overhanging shrubs and street clutter

Reorganise bins into collection areas so that they are not blocking the pavements. Encourage residents to cut back shrubs / trees. Ensure tree roots do not pose an access / tripping hazard for older and disabled residents.

Medium-term

Promotion of walking for health and physical activity

Footpaths within Heathryfold

LIVING STREETS

Travel to School – involve Manor Park school in healthy walking activities to encourage further use of routes. th Plan something to do with March Stones 700 anniversary of granting of the charter in 2019; original boundary goes through Middlefield, with stone 48 just south of Provost Rust Drive.

Better vehicle restriction on the entrances / exits to these paths to avoid their use by motorbikes and increase safety – including perception of safety – for residents.

Better signage and publicity for walking routes – use some Smarter Choices Smarter Places revenue funding (£5000

Short- to mediumterm

Quick win

20

Community / ACC Capacity Building Officers / NHS ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / Developers Community / ACC / Grampian Housing Association where applicable ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / Community / Active Schools ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / Community / ACC / ACC Capacity

Relies on funding…2017

2017

Ongoing

Ongoing – use partnership working

As budgets allow – 2016-17

available) or recently announced Aberdeen City Neighbourhood 10 Health funding to produce and distribute maps, create signage and interpretation boards etc.

Building Officers

Heathryfold 1-way system

Enforce 1-way system – infrastructure perhaps needed with provision of 1-way speed humps if applicable to this situation?

Quick win

Partnership working

Continued progress on the coordination of services and officers within them.

There are many related initiatives working in this area but it is critical that they work effectively together to deliver a coherent, sturdy outcome.

Best use of funding and officer time would be made by a concerted approach.

Quick win

Motorbike racing

Pedestrian crossings & paths at the West side of Manor Avenue / Provost Rust Drive

10

Make park area less accessible to motorbikes and more usable and safer for all to use; restriction on footpaths (above) could go some way towards helping with this by cutting access routes.

Increase partnership working with Grampian Police?

A strategy to re-align these crossings along the pedestrian desire line should be considered. Improve drainage or consider systematic winter gritting of section of path between Provost Rust Drive and Manor Avenue

As budgets and location allow – 2016-17

Ongoing

Medium-term

Community / ACC / Grampian Police

Ongoing

Medium-term / Quick win

ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / ACC Roads

As budgets allow

http://neighbourhoodhealth.org.uk/

LIVING STREETS

ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / Community Community / ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / ACC Capacity Building Officers / Sustrans / NHS / Environmental Planners / Living Streets

21

Conclusions Action as a result of Community Street Audit for Middlefield, Aberdeen City.

This report is being submitted to members of staff at Aberdeen City Council so that recommendations can be taken on board and action can be undertaken.

A Community Street Audit was undertaken with Middlefield & Heathryfold residents to identify any issues that may discourage people from walking. The observations highlighted that the main issues are connected with poor parking practices, the unfit condition of recreational and access paths, misaligned road crossings, inadequate lighting and the prevalence of unsociable behaviour relating to motorbike use.

The residents of Middlefield, together with their Capacity Building Officers, can use this report as a testimonial to request improvement works alone or alongside any other developments. The community should also work to carry out action points and ensure their longevity, calling on people to help and support.

There are a huge number of partners working in the Middlefield area at the moment; it seems that consultations on redevelopment, regeneration and improving the area are regular and sometimes overlapping. This might explain the low turnout on the CSA (perception that some / most of the issues have been covered by other groups). It is key to stress the importance of partnership working across ACC services to use funds efficiently and avoid duplication of efforts and consultation fatigue for residents.

Explanation of funding and improvement timelines to residents and stakeholders is critical. Reports that people had been consulted “but nothings came of it” (resident’s comment) seem to suggest that perhaps things are taking longer to move than residents expect, yet the momentum for change from ACC is tremendous.

Soft measures (encouraging people to change behaviour through incentives) are generally quicker to deliver and more cost-effective than large infrastructure works. A combination of the two provides encouragement to communities that they are being heard as projects are then delivered in the short, medium and long-term.

Safe routes within Middlefield and to external destinations are a must – and must include suitable lighting, a good perception of security (especially at night for shift workers) as well as safe and abundant road crossings. Children travelling alone to school, clubs or facilities must be taken into consideration as they form a large population of pedestrians around Manor Park school. Facilities in Middlefield are good and continue to improve, so safe walking and cycling routes to these must be developed and maintained so that the health of residents and local environment can be protected for all to enjoy.

LIVING STREETS

22

Appendices Appendix 1 – Action Plan Living Streets has conducted a CSA to identify barriers to walking in your area and produced a report with comments and recommendations for future actions by stakeholders. The report will help inform decisions made in partnership with your local authority about physical improvements on walking routes.

Based on the outcomes of the Community Street Audit process, below is a (non-exhaustive) list of suggestions as to how to fund some of the bigger, costlier projects, with a view to encouraging more walking.

There are a huge number of partners working in the Middlefield area at the moment; it seems that consultations on redevelopment, regeneration and improving the area are regular and sometimes overlapping. This might explain the low turnout on the CSA (perception that some / most of the issues have been covered by other groups). It is key to stress the importance of partnership working across ACC services to use funds efficiently avoid duplication of efforts and consultation fatigue for residents.

Priority Issues

Suggested Action

Who can help?

Timeframe

Outdoor Gym equipment Poor quality Core path across Manor Park green space

Find funding options – has been done in Torry and elsewhere – find out how this was funded and installed.

Sustrans Community Links funding (see Recommendations) to improve gradient and surface of path – possibly carried out in conjunction with flood

ACC / Sport Scotland or Lottery funding (must be community-led) ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes / Sustrans Community Links Officer (rurigdh.mcmeddes@sustrans.org.uk), ACC

With completion of Core Path ugrade.

Outline bid ready by November 2016, formal bid 2016-17 with match funding

LIVING STREETS

23

defence works.

Links to schools

Further consultation

Any links to schools (eg. Manor Park School using the allotments) can open up funding from other, external funders. th 700 Anniversary of Granting of Charter in 2019 (March Stones – boundary along Manor Avenue) – any funding for educational initiatives for the occasion?

Use appendix 1 questionnaire to further consult residents, via partnerships, Manor Park school (including the Parent Council), community centre, facebook groups (Northfield Total Space and Middlefield Community Project groups), Middlefield Mirror, posters in shops, Use maps with coloured pens, flags and sticky notes for residents to further highlight problem areas Encourage responses with prize draw / reward vouchers etc.

Provide copies of the executive summaries of consultation reports, consider having these translated and available online for non-English speakers.

Environmental Planner (kvaneeden@aberdeencity.gov.uk) ACC Transport Strategy & Programmes; Safer Routes to Schools fund is currently open but unlikely to be within timescales this year. Apply in 2016-17.

Capacity Building Officers and community to lead on partnership working and coordination of projects.

Find and support enthusiastic local champions to drive forward local support and ensure participation.

Use contacts made so far (see Other Activities section) to keep momentum going and further progress. Further consult Core Paths / Environmental Planning Officer.

LIVING STREETS

24

position confirmed.

As funding permits.

ONGOING.

3 Sept 2016 consultation event Living Streets hand-over meeting (September 2016) ONGOING

Appendices Appendix 2 – Suggested Survey Questions for Further Consultation

LIVING STREETS

25