WALKING CONNECTS REUNITE KIRK LOAN RESIDENTS WITH WALKABLE PATHWAYS

Corstorphine residents celebrated success on Monday 25 November following the completion of works enabling residents to walk more for every day, local journeys.

Kate Joester, Project Coordinator for Walking Connects, was in attendance along with Scotland’s Project Coordinator Anne Docherty and Project Assistant Lara Jenkinson, acknowledging the project’s success, as many residents can now reach the local shops and bus stop, instead of feeling isolated in their accommodation.

KATE JOESTER FILLS US IN WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW FROM THE 3 YEARS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

Living Streets Scotland worked alongside Kirk Loan residents to conduct a street audit, detailing the problems with the road.

We then helped the residents’ group contact the correct councillors and other elected officials in order to work with the roads teams at Edinburgh Council, to help them understand the impact that the damaged pavements and lack of drop kerbs had on Kirk Loan residents.

Edinburgh Council agreed that these concerns were valid, as the street had so many residents with mobility problems. Summer 2019 saw the council undertake and complete all the street repairs identified by the residents in their audit.

The residents are proud to have achieved this change themselves, and now feel empowered with knowledge on how to request safer streets in the future by using the Guide to Getting Better Streets and Pavements, which they co-produced with Living Streets Scotland. 

There is still some work that Kirk Loan residents would like to see done – such as shop fronts being more accessible for those who use wheelchairs and walkers – which they discussed while getting out onto the new pathway, which makes accessing St John’s Road easier and safer.

Over lunch, the residents shared their happiness (and humour!) at what the new pavement means to them and how it has changed their every day walking:

“I think it’s a damn good thing we’ve done here.”

“It’s made a big difference.”

“It’s a lot safer to walk on.”

“I miss tripping over the slabs, that was much more fun.”

“I’m thinking about going back to my roller skates!”