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Ms Kezia Dugdale, MSP

The Scottish Parliament

Edinburgh

EH991SP

Dear Ms Dugdale

Date

Your ref

Our ref

16 November 2011

SS 1.1/424254

EDINBURGH TRAMS - SAFETY CONCERNS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE ON

PRINCES STREET

Thank you for your letter to the Chief Executive dated 24 October 2011 regarding the

above tram-related issue. As Senior Responsible Officer for the tram project, I have

been asked to respond to you directly.

Various disability groups have been involved during the course of the design and

development of the tram route and vehicles. These groups have been working together

with the Council and Edinburgh Trams to realise the best possible outcome for disabledpeople and to advise on how this mode of transport and associated infrastructure can

accommodate all users.

The groups involved throughout the whole process are:

• Lothian Community Transport Services (LCTS)

• Guide Dogs for the Blind

• Edinburgh Transport Group (ETG)

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland

• Special Needs Information Point (SNIP), Royal Hospital for Sick Children

• Edinburgh Disability Equality Forum• Ecas (registered charity helping the physically disabled in Edinburgh and the

Lothians)

• Haggeye (Forum for the blind and partially sighted young people in Scotland)

• Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance

These groups have been involved from a very early stage and continue their

involvement through meetings held approximately every two months.

Dave Anderson, Director, City Development

Transport, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ

t" -1 , INVESTORS

~~~J! IN PEOPLE

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Through these meetings, the group representatives have been presented withinformation and have therefore been kept fully up to speed with the project, and agreed

to cascade this information on to their respective members ..

Over. and above the consultation noted above, various members of the disabled

community were taken to work sites by Edinburgh Tram staff to ensure that thetemporary works were still accommodating disabled people travelling through the city.This was done to ensure there was enough space available on footways, at crossingpoints etc for wheelchair users and members of the public with restricted movement.

We also have regular contact with individuals who have asked to be walked through the

temporary arrangements and my staff are more than happy to cater for this on a case

by case basis.

Prior to the implementation of any significant temporary traffic management proposals,

such as Princes Street, the proposals are considered by the Council's TrafficManagement Review Panel (TMRP), which comprises representatives from the

following:

• The Police (representing the emergency services)

• Lothian Buses (representing all bus companies)

• The tram construction contractors

• Council (as Roads Authority)

The TMRP consider all road users and scrutinise the traffic management measures toensure that they are fit for purpose. Reviews are carried out periodically (depending onthe time the traffic management is in place. Reviews are also carried out if comments or

concerns are raised.

If you provide me with the details around your constituents' safety concerns I will ensure

that they are investigated fully.

I hope this addresses both your and your constituents' concerns but should you require

any further information please contact Andy Conway on 0131 6238803.

Yours sincerely

Dave AndersonDirector of City Development