Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #GeorgeStreetTrees
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Today is the last day of the consultation on the George Street 2025 proposals: consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/d76708f1/.
Whatever your views on the project, this is a last chance to have your say.
Whatever your views on the project, this is a last chance to have your say.
There's a great deal to admire & support in the current proposals - pedestrian priority, increased accessibility, largely traffic-free, active travel infra, removal of street clutter, high-quality materials, etc.
It's a bold & transformative plan in nearly every way with one glaring exception - the soft landscaping/street greening, which is underwhelming to say the least, under-scaled, incongruous & not designed to meet the environmental needs of future generations.
This is the last week to respond to the consultation on the George Street proposals.
Despite overwhelming public support & the Council's obligations on climate change & tree-planting, the street trees from previous proposals have been inexplicably removed.
Why?
Despite overwhelming public support & the Council's obligations on climate change & tree-planting, the street trees from previous proposals have been inexplicably removed.
Why?
The technical challenge of excavating tree pits in an historic city centre site shouldn't be underestimated but, as other cities have repeatedly demonstrated, the problem is definitely surmountable.
The only real obstacle is the opposition of 'stakeholders' such as Edinburgh World Heritage & the Cockburn Association. They argue that street trees were not part of James Craig's original vision for the First New Town and, of course, that's perfectly true.
The George Street 2025 public consultation ends in just one week: consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/d76708f1/
Lots of good aspects to the design worthy of support, but the absence of street trees, despite consistent public support for their inclusion, is very disappointing.
#GeorgeStreetTrees
Lots of good aspects to the design worthy of support, but the absence of street trees, despite consistent public support for their inclusion, is very disappointing.
#GeorgeStreetTrees
The environmental, social & economic benefits of street trees are well known:
• Increasing biodiversity, encouraging wildlife, providing food, shelter & connectivity for urban fauna;
• Creating healthier urban environments, improving air & water quality;
• Increasing biodiversity, encouraging wildlife, providing food, shelter & connectivity for urban fauna;
• Creating healthier urban environments, improving air & water quality;
• Improving mental wellbeing & physical health by encouraging physical activity & reducing stress;
• Improving energy efficiency of neighbouring buildings,
increasing pedestrian safety, baffling noise & reducing crime;
• Improving energy efficiency of neighbouring buildings,
increasing pedestrian safety, baffling noise & reducing crime;
Another quick #GeorgeStreetTrees thread...
Edinburgh is rightly proud of its green credentials, with more trees per head than any other UK city & regularly winning 'greenest' accolades. But there's one league table where it languishes at the bottom, and that's street trees.
Edinburgh is rightly proud of its green credentials, with more trees per head than any other UK city & regularly winning 'greenest' accolades. But there's one league table where it languishes at the bottom, and that's street trees.
Edinburgh has only ~8,500 street trees (a 22% decline since the 1990s) & barely 1% of its urban tree total. Similarly-sized Sheffield has ~36,000.
CEC recognises this & has prioritised street tree planting, yet there are still no trees in the current George Street redesign.
CEC recognises this & has prioritised street tree planting, yet there are still no trees in the current George Street redesign.
Historical perspective:
Systematic street tree planting in UK cities began in the 1860s, but Edinburgh's early progress was painfully slow & largely driven by the Cockburn Association, which encouraged the Council to plant more streets with trees with only limited success.
Systematic street tree planting in UK cities began in the 1860s, but Edinburgh's early progress was painfully slow & largely driven by the Cockburn Association, which encouraged the Council to plant more streets with trees with only limited success.
If you want to see street trees as part of the redesigned George Street then the George Street 2025 consultation (runs until 26th March) is the last chance to make it happen.
Suggest them as an additional feature on Question 5.
#GeorgeStreetTrees
consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/d76708f1/
Suggest them as an additional feature on Question 5.
#GeorgeStreetTrees
consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/d76708f1/
At the 2018 George Street public consultation, the concept design included some trees, albeit informally positioned & v small specimens.
Unlike the current consultation, in 2018 specific questions were asked about the inclusion of street trees and the results were conclusive.
Unlike the current consultation, in 2018 specific questions were asked about the inclusion of street trees and the results were conclusive.
76% of respondents were in favour of the introduction of street trees on George Street, with 56% of respondents 'strongly' in favour of the concept.
Undeniably, a large majority of the public want to see street trees on George Street.
Undeniably, a large majority of the public want to see street trees on George Street.
