Corstorphine Connections

This report outlines the findings from the second survey in October 2023. This is five months after we introduced the first phase of measures.

The first survey was done in summer 2022 and we compare the findings from both surveys in this report.

How the research was done

Using a market research company, information was collected using face-to-face CAPI interviews (computer aided personal interviewing).

Interviewers worked in specified streets in Corstorphine, including Corstorphine High Street, St John's Road, Manse Street, Saughton Road North and Lampacre Road.

Residents – all respondents had to live within Corstorphine LTN area as defined by postcode.

Shops and business users – all respondents had to be visiting a shop, café, restaurant, hairdresser, pharmacy or other local business in the Corstorphine area.

Those in the area for work or education, visiting friends or relatives, passing through, attending a medical appointment or visiting for exercise were excluded.

The second survey was completed between 16 October and 2 November 2023. Survey one interviews took place between 25 March and 7 July 2022.

Sample sizes

• Survey one - 302 residents and 166 shops and business users
• Survey two - 302 residents and 313 shops and business users

What the surveys looked at

Residents

• frequency and types of transport used within the local area
• views on how much of a problem motor vehicle traffic, noise and pollution are
• perceptions of how much of a problem crime and anti-social behaviour are
• attitudes towards walking and cycling in the area, in terms of ease, safety and how pleasant it is to travel actively
• opinions on the key issues which make walking and cycling difficult, unsafe or unpleasant
• attitudes towards the safety of children walking and cycling independently to school, and the issues which drive any negative perceptions
• overall level of support or opposition for measures introduced in phase 1 of the Corstorphine Connections project
• opinions of individual measures introduced, such as wider footways, seating, planting and changes to traffic movements.

Shops and business users

Journey and visit purpose, including

• where travelled from
• main destination
• mode of transport
• length of visit
• shops and businesses visited
• spend

Summary of main data

Overall, residents are still broadly positive about the project and appreciate the majority of the new measures.

There is still a significant minority who oppose the measures, and there are still concerns about traffic levels, particularly on Saughton Road North, Corstorphine High Street and Ladywell Road.

The third wave of research, expected to take place in 2024, will supply more evidence of whether the project has encouraged changes in the behaviours of residents and visitors.

Download and read a pdf version of the full reports

Attitudes towards walking and wheeling in Corstorphine remain positive and some significant improvements were noted in the second survey.

• Reflecting the findings from the first survey, the majority of residents agreed it is pleasant and safe to walk or wheel in Corstorphine, and there have been increases in the proportion agreeing strongly with these sentiments in survey two.
• Respondents in survey two, following the introduction of Corstorphine Connections measures, were also significantly more likely to agree strongly that there are enough safe places to cross the road, the pavements are wide enough and there are enough places to sit and relax.
• There were also significant reductions in disagreement that the pavements are wide enough (from 27% in survey one to 8% in survey two) and there are enough places to sit and relax (from 51% in survey one to 21% in survey two).

Good improvements were also noted in attitudes towards cycling in Corstorphine

• Although still a minority, higher proportions of residents agreed strongly that it is safe and pleasant to cycle in Corstorphine in survey two compared to the first survey.
• Overall agreement was also higher in survey two that it is safe to cycle in the area.
• Amongst people who cycle in the local area, increases in overall agreement were particularly strong, with 83% agreeing that it’s safe, compared to 55% in survey one, and 77% agreeing it is pleasant, compared to 51% in the first survey*.

*Please note the base size for cyclists was low, so data should be treated with caution.

Attitudes in relation to the safety of children walking and cycling to school were fairly static between waves of research

• Overall agreement that it is safe for children to walk and cycle to school in Corstorphine was very similar between the first and second surveys, with more people agreeing it is safe for children aged 12+ to cycle (35%) than for children aged 8+ to walk to school (26%).
• There has been a reduction in the proportion disagreeing it is safe for children to cycle from 24% in survey one to 15% in survey two.
• The main concerns for children walking and cycling were the high traffic volumes in the area, bad drivers and the speed of cars.

Support for the Corstorphine Connections project amongst residents stays positive

• Consistent with survey one, almost half of residents supported the changes, although the proportion strongly supporting it dropped from 19% to 13%.
• The proportion stating opposition to the measures was also consistent – 25% in survey one and 24% in survey two. This suggests that, while there has been disruption and changes to infrastructure, twice as many local people continue to broadly support the project as oppose it.
• Almost all of the individual measures were described as good by the majority of residents surveyed, particularly planting and seating in new community spaces, wider footways and artistic works at schools.
• Changes to traffic movements tended to split opinions with 45% considering them to be good and 31% poor.

Amongst users of shops and businesses, frequency of visiting Corstorphine decreased slightly but length of time in the area and spend were consistent

• Slightly fewer shops and business users reporting visiting Corstorphine weekly compared to first survey, although the proportion of daily visitors increased.
• There were also some differences in transport method, with more travelling by car and fewer travelling by bus. Encouragingly, 4% reported that they had travelled by bike to visit Corstorphine shops or businesses, compared to none in survey one.