A Successful Place : Movement Strategy
A Place For People Not Cars
Calderwood is primarily a place for people not cars. We believe that in residential areas and popular public places pedestrians should have priority in the streets and spaces. Residential streets should be a place where children can meet and play. It should not be regarded as a dangerous unattractive place. Of course the car needs to be accommodated but this can be done sensitively and successfully by allowing the setting to inform the driver.
NB. A higher definition version of this map, showing an expanded area, can be viewed or downloaded in PDF format here (will open in new browser window),
- New primary roads will be created to improve access to the new community, the new high school and the new park and ride at the station.
- Existing roads will be transformed to residential only access and green routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
- New safe walking and cycling routes will be established.
- A major new park and ride facility to accommodate up to 400 cars will be situated adjacent to Kirknewton railway station. This can be delivered even if the existing level crossing is closed in the future.
- Traffic calming measure will restrict the flow of traffic passing at Cliffton Cottages.
- A new bypass at Wilkieston will help mitigate potential congestion on the A71.
- The movement strategy ensures that all primary traffic accessing all major destination routes, including the new high school will avoid journeys through East Calder.
Holland and Scandinavia have pioneered this approach for many years and have proved that drivers are more careful when informed by natural speed restrictions like shared surfaces, proximity to people, narrow spaces, landscaping, than by any amount of signage and road markings.
Efforts should also be made to house cars away from street frontages. Many beautiful streets are blighted by the visual impact of parked cars. Home zones and centralised parking and courtyard parking are good ways of alleviating this problem.

Streets can be landscaped too. The development at Poundbury, Dorchester is an excellent example of this approach and does not have a single road sign or road marking in the entire development. Apart from the improved safety to its residents, there is also the huge benefit of a far more attractive streetscape.
