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This report outlines the findings from the third survey in June 2024. This is over a year after we introduced the first phase of the project.

The first survey was conducted in summer 2022, followed by a second in October 2023.

How the research was completed

Using a market research company, information was collected using face-to-face CAPI interviews (computer aided personal interviewing). The approach was deliberately consistent with the first two waves of research in order to draw fair comparisons across the findings.

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 the project 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 third survey was conducted between 17 April and 5 May 2024.

The second survey was completed between 16 October and 2 November 2023.

The first survey 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
• Survey three - 311 residents and 330 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 continue to be broadly positive about the project and appreciate the majority of the measures. The latest findings show that 50% of residents support the project, and 24% oppose it.

Opinions of the various changes made as part of the Corstorphine Connections project have generally been welcomed, with most people describing them as good. Widened pavements have been particularly well received.

Changes to traffic movements received a more mixed response. There are still general concerns about traffic levels, pollution and noise in the area, although in the third wave more people stated that these factors were not a problem than was reported in the initial survey.

Download and read a pdf version of the full reports

Support for the Corstorphine Connections project amongst residents remains broadly positive

• Similar to the previous waves, half of residents supported the changes, although the proportion strongly supporting it has dropped from 19% to 10%.
• The proportion stating opposition to the measures was also consistent (25% in the first wave, and 24% in the second and third waves).
• Almost all of the individual measures were described as good by the majority of residents surveyed, particularly wider pavements and planting in new community spaces.
• Changes to traffic movements tended to receive lower ratings, with 43% saying these were good (down from 45% in the second survey).

Perceptions of general traffic problems in the area have improved since the baseline

• Just under half of the sample still described motor vehicle traffic as a big problem/somewhat of a problem in the area – an improvement since the first and second waves of research, when two thirds said this
• Ratings of motor vehicle pollution and noise have also improved significantly, with fewer now saying these are a problem.
• For those who felt motor vehicle traffic, noise or pollution were a problem, the main streets affected were noted as St John’s Road and Corstorphine High Street.

Attitudes towards walking and wheeling in Corstorphine remain positive, with significant improvements continuing since the first survey.

• Reflecting the findings from the first survey, the majority of residents agreed it is pleasant and safe to walk or wheel in Corstorphine.
• There have been continued increases in the proportion agreeing strongly with these sentiments since the initial survey.
• The majority of respondents in survey three agreed that the pavements are wide enough (86%) and that there are enough places to sit and relax (75%). Strong agreement is significantly higher for these statements compared to the baseline survey.

Improvements were again noted in attitudes towards cycling in Corstorphine

• The majority of residents now agree that it is safe (63%) and pleasant (59%) to cycle in Corstorphine, and that there are enough safe places to park a bike (55%).
• Overall agreement and strong agreement for all three statements has increased significantly since the first wave.

Improvements were also seen in relation to perceptions of safety for children walking and cycling to school

• Overall agreement that it is safe for children aged over 12 to cycle to school has increased (from 29% in the first wave to 43% in the third wave) and agreement it is safe for children over eight to walk to school has increased (from 24% to 42%).
• Although basesizes were small, there were also notable increases in perceptions of safety for children walking and cycling to school.
• As in previous surveys, the main concerns for children walking and cycling were the high traffic volumes in the area and the speed of cars.

Amongst users of shops and businesses, frequency of visiting Corstorphine has 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.
• The method of transport among business users was fairly consistent, with most walking/wheeling at least some of the journey – although car was the most commonly mentioned main mode of travel.