Jotunheimen Research Expeditions to Norway.

The arrival of a letter seeking support for the School of GeoSciences Undergraduate Fieldwork fund brought to mind the mid-1970s University of Edinburgh Jotunheimen environmental research expeditions to southern Norway.

I was a member of two of the expeditions in 1976 and 1977 working as an undergraduate field assistant and I also did research for my BSc Geography dissertation.

The education and training that I received in Norway proved to be an invaluable foundation for my subsequent PhD palaeoenvironmental research.

The photograph below shows members of the 1977 expedition enjoying a celebration meal. A twenty-first birthday party?

So, not all work and no play, as was also evident from the Jotunheimen or 'Home of the Giants' cricket series in the long summer evenings!

Front row left to right: Margaret MacMillan; John Farquhar; Ian Scott; Dr Peter Beckett (co-leader) Back row: Dr John Matthews (co-leader) & Clare Swindells. Photograph taken by Alan Alexander, Geography 'Class of 1978'.

Dropped Kerb at The Paddockholm EH12 7XR

The contractors returned yesterday, 14th May 2014, to address the dropped kerb issues at The Paddockholm. They dug out the tarmac they had laid previously and put down new. However, it looks as though the joint with the existing tarmac has not been properly sealed or caulked with bitumen? Also, there are cracks in the surface around the join which looks as though it will break down in no time.

The specified concrete edging stone has now been installed, but the surrounding turf was just hammered down to get the ground level right. The kerb stones have not been grouted with cement mortar, although some tarmac has found its way into the cracks.

As previously noted, the kerb stones have still not been properly grouted with cement mortar, leaving the job looking unfinished?

Note also the exposed lawn edge which is liable to collapse. All in all, in my opinion, this is not a quality job: it ought to be possible to achieve a higher standard?

Update: There was a suggestion on the City Cycling Edinburgh Forum that the contractors would go back to The Paddockholm on Friday 16th May to grout the setts, however, they did not do so as is clear in the photographs taken at 5.30pm that day.

Update: On Saturday, 14th June 2014, the contractors returned to The Paddockholm.

All of the kerb blocks were properly pointed with cement mortar.

To address the exposed lawn edge issue, the kerb blocks on the north side were re-laid at their former level - top photograph below.

The grassed area on the south side which had been re-shaped has been re-styled and neatened up - bottom photograph.

The joint between the new and the old tarmac has yet - close of play on Monday, 16th June - to be sealed with bitumen, however, overall this is a big improvement on how the job had previously been left.

Epilogue: This dropped kerb appears - see photograph - to fail the 6mm or two pound coins test?

Final, final word: The joint between old and new tarmac has been sealed at last. 20-JUL-2014

The Backwash of War: The Classic Account of a First World War Hospital by Ellen N La Motte, Conway, 186pp

Short review of the above book appeared in "The Times" newspaper on 10th May 2014.

The Paddockholm EH12 7XR: Cycle Barriers.

We need a solution to put to City of Edinburgh Council, so thinking caps on!

The cycle barriers at the east end of The Paddockholm date from ca 30 years ago when, soon after the estate was built, it was realised that there was an issue with cyclists speeding and also incursion by motorcycles / scooters.

Originally they were situated parallel with the outer boundary fence, but later on were moved inwards to the apex of the blind corner in order to try to slow the faster cyclists down.

The barriers, which are approximately 1 metre wide by 90cms high, were placed 1 metre apart.

Recently, presumably to conform to new regulations, the inner one has been moved and placed 2.3 metres [the recommended gap is 3 metres?] to the east of what was the outer one.

This has had the effect of both moving the barriers away from the bend and also allowing some cyclists to proceed through them at higher speeds as there is now minimal overlap between the barriers. This new configuration further results in cyclists entering the estate meeting head on any pedestrians leaving the estate on their left hand side of the path, that is on the inner side of the bend rather than the outer as previously? There is also now nothing to stop rogue motorcyclists gaining access to the estate via this footpath?

A 19 second YouTube video of a responsible family group of cyclists negotiating the barriers may be viewed here.

My view is that, whilst this modification may have improved access for tandems, bicycles with trailers, tricycles, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, it has increased the risk to pedestrians. Indeed, one female local resident has been in a collision with a speeding BMX that left her with a bruised back.

As the footpath is only a metre wide through the barriers and approximately 2 metres wide overall it provides little room for mixed pedestrian / bicycle etc access? It would seem, therefore, that a re-think is required here to determine the optimal way in which safe shared use can be achieved?

Additionally, the kerb on the pathway from The Paddockholm has been dropped.

However, the re-laid kerb stones have not been grouted with cement mortar and the lawn edges left exposed are liable to break down?

Also, the tarmac that has been laid does not appear to be of a high standard, and does not match the existing surfacing material used?