Transport Convenor opens new path for cycles and pedestrians

October 23, 2012 8:16 pm

A new shared use route connecting the Shore in Leith with Portobello Promenade was officially launched at lunchtime today by Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, Councillor Jim Orr, Vice Convener of Transport and Environment accompanied by children from St Mary’s RC Primary School in Leith.

The children in our photo are Russell Powers, Saul Donaldson, Clare Hibbert and Iona Millington who had walked along the side of Leith Links and over the new bridge to meet up with the councillors. Councillor Gordon Munro had arrived on his bike from his previous meeting at the Sculpture Workshop.

The route, which forms part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Family Network as set out in the Active Travel Action Plan, also links into the Restalrig Railway Path which serves Leith Academy.

Most of the route follows traffic-free paths and includes a new ramp and bridge across Seafield Place as well as an upgrade of the former railway path leading to a new access point at Seafield Street. The ramp replaces a set of steps at the east end of Leith Links. Along a section of Seafield Road the pavement has been significantly widened to make it suitable for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists. This leads as far as Portobello Promenade.

The project, which includes signage, landscaping and lighting, cost a total of £1,1 million. Of this, £446,000 was contributed by Sustrans Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland and a further £50,000 was supplied by the Binks Trust, which paid specifically for the new bridge over Seafield Place.

The Reporter spoke to various councillors at the event about the significance of having a new path linking Leith to Portobello in the East.

listen to ‘Councillor Jim Orr at the opening of Leith/portobello path’ on Audioboo

Councillor Chas Booth is the local councillor for Leith:-

listen to ‘Cllr Chas Booth Green councillor for Leith’ on Audioboo

Cycling group Spokes was represented at the event:-

listen to ‘Ian Maxwell from Spokes’ on Audioboo

We then asked Councillor Hinds about her promise to become a cyclist:-

listen to ‘Cllr Hinds about cycling’ on Audioboo

Councillor Hinds said at the launch: “This new path is an important addition to Edinburgh’s Family Network, which provides safe, fun and convenient routes around the City for cyclists and pedestrians alike. We’re very grateful to Sustrans Scotland and the Binks Trust for their support for this project and I’m sure the path will quickly become a much-used route between the Shore and Portobello Promenade.

“The Council’s Active Travel Action Plan seeks to encourage more residents to walk and cycle, more safely and more often. Projects like this one help to do just that.”

Daisy Narayanan, Sustrans Scotland Deputy Director, said:- “Sustrans Scotland is delighted to have helped make this vital community link possible. The new bridges will make cycling and walking to work a daily reality for many more people, helping Edinburgh to get active and go green on the move.”