The consultation on the two possible routes for the north south extension of the tramline route will begin in the middle of August.
The Transport Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, mentioned the update in a briefing to media on Tuesday.
The council has already promised to consult on two possible routes to extend the existing line to the north in Granton where around 3,500 new homes are being built – one using the former railway line along part of the Roseburn Path and the other using Dean Bridge and Orchard Brae. The technical details of each option will be set out with the pros and cons for members of the public to offer their views in a consultation paper on the council website.
There is nothing in the council papers to confirm the position, but the Transport Convener confirmed the consultation on the design for the north-south extension to the tram project will begin in mid-August.
Cllr Jenkinson said he is giving officers and consultants “the space and the time to look at all the options on the table for Granton to Bioquarter and there will be a full 12 week consultation which will then form the basis for a report to be considered by the Transport Committee probably in early 2026”.
He said that he had agreed the timing for the consultation with council officers to avoid school holidays and that he wants it to be as “robust as possible”.
The Transport Convener said that he has not yet seen the consultation document but confirmed that all officers were briefed that options from Granton to Bioquarter had to be considered. He said: “I also want to ensure that it’s content is detailed, accurate and fair so that it is above question that the consultation period will be open, honest and fair with everybody encouraged to take part in it. I am confident that the delay until August is justified. I think we want to be sure that we give ourselves every opportunity to do justice to the strategic business case by allowing as many people to take part in that consultation as possible.”
Signs on the Roseburn Path
Referring to the sign which he ordered council operatives to remove over the weekend, Cllr Jenkinson said: “Concerns were raised with me that people who currently use the Roseburn Path maybe don’t want to be bombarded with campaign literature while they’re cycling or walking the dog there.
”I’ve spoken with the Save the Roseburn Path campaign about the matter in general many times on the phone and email.
“I’ve been absolutely clear on my position on the Roseburn Path and it hasn’t changed. It would be inappropriate for my position to change until I’m armed with the facts.”
There were two issues about the sign – the first is that Cllr Jenkinson confirmed it does not have planning permission, and the second is that a poster stuck to it appeared to be an official Spokes document. Spokes confirmed it was not their poster and that they have not changed their stance on the tram extension, but were appreciative that the Save the Roseburn Path campaign, who said they had not put up either the sign or the poster, had undertaken to remove the poster.
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