Balerno Community Council discussed the mystery of a ‘stopped-up pathway’ in the middle of the village at its September meeting.
A local environmentalist has cleared what appears to be a “stopped-up path” between Orrvale and Ladycroft and next to St Mungo’s Church, therefore within the conservation area which was, until August 8 this year, completely obstructed by bushes and shrubs.
The fire escape from St Mungo’s Church exits down steps to the path and there is, on the east side, a gateway onto the garden ground of Ladycroft Cottage with a path leading across the garden to the cottage door.
The path between Ladycroft and Orrvale is stopped-up, however, by a brick wall where it would exit onto the pavement at Orrvale. Given that the path is visible on the older OS maps and indeed on Google Maps, it probably ought properly to be seen as a right of way, and stopping up, when it was done, might properly have required authorisation.
Balerno Community Council (BCC) do not know when the brick wall was built, nor whether any authorisations were sought or given for that. However maps suggest the path has been in place since at least 1894 and it led down to the ford just below the site of Bavelaw Green Bridge.
Papers presented to the BCC indicated that the environmentalist has been in correspondence with Rosebery Estates about the state of the path and other public areas surrounding Ladycroft Cottage.
The question arising is whether the path between Ladycroft and Orrvale, in the conservation area, should properly continue to be stopped-up, or whether it should be reinstated as part of Balerno’s historic core.
City of Edinburgh Planning officials are to be asked for their comments on the issue.
MYSTERY: The ‘stopped-up’ path in the centre of Balerno
