For more than a year, councillors have been urged to reject plans to build the proposed North-South tram line on the Roseburn Path in Edinburgh.
Ahead of next Thursday’s election, campaigners fighting to protect the popular cycle and walking path in the west of Edinburgh asked candidates to reveal their views on the controversial plans.
Councillor Euan Hyslop of the SNP was the first to offer comment.
Mr Hyslop, who lives near the path, said he shared the concerns of campaigners.
“I recognise how important this linear park is to our community, and I believe it is a vital local resource that should be protected,” he said. “This is not an abstract issue for me — I live right next to the path.
“My partner and I use it daily to get to our cafés in Roseburn and Goldenacre, and I regularly take my son along it on his scooter to escape the cityscape and explore the abundant wildlife.”
Mr Hyslop also revealed the wider view of his party colleagues, noting the SNP group supported building the southern leg of the tram line first, before determining plans for the northern route.
He noted that the group opposed plans for the Roseburn option as well as the Orchard Brae route, which would run over Dean Bridge.
He added: “Any decision on tram expansion must balance the benefits of new routes with the importance of maintaining safe, accessible and well-loved local green spaces and active travel corridors.
“I share the view that our path must remain a safe and enjoyable space for local people and an important part of the North Edinburgh Path Network.”
At a heated council meeting earlier this month, Mr Hyslop’s SNP was accused of “electioneering” on the issue by their Labour and Lib Dem colleagues.
Edinburgh transport convener Stephen Jenkinson said the party was being "premature and reckless", and that their rejection of both options risked scuppering the entire project.
However, Labour’s candidate for the area, Eleanor Ryan-Saha, has told campaigners she will not comment on the proposals until the results of a public consultation are made public.
She said: “Personally I do attach very great importance to the contribution that the Roseburn Path makes to people’s wellbeing and active travel and feel strongly that this should be taken fully into account when decisions are being made.
“That said, I do recognise that uncertainties about the viability of the Dean Bridge as a tram route still need to be addressed. It is also likely that the consultation will identify genuine differences of view on the relative merits of a route which passes close to the Western General Hospital and a route that could service Wester Drylaw.”
Meanwhile, local councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie told campaigners that she was “firmly opposed” to the tram extension via the path.
She said: “We have been vocal in our opposition from the start and ran a petition which was signed by over 3,000 residents. We are extremely concerned about the loss of an important green space and nature corridor, and the impact on those who currently use this beautiful route to walk, wheel or cycle safely away from traffic.
Similarly, Conservative candidate Christopher Cowdy, also a local councillor, said the extension was an example of an “expensive vanity project”.
Mr Cowdy noted: “Residents, cyclists and walkers in the area have pushed back against the possible loss of a popular greenway filled with flora, fauna and wildlife.
“Although I recognise the arguments that the tram could be delivered alongside a cycle lane and walkway, it would mean destroying the natural habitat that has built up over years and the loss of a much loved ‘lateral park’.”
Read more:
- I cycled the Roseburn Path - here’s why so many cyclists love and defend it
- I love trams but the ones on Roseburn Path could hit 40mph - we need a rethink
- The seven key arguments against building a tram along Roseburn Path
The Scottish Greens provided a statement from council group co-convenor Chas Booth, rather than candidate Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill.
Mr Booth said: “It’s no secret that we have concerns about the Roseburn route - particularly its impact on active travel and biodiversity - [but] we also have worries about the costs and implications of the alternative route options.
“We therefore believe it would be premature to rule out any option before the consultation report is published.”
And Abu Meron of the Workers Party of Scotland remarked: “I am in favour of protecting the Roseburn Path. It is a vital asset for Edinburgh Northern, providing a safe, traffic-free route for walking, wheeling and cycling, while also serving as an important green corridor for local communities and wildlife.”
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