{"id":935852,"date":"2026-05-03T22:42:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T22:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/935852\/"},"modified":"2026-05-03T22:42:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T22:42:21","slug":"candidates-have-their-say-on-the-roseburn-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/935852\/","title":{"rendered":"Candidates have their say on the Roseburn Path"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Save the Roseburn Path<\/a> (SRP) campaigners have been active in the last few years trying to preserve the former railway line as it is, rather than it becoming part of the proposed tramline extension to Granton. <\/p>\n

The group have issued their own mini election report on the proposal by the City of Edinburgh Council to extend the tramline from the north to the south of the city.<\/p>\n

Although anyone elected to The Scottish Parliament at Thursday\u2019s election will not have any direct say on the route which the proposed third part of the Edinburgh tramline will take, SRP say that they have canvassed all political parties on the matter.<\/p>\n

The campaigners say that: \u201cSeveral candidates have given strong, clear commitments to protect the path as a valued green corridor and safe, accessible route for walking, wheeling and cycling. These responses recognise the path\u2019s importance to the local community and align closely with our call to safeguard it for future generations.\u201d <\/p>\n

SRP summarised the responses as: <\/p>\n\nParty<\/strong><\/td>\nResponse<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSNP<\/td>\nCommitment that no tram will be built on the Roseburn Path<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nScottish Liberal Democrats<\/td>\nCommitment that no tram will be built on the Roseburn Path<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nScottish Conservatives<\/td>\nOpposition to the council\u2019s proposals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nWorker\u2019s Party Scotland<\/td>\nFull support for retaining the Roseburn Path<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nScottish Labour<\/td>\nPositive sentiment towards the SRP campaign but no final position taken on the route choice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nScottish Greens<\/td>\nNo commitment on route choice, Overall support for the tram scheme<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nReform UK <\/td>\nNo response received<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Save the Roseburn Path<\/a> said that they were \u201cdisappointed\u201d by the response from the Greens. <\/p>\n

Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust <\/p>\n

SRP also say that the Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust has confirmed their preference for the Orchard Brae Route. <\/p>\n

However what the charity, formerly known as Sustrans, said in November 2025, is this: \u201cAfter completing a robust internal process, it is our charity\u2019s position that, from the two options presented within the consultation, expansion of the tram network along the Orchard Brae alignment would represent the best outcome for the National Cycle Network.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur position on the proposed Roseburn alignment is that we neither support nor oppose this at this stage. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs we have outlined within our response, Walk Wheel Cycle Trust considers that further improvements can be made to the proposed designs, and additional measures can be taken with respect to protecting biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Euan Hyslop, SNP Candidate for Edinburgh Northern. \u00a9 2026 Martin McAdam<\/p>\n

Cllr Euan Hyslop who is also the SNP candidate for Edinburgh Northern responded to SRP<\/a> saying that he lives \u201cright next to the path\u201d and he uses it daily to get to the caf\u00e9 he runs with his partner in Roseburn Park. While he also said that the SNP group on the council support the expansion of the transport, he suggested that the way forward is to conduct the feasibility study on the southern leg to the Royal Infirmary only, and investigate the northern part more. <\/p>\n

Cllr Hyslop told The Edinburgh Reporter: \u201cThe proposal which has been put forward \u2013 when you compare it to the Trams to Newhaven \u2013 all the way from the Bioquarter to Granton \u2013 is huge, it\u2019s massive. We know how much disruption there was during the Trams to Newhaven project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if he agreed that there was considerably less disruption on the Newhaven extension than during the initial tram project, Cllr Hyslop agreed. He continued: \u201cOf course \u2013 and it is important to ensure that we take the tram extension project in bite sizes. We saw how the Newhaven extension was manageable \u2013 the officers had the scope to be able to deliver that on time and on budget \u2013 much thanks to Lesley Macinnes who led on that project early on. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe lesson learned from that is to do it in bite size pieces \u2013 not just a few years down the line to do an incredibly significant extension that would be three times the size. We are in favour of tram. We want mass transit across Edinburgh. We absoultely accept there needs to be a solution to the challenges of traffic congestion in Edinburgh. Our view is to concentrate on that southern leg.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"\"Sanne Dijkstra-Downie. Scottish Liberal Democrats Spring Conference 2026.\u00a9 2026 Martin McAdam<\/p>\n

The Liberal Democrat candidate, Sanne Djikstra-Downie, said: \u201cThe Liberal Democrats are firmly\u00a0opposed to the extension of the tram on the Roseburn path. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Councillor Christopher Cowdy Conservative candidate in Edinburgh South. Photo: \u00a9 2023, Martin P. McAdam www.martinmcadam.com<\/p>\n

Conservative candidate, Chris Cowdy, said: \u201cResidents, cyclists and walkers in the area have pushed back against the possible loss of a popular greenway filled with flora, fauna and wildlife.\u00a0 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 \u201clateral park\u201d.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Eleanor Ryan-Saha Scottish Labour candidate in Edinburgh Northern<\/p>\n

Eleanor Ryan-Saha, Labour candidate for Edinburgh Northern, said: \u201cThe Roseburn path holds a special place for many, myself included, having cycled it regularly on my commute to teach. Its value as a green corridor can\u2019t be overstated and should not be overlooked in this process.<\/p>\n

The dedication of everyone in our constituency who has campaigned so passionately to bring this issue to the fore is truly amazing.\u00a0I recognise that public transport is a vital part of our path to net zero, and as a Labour candidate committed to social justice, I believe this expansion offers a real opportunity to improve connectivity and drive economic growth in the area. That said, I acknowledge that both proposed routes come with their own merits and challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the responses are written out in full on the SRP website.<\/a><\/p>\n

Transport Convener<\/p>\n

But The Edinburgh Reporter has been advised by Transport Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, that the business case (on which any funding applications will be made) must consider the full route from Granton to Bioquarter. <\/p>\n

He said in November last year: \u201cIn terms of funding the proposed extension, we\u2019ve been clear throughout that we would need to explore a range of options. This hasn\u2019t changed. By developing the business case, we\u2019re strengthening our ability to secure funding, regardless of the source. We\u2019re already having advisory discussions with experts at the National Wealth Fund around this. I think it\u2019s also worth highlighting that any Scottish Government funding wouldn\u2019t be required until well into the next Parliament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll now carefully consider the consultation responses as part of the wider business case, which will come back to the Transport and Environment Committee next year. I\u2019d stress too that with any project of this scale, no one route, or plan will be agreeable to everyone. Ultimately my responsibility, and the responsibility of all elected members, is to do what is best for the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consultation<\/p>\n

The council consulted<\/a> earlier this year on the tram route \u2013 on the two options for the northern part of the line. The 12 week consultation closed on 17 November and by that time 11,425 survey submissions were made through the council\u2019s consultation hub. <\/p>\n

There were no other areas of the city where alternative routes had to be decided, although some heritage bodies have objected to the plans to use South Bridge, questioning its strength. <\/p>\n

The council changed their plans since earlier iterations of the proposal, and showed trams with pantographs lowered, running on batteries along parts of the Roseburn Path. They have also changed the plan to include a pedestrian and cycle path alongside. This, the council said, would be a work around, and would reduce the need for engineering work to alter bridges over the path, widen parts of it. Some lenghts of the tramline are now planned as single track.<\/p>\n

The council are due to report on the consultation results in June. The two options were either to take the tramline over the Dean Bridge and down Orchard Brae, or turn north in Roseburn where the tramline would then follow a part of the Roseburn Path to Granton. <\/p>\n

Either route ends in Granton where 3,500 new net zero homes are being built. It is part of the planning permission that 35% of these will be affordable homes. There is 16 hectares of green space and 10,000 metres of a new active travel network planned in the Granton Waterfront development. The Granton gasholder has already been refurbished and the park around it has been created as recreational space with integrated flood defences. Granton Station was restored by 2023, and reopened to the public. The area will benefit from a low carbon heat network which is being designed by Vattenfall.<\/p>\n

Although the campaign did not get any response from the party, we asked the Edinburgh Central candidate for Reform UK for his view. It is not quite in the constituency he is standing in, but Gary Neill has offered a view. He said: \u201cEdinburgh Council has a housing emergency on their hands. That, I suggest, is where they should be focusing their resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The Roseburn Path Picture Alan Simpson
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