Garden plan is set to be mowed down

AN INITIATIVE by a local residents association to extend a private garden over a public footpath is to be blocked by the council.

The Malbet Residents Association had hoped to have an area of the public footpath at Malbet Park, Liberton, designated as garden ground.

The plans would see a link between the Malbet Estate and Liberton High School closed off, something residents of the estate say would reduce the problems they claim are being caused by noisy pupils from the school.

Parents have argued the link is an vital, safe route to and from the school for pupils, and council officials have agreed that closing off the path is not acceptable.

Alan Henderson, the council's Head of Planning and Strategy, said: "The closure of the footpath would force those to the west of the school to take convoluted detours in order to reach their destination."