'Green bridge' vision for bike link between port's parks

Environmentalists aim to revive rail route for cyclists.

A 'GREEN' bridge to provide a link between the two main parks in Leith would be built under plans put forward by an environment lobby group.

The bridge would follow the path of an old railway line from Pilrig Park across Leith Walk, near the junction with Jane Street and Manderston Street.

The proposal, by the Greener Leith group, is based on a similar bridge in Tower Hamlets, London, which connects two parks over a busy road and would be for cyclists and walkers only.

It would also create a link between the North Edinburgh Cycle Network and routes to Lochend, Leith Links and Portobello, and it is hoped that developer contributions from plans to sell off the neighbouring former tram depot would be put towards the bridge plans.

The Greener Leith proposals will be considered by council chiefs as part of wider development plans being prepared for the area around Bonnington Place and Steads Place/Jane Street.

But cycling and environment groups today called for a feasibility study into the proposals.

Alastair Tibbitt, chairman of Greener Leith, said: "These proposals would make a massive difference to Leith and the use of our green spaces.

"From a cycling perspective, you are opening up the links east towards Portobello and north to Haymarket.

"We know it will not be cheap but the sell-off of the old tram depot on Leith Walk would be an opportunity to look at developer contributions towards this.

"Tower Hamlets is a good example of how they have used bridges to open up the space.

"The railway bridge that used to be over Leith Walk at this point was built to support steam trains so I don't think it would be a major engineering feat."

The Mile End 'green' bridge in London was opened at the turn of this century and links up two bits of parkland previously bisected by a major trunk road.

Its wide structure has allowed trees and grass to grow on top, and shops have been created below the bridge.

A similar campaign in New York is aiming to reuse an elevated, 1.5-mile section of abandoned railway and create a cycle lane and walkways along the west side of Manhattan. It has around 6.7 acres of space and is up to 30 feet high in places.

John Lauder, Sustrans national director for Scotland, said: "We would strongly support this idea. Edinburgh has quite a good cycling network but the problem is the gaps and this bridge would be the solution for one of them.

"Sustrans was involved in the 'green' bridge in London and it has worked wonders down there.

"You don't even know you are on a bridge because it just feels like a natural extension of the park areas and gets you away from a particular busy and nasty road below."

..and plans fit in nicely with Links proposal
PLANS for a 'green' bridge would link in neatly with separate proposals to extend Leith Links all the way down to the waterfront.

A series of new cycle paths, wider pavements and a memorial to the 18th century origins of Leith Links golf course are being considered.

Under a planning blueprint drawn up last year by city council officials, the Links' existing allotments would be retained and extended.

The scheme was first mooted in 2004 by Teague Developments Ltd after it bought the former Salamander Street whisky plant from Whyte & Mackay.

Forth Ports is redeveloping the dockland area to the north of the site in a scheme that includes the creation of the new parkland corridor stretching from Salamander Street to the coast.

Supporters say it could help to curb the problems of vandalism and crime.

• www.greenerleith.org