St Mark’s Path closure: Edinburgh council urged to rethink ‘unacceptable’ 2028 timeline for bridge repairs
The Community Councils said they were “dismayed by the apparent absence of genuine urgency”
Community councils have expressed “profound dismay and deep frustration” and demanded urgent action over the prolonged closure of a vital travel route in Edinburgh.
In an open letter, New Town and Broughton Community Council and Leith Central Community Council joined forces to demand “immediate, accelerated, and solution-focussed progress” on reopening St Mark’s Path in Warriston which has been closed for four months.
The path from Broughton Road to St Mark’s Park was abruptly closed at the end of June after a bridge along it failed a safety inspection.
Councillors revealed at the end of August that the path would remain closed until “at least early 2028” as a split in one of Powderhall Bridge’s timbers meant it was “highly likely” the entire bridge would need to be replaced.
The open letter called this timeline “unacceptable”. It said the council should explore interim measures to reopen the “vital travel link” such as in-situ repairs or an off-the-shelf “drop-in” bridge.
They want an independent engineering report into these interim measures published by early December.
The community councils said: “A vague timeline pointing towards a distant reopening in 2028 is entirely unacceptable for an active travel route of this importance.
“Allowing a primary pedestrian and cycling artery to remain severed for years without exhausting every interim engineering intervention fundamentally flies in the face of CEC’s stated commitments for net-zero, active travel, and community wellbeing.
“This is in stark contrast to the immediate urgency with which the council responds to motor vehicle road closures.”
The closure has disrupted residents and businesses alike. Yossi Mazon, who runs DelishYoss Coffee Bar from a police box at the path’s entrance, previously told the Evening News the council’s timeframe was “soul-crushing”.
He said: “The drop in income is massive. These are people who are cut off from their arteries but they’re also cut off from my police box.
“I can sustain a footfall drop of 40 per cent as I have for the last few months for a little bit but this business is all I have, it is what sustains my family.”
In a briefing note shared by the council earlier this month, it said the ad-hoc inspection in June which had recommended the closure stated that “structural failure could occur at any time”.
At least 13 bridges similar to St Mark’s have reportedly failed or been closed in the UK since 2020.
The note added: “A temporary footbridge is not a viable or practical solution for this project, even if an ‘off-the-shelf’ system such as an Acrow temporary bridge is used.”
Alongside urging the council to appoint a designated point of ownership for the project, the community councils’ also criticised the lack of a signed diversion route months after the path’s closure.
According to Mr Mazon, the diversion through a private housing estate and up an uneven gravel path has already created frustrations for residents of the estate who have to put up with the increased pedestrian traffic.
The council’s briefing note said signs would be put in place “shortly”.
Progress on the bridge’s replacement will begin once funding becomes available in the new financial year, with replacing the bridge estimated to cost around £2.2 million.
Carrick Knowe Avenue Footbridge and Westfield Avenue Footbridge have also been prioritised for inspection
The City of Edinburgh Council has been approached for comment.