Pentlands to Porty path could be huge asset for city communities - Donald Anderson

However, there’s another project that could be just as fantastic and help create what could be a transformational project for the city. Proposals for pathways along the city’s watercourses go back a long way and

The Pentland's to Porty Pathway would link communities to major employers at the Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter

were specifically mentioned in a ‘Report of Development of the City’ in 1943. Many of the issues raised in that report were tackled but creating high quality routes along some of Edinburgh’s greatest assets has taken a long time.

I first heard the idea mentioned by community activist and founder of the BetterBurdiehouse Burn community group, Tom Anderson from Gracemount. At the time Gracemount and Burdiehouse – and the park, were going through major regeneration schemes, but I always thought it was a great idea.

The prize is a linear pathway from the Pentlands through Fairmilehead, Burdiehouse, Moredun, Gilmerton, Niddrie and Craigmillar and all the way to Joppa where it could meet the Portobello coastal cycleway and link up to the city’s entire waterfront. Indeed, by doing so, you could in theory create a triangular route that would include the Water of Leith Walkway. That route would be around 25-30 miles and would include some of the finest green space and views in Scotland.

The proposal was fully fleshed out by those wonderful people in Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust and has now been included in the City Plan 2030. But public attention for the proposal is scant and progress has stalled.

Like the Water of Leith Walkway, the project would use a natural watercourse to create a strategic recreational and active travel asset. It would provide safer and more attractive routes for walking and cycling while helping residents and visitors discover parts of the city that are often overlooked.

When the walkway was first developed, it was viewed as a long-term investment in the city’s environment and quality of life. Over time it has become much more than that. It now supports recreation, tourism, commuting and biodiversity, while providing access to greenspace for thousands of residents. The Pentland’s to Porty Pathway can do all of that and more. More because although the wildlife is stunning on the Water of Leith walkway, there’s far more around the Burdiehouse/Niddrie Burn with no less than three significant nature reserves along the route.

But there’s also a strong economic case as well. The route would connect major employment centres, including the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh BioQuarter to the local communities around them. Basically, linking many regeneration areas like Niddrie and Craigmillar with the largest employers in the south-east of the city, making walking and cycling more attractive. Better active travel connections can help reduce congestion, improve public health and support Edinburgh’s wider sustainability ambitions.

The Water of Leith Walkway stands as one of Edinburgh’s great success stories. The Pentlands to Porty pathway offers an opportunity to build on that achievement and create a second major green corridor for the city. By linking communities, improving access to nature and encouraging active travel, it has the potential to become a lasting asset for future generations and a transformative project for south-east Edinburgh.