Immortalised in RLS's classic – now beauty spot to be saved from harm

Council leaders in Edinburgh want to ensure that the "rest-and-be-thankful" spot on Corstorphine Hill is permanently protected from development.

Officials at Edinburgh Zoo had earmarked part of the hill's official nature reserve for a possible expansion several years ago and agreed a sell-off deal for part of the land with the local authority.

A 15 million deal was agreed nearly three years ago but was shelved by the new council administration after the 2007 election.

And the council has now begun moves to safeguard the whole nature reserve, including the celebrated viewpoint where Alan Breck parted from David Balfour at the end of Stevenson's novel.

If approved, the move would effectively prevent the zoo, one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions, from expanding eastwards.

Campaigners have been demanding better protection for the nature reserve since it emerged that the council was in talks with the zoo over a potential land sale.

However, senior councillors want the local authority to strike an agreement with the Fields in Trust group, which campaigns to protect parks and other recreational areas from development.

Lib Dem councillor Paul Edie, health and social care leader on the council, said the aim was to see remaining public green space on Corstorphine Hill, including the rest-and-be-thankful, "secured in perpetuity".

He said: "The council has no plans to sell any of this land at the moment, but there is really nothing to stop a future administration from doing so if it voted to designate part of it for development.

"The zoo has told the council it does not need this land, and we are taking their word on that, but this designation would mean this area is protected forever."

Former Edinburgh West MSP Donald Gorrie is now secretary of the Friends of Corstorphine Hill group.

He said: "There has been a long-running argument over whether the zoo should be allowed to expand on to the nature reserve and we're seeking a meeting with them to find out their plans.

"However, we do not want to stop any expansion of the zoo from its existing site whatsoever. It should just get on and develop the land it has."

Colin Rennie, Scottish manager for Fields in Trust, said: "We work with local authorities to protect and improve outdoor spaces and facilities. Where we reach agreement with a council, the deeds of an area are drawn up to ensure it is retained as public greenspace in perpetuity."

The zoo has already won approval in principle to sell some of its land at the western end of its site to fund improvements to the popular attraction.

The Scotsman revealed earlier this month how the zoo had been forced to scale back improvements planned over the next two years.

No-one from the zoo was available for comment yesterday.