Work begins on next stage of promenade

The Edinburgh Promenade scheme will see 20 key areas of the Capital linked by a ten-mile walkway, with the first mile-long stretch between Silverknowes and Granton already completed at a cost of 210,000.

Now work has begun up to Granton Harbour alongside measures to repair battered sea defences.

The creation of the new six-metre-wide footpath and cycleway running parallel to West Shore Road and stretching from Chestnut Street in the east to the West Shore trading estate in the west, is expected to take up to eight weeks and will cost around 110,000.

But the whole route from Cramond to Portobello is not expected to be completed for up to 30 years and will cost millions.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "As has already been demonstrated by the popularity of its first section, opened just over a year ago, the Edinburgh Promenade is clearly meeting its main objective of offering residents of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a walk, run or cycle along the sea front and to enjoy the wonderful views across to Fife.

"Beyond that, the promenade remains a key element in our plans to make the Waterfront an attractive and high quality visitor destination and, through increasing visitor numbers to the area, we expect to attract substantial investment to the city and, with that, create much-needed jobs."

He added: "This project highlights that, despite challenging economic conditions, this council is continuing to invest in the development of high quality public spaces for the people of Edinburgh."

The already completed section of the promenade has become popular with cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts and families.

It is thought that the completed ten-mile promenade will mean up to 300 local jobs are created by businesses along the path, and there will also be new barbecue areas, cafes and restaurants and works of art, according to the council.

However, not everyone is happy about how long the project is taking to complete.

Speaking at the launch of the first section last year, Nikki MacLeod, an active cyclist and retired lecturer, credited the council for opening the first section, but added: "I don't think it's good enough that the council are taking so long and working on a limited annual budget for the project.

"I could be dead by the time the whole thing is complete."

Earlier this month the council announced plans to spend 500,000 repairing damaged coastal defences which were battered during poor weather in March.