3 Both charities warmly welcome the proposal to reopen this line and look forward to the early complementation of the project.

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1 Joint Statement by Sustrans and Railway Paths Limited on points of conservation relating to the proposed development and reopening of the Waverley Line from Edinburgh to Galashiels October Sustrans is a registered charity to promote sustainable transport in general and walking and cycling in particular. Sustrans has been responsible for the development of many traffic-free and railway paths in Scotland, and coordinates the whole UK National Cycle Network. The railway reopening affects some of these routes. 2 Railway Paths Limited (RPL) holds numerous parcels of former railway lines, including over 700 bridges, viaducts and tunnels across the UK. Its remit is to develop these formations for walking and cycling routes in order to maintain their continuity for future public transport purposes. RPL owns a number of sections of currently disused railway in the area, together with a wayleave right at Millerhill. 3 Both charities warmly welcome the proposal to reopen this line and look forward to the early complementation of the project. 4 At the same time, mindful of their remit to also encourage walking and cycling, the two charities anticipate that the overall rail reopening project will take care to encourage walking and cycling, both as the preferred mode of access to the various stations along the line, and for general purposes within the wider corridor of the line because the more the public travel without their car, the more likely they will be to use the trains. Also to take care that appropriate facilities at stations and on trains are provided to encourage cycling. 5 Sustrans, as the lead partner, has had a number of discussions with the Councils and with the Promoters. However, since alternative routes of sufficient detail and quality have not been approved and confirmed, Sustrans and Railway Paths Limited maintain their objections to this railway reopening proposal, but confirm their intent to continue in discussions with the Promoters and the Councils to resolve each detailed issue. 6 In order to give a benchmark for the successful outcome of any agreements, the principal list of points and possible solutions are shown in Appendix 1,

2 APPENDIX 1 WAVERLEY LINE REOPENING: EDINBURGH TO GALASHIELS Points of concern and possible solutions that are yet to be agreed with Sustrans and Railway Paths Ltd October Newcraighall RPL owns an east-west section of former railway parallel to Newcraighall Road (A B). Sustrans National Cycle Route No 1 passes through Brunstane and crosses the railway at point C. Map 1 shows the opportunities for good cycle routes in this area, all of which need to be allowed for and, in some cases, provided as an integral part of the railway scheme. 2 Millerhill Wayleave RPL has a wayleave along the whole western edge of the Millerhill Sidings from Whitehall Road to Old Craighall Road for the purposes of making a link to its disused railway route to Loanhead and as the basis of a direct route to Dalkieth. These routes have been held in suspension pending the development of the Waverley Line Railway. The Wayleave runs from [A to B] and, with the revised alignment of the new railway running further west, will now be cut off and worthless. We request that this current wayleave is replace by a similar one on the west side of the new railway from [C] Newcraighall Road to [D], the start of the disused railway to Loanhead. We envisage that this whole route from Loanhead to Millerhill and Newcraighall can then be brought forward as an adjunct to the railway project and included in new housing development in the area. 3 The City of Edinburgh Bypass and Esk Viaduct The value of the existing railway path over the Esk Viaduct from Dalkieth [A B], is only diminished by the current difficulty of making a good route to Edinburgh and crossing the Bypass. The first issue will be largely resolved by the provisions in 2 as above, and by the new housing developments which will incorporate cycle routes in that area. We request that the railway project provides for a wayleave to the west of the railway south of Loanhead Railway, including space under the bypass and under the Old Dalkeith Road, and then to cross the historic Esk Viaduct if necessary by an attached footbridge incorporated into the bridge balustrade. Finally crossing over or under the railway to reach Dalkeith itself. The total length of this parallel route runs from {C to D]. 4 Dalkeith/Eskbank The existing railway path runs in a narrow confine but, despite this, we hope it can be replaced because it serves a valuable local need. The map shows the key connections to the Penicuik Line and a local crossing from Westfield Park. We would like to comment further in this area as the station plans are developed. NCN 1, which currently runs along the railway line, may be best rerouted through Newbattle as described in a separate detailed study (March 2005) and is covered in the next section.

3 5 Newbattle Viaduct RPL owns Newbattle Viaduct. We have carried out a detailed study for rerouting NCN 1 away from its current route shown on Map 4, to follow the valley floor and to pass under Newbattle Viaduct and Lothianbridge. We await confirmation of this rerouting of NCN 1. Map 5 shows the proposed rerouting of the southern section which is covered in section 6, including an approximate alignment for the critical link to Newtongrange via Lady Lothian's Plantation, a route which will avoid the idea of using Newbattle Viaduct itself as the access route from Dalkeith to Newtongrange. 6 Newtongrange and Gorebridge RPL runs the sections of disused railway from Murderdean Road to the Kirkhill Lodge drive A - B. To the north of Murderdean Road the existing railway path serves a number of local proposals. We suggest that the railway project should reroute the paths in this area as shown on Map 6 and that the scheme should make provision for a route south following Povente Road to the west. The proposed route then continues through to Borthwick to join the current NCN 1 all as suggested in a recent Midlothian council Study. 7 Galashiels and Tweedbank Here we support the proposals set out in a report prepared by the Scottish Borders Council in March Access to Stations We anticipate that each station will be made readily accessible on foot and cycle and that appropriate linking routes and paths are integral with the railway development, taking particular care to ensure that they are direct and advantageous to use.

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