Greener Leith Calls For A Green Bridge Over Leith Walk

In a revised planning submission to the City of Edinburgh Council, Greener Leith is calling for city officials to seriously consider whether it would be possible to build a Green Bridge over Leith Walk, that would connect Pilrig Park, and the Western North Edinburgh Path Network with Leith Links and the East Edinburgh Cycle Network. You can read more details in our revised submission to the planning department here.

To some people this main seem a little wacky - but we believe that there may be a real opportunity for Leith as both sides of Leith Walk, where the bridge would go, are set for redevelopment.  This means that  there may be a chance to get developers to make funding contributions to the scheme. Furthermore, Leith has been selected by the Council as the focus of its bid to develop a sustainable travel demonstration town. A Leith Green Bridge, (spanning Leith Walk near Rikki's Music shop, see the photo below) would certainly support this as it would encourage more people to walk and cycle instead of taking the car. However, we're also convinced it would provide an exciting public space in it's own right, and could be a tangible regeneration aim that would benefit everyone who lives in Leith.

The photograph above (we couldn't get a better 'legal one') shows a 'Green Bridge' in Tower Hamlets, London which forms part of the acclaimed Mile End Park. This bridge was built to link a series of smaller parks, and has become a focus for regeneration in the area. Cities all over the world are reclaiming their industrial heritage by greening it - another great example is New York where a community led campaign has driven the regeneration of a disused railway running through the heart of the city.

We want to know why we can't we do this in Leith?

 

Comments

[LeithCyclist]

Interesting idea: personally I'm not so keen for a thoroughly NIMBY-ish reason that my flat (north side of Thorntree St) looks out on the railway arches and the addition of pedestrians would mean that my privacy was invaded - at the moment no one can see into my sitting room. I'm very unkeen at the thought of having to put up net curtains or similar to stop prying eyes.

[Juan Garcia]

I would very much like this idea and I feel my neighbours would like it too. We have suffered from vandalism in our building recently from gangs of teenagers who use the old bridge space to throw eggs, stones and all sorts of things to walkers, cars and buses. This has been reported to the police but there is little we can do about it at the moment. A recreational use of the old bridge and its path would help to regenerate the area with more people using it and will hopefully encourage these teenagers to use the facilities for enjoyment walking and cycling rather than finding that enjoyment on hooligan-like actions.

[Clare]

I love the idea of a green bridge. I live right by the site and I'd support it 100%.

[Andy Barron]

I've only just heard of this suggestion/proposal but would like to voice my support for it. There are numerous examples of highly successful elevated park/green spaces across the world (Paris, London, New York to name but a few) and I think it would be an extremely positive contribution to the area and could offer a real incentive for investment in the area, as well as being an excellent means of promoting walking/cycling in the area. 100% support from me!