Good news. All our work has paid off! The Council today passed the motion below. In a mammoth 4.5 hr session, the Edinburgh Council Transport Committee bowed to pressure from 6,000 residents who told them that the plan to run a protected cycle track from Roseburn to Haymarket would be a disaster. In a nutshell, the whole matter has been continued- neither Option A or Option B are being progressed. Instead the Council agreed to establish a member/officer “Stakeholder Group”, comprised of the Convener, Vice Convener, the Transport Representatives of other Political Groups, and local Ward members, and relevant local groups, along with Officers as agreed by the Director of Place, all to act as a “sounding board throughout the detailed design and eventual statutory processes. This group will include ourselves, residents associations, etc: -to note that issues raised so far, to be addressed, are: Taxi position of Haymarket Station area; Safety issues relating to the two-wat cycle lane, Traffic control at Russell Road- Riseburn Terrace junction; West bound bus lane and width of pavement at Roseburn Terrace/ Roseburn Street. -All outstanding design issues raised through the “Stakeholders Group” will then be brought to the “Future Transport Working Group” for final decision. My understanding is that the agreed decision making body would not favour route A. The Committee were convinced by deputations from the Murrayfield Community Council (Robert Smart), Central Taxis (Tony Kenmuir), Art et Facts (-on behalf of traders - George Rendall), and us – the Roseburn Vision Group - (Barbara Knowles and I). STV filmed our protest at the Chambers. And I delivered the petition signatures to Cllr Hinds. The battle is over, the signs can come down. Now the talking starts. So there will be improvements to cycling eventually between Roseburn and Haymarket- and, I think, maybe all the way to Leith, but in essence the conversation on that is only really now beginning in earnest. There will no longer be Council officers in shadowy rooms dreaming up cycle track schemes and trying to sneak them past us and the elected members. That’s a huge victory for common sense. There was a lot of coverage on the evening News: You can read it here http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/d-day-for-cycleway-in-edinburgh-amidst-anger-and-division-1-4216167 and here http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/cycleway-delay-sparks-claims-of-political-fudge-1-4217049 What an experience it’s been for all of us! You’ll be hearing a lot less from me in future. I’ll get in touch from time to time if there is useful news. But if you want to keep fighting for Roseburn, there is a fresh battle for Roseburn Park beginning over its development. For more info on that, head over to www.friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk (I’m chair). There’s a bake-off and sports event we are organising this Sunday (please come) where you can learn more - and an AGM on the 21st Sept (we need a committee member or two!). The good thing, I find, as I get older, is that there’s always something to be grumpy about. Best wishes Pete Gregson www.kidsnotsuits.com