JG/caf/722

9 December 2005

Dear Mr Cochrane

Waverley Railway () Bill Committee

Thank you for your letter of 28 November with the Promoter's Response to our objections.

I enclose our response in the required form where we seek clarification on a few points. Upon the satisfactory receipt of these we will be able to withdraw all our remaining objections.

Under A ACQUISITION OF LAND we accept the Promoter's response and withdraw our objections.

Under B LOSS OF AMENITY our response set out as your require is as follows.

A Section 1 Newcraighall Section 2 Millerhill Wayleave Section 4 /Eskbank Section 7 Galashiels to Tweedbank Section 8 Access to Stations

B Section 3 City of Edinburgh Bypass and Esk Viaduct

We remain unconvinced that there are proposals for a good quality cycling route attractive to all capabilities of cyclists linking Shawfair to Dalkeith. The Response to our objections refers to the South East Wedge Cycle Network passing under the bypass and through Dalkeith Country Park to join Salters Road. If the Promoter can confirm that this route will be developed and opened to the public, and supply us with the appropriate plan, we will then wish to withdraw this objection.

Section 5 Viaduct

The Response to the Objections says that the Promoter is facilitating the development of this route – para 39 – namely route "X" with an additional key connection between Newtongrange and Route "X" through Lady Lothian's Plantation. If the Promoter can confirm that he indeed supports this route and that Council is working to create a single linked National Cycle Route 1 through the Dalkeith area and as proposed from Newtongrange to Castle, then we will wish to withdraw this objection.

Section 6 Newtongrange and Gorebridge

We support the cycle route set out in the Response to the Objections. Can the Promoter confirm that the works referred to as paths, footpaths or footbridges in 42a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and I, are all in fact intended to be shared use paths designed for pedestrians and cyclists equally. If this is so, we will wish to withdraw this objection.

C None

D Section 5 Newbattle Viaduct

We wish to pursue this item in oral evidence, if the Promoter is unable to give us the assurance sought in Section B above.

Our witness will be John Grimshaw, MBE, Chief Executive of Sustrans, or if this is not possible, Tony Grant, our Scottish Director. Our evidence will take 20 minutes.

Yours sincerely

John Grimshaw MBE Chief Executive