A number of improvements to make Belhaven more accessible and safer for walkers and cyclists were approved at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, to be taken forward when funding becomes available.
Among the measures which received approval were active travel path improvements, pavement widening, and road crossing enhancements.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the volume of traffic accessing the parking area at Belhaven Bay, a trend which was having an impact on pedestrians, cyclists and especially children.
Since the road network around the conservation village was never designed for these traffic levels, a new approach was needed for the movement of vehicles to increase safety for residents and visitors.
East Lothian Council first appointed Stantec in 2019 to explore options to help make it easier to walk and cycle around the Belhaven area. Last year, the Council worked with Stantec to identify projects which could be implemented in stages over several years.
Each proposal went through an extensive community engagement process to gauge their popularity and rank them in order of priority. A total of 360 responses were received during the consultation, including from an online survey, a workshop for community council representatives and local councillors, and drop-in sessions for stakeholders and the general public respectively.
Easier and safer to walk and cycle
The most popular proposal was signalising the junction of Beveridge Row/Edinburgh Road/Shore Road, and the Cabinet approved a measure to seek funding for this scheme.
A shared-use path on Back Road between the junction with Shore Road and Knockenhair Road was considered during the consultation – a move which would require a one-way system for vehicles. Public opinion was divided on this, and therefore the Cabinet agreed to the recommendation for a trial restricting Back Road between Winterfield Place and Winterfield Golf Club to non-motorised vehicles only.
A Shore Road shared-use path was proposed between the A1087 and the car park access, connecting to the John Muir Way. The Cabinet agreed to finalise designs which incorporate the feedback received and to apply for planning permission for the path.
A project to improve the Shore Road Car Park junction and make the parking area to the north for the use of Blue Badge holders only was part of the consultation. The Cabinet approved the improvements and agreed funding should be sought to implement them. It was also agreed to consult further on restricting beachfront parking at Belhaven to Blue Badge holders.
Pavement widening and improvements to the crossing facilities at Duke Street and Brewery Lane, including the widening of footpaths, were among the proposals. The Cabinet agreed to further design work to change the alignment of the crossing and to pursue funding opportunities.
Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “The proposals considered under the Belhaven Masterplan were five years in the making and I was pleased that so many members of the local community viewed the designs and shared their views during the public consultation.
“Belhaven is among the most beautiful locations in East Lothian, and it was our aim is to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle there. We are delighted that these improvements to the area can move forward as external funding becomes available.”