The Drem-Gullane Path Campaign is seeking to complete a safe route for walkers and cyclists between Drem Station and Gullane, bypassing the busy B1345 road.
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00:00I'm Alistair Dalton, the Scotsman's Transport Correspondent in East Lothian, where for the
00:06last 20 years, Scotland's longest running PATH campaign has been continuing.
00:14Local people want a safe route between Drem Station, which provides regular service from
00:21Edinburgh, to the growing coastal community of Gullen.
00:25This four mile route is mainly on quiet roads and tracks, but a final section on this busy
00:32road behind us is still to see a PATH built.
00:39I just cycled from Drem on this main road with one of the campaigners, Ian Monk.
00:45It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience with heavy traffic, even during the middle
00:49of the day.
00:50So, Ian, welcome.
00:53Why is this campaign so important and why have you been involved?
00:57Well, it's important because there is a compelling case, Alistair, for a safe link connecting
01:04Drem railway station and Gullen on the coast.
01:07And Ian, what's the appetite locally for this PATH?
01:11Well, there's overwhelming support for the PATH locally, Alistair.
01:17Not just from residents, but from the business community.
01:20We've got fantastic support from local and national politicians and environmental organisations,
01:28cycling organisations, walking organisations.
01:32Everybody is behind this and we just want to get everybody around the table and get
01:39it delivered.
01:40And what are the prospects of getting this final section completed?
01:44Well, we're actually very encouraged and we're very positive about the future because Gullen
01:49Area Community Council last year voted overwhelmingly to make the delivery of the PATH a priority
01:56for them.
01:57Thanks very much, Ian.
02:00And earlier we spoke to Alistair Muir, who represents Drem, on the local community council.
02:06Well, it's been something that's been on the cards for a long, long time.
02:10A lot of people want it.
02:11I think we've run out of momentum, but it's coming back again.
02:14People want it.
02:15It's an obvious place for it to link up.
02:19It's beautiful countryside, but getting from the railway station to Gullen, other than
02:25by car or by bus, is about the only way you can do it at the moment.
02:29The road here is just too busy and too dangerous.
02:33People go too fast, traffic's too big and there's nowhere for cyclists to go.
02:37So it really would make a huge difference, not just to cyclists, but also to pedestrians
02:41as well.
02:42And for all Scotland's transport news, look at scotsman.com under news and transport.