DREM-GULLANE PATH CAMPAIGN

December, 2005

 

The desire for a safe walking and cycling route between Drem and Gullane was first identified during early consultations for East Lothian Council Core Paths Plan. As a result of these consultations, a core path route was shown linking Drem to Gullane as a ‘red dotted line’ (core path number 357).

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August, 2008 onwards

 

There were a number of attempts to implement core path 357 that involved discussions with two landowners. A 75 metre section of new path was constructed at a cost of more than £5,000, then both landowners withdrew permission for the remainder of the core path to be constructed, due to concerns – loss of productivity, spraying, shooting - which could not be allayed.

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December, 2010

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East Lothian Core Paths Plan was formally adopted by the Council. Core path 357 now has legal status.

 

2011–2012

 

Campaigners continued to gather support by leafleting local residents and holding a number of public, well attended meetings in Gullane Village Hall.

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April, 2013

 

East Lothian Local Access Forum formally offered their advice to East Lothian Council. This was to continue to work towards the implementation of a core path between Drem and Gullane along the new route suggested by one of the landowners.

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April, 2015

 

East Lothian Access Forum, on behalf of the campaign, approached the landowner who continued to state that the only option he will consider is the route following the west side of the B1345.

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October, 2015

 

Path campaign organised community walk from Gullane to Drem along existing core path routes.

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May, 2016

 

Mediator commissioned by East Lothian Council in a bid to identify a way forward.

 

Landowner reaffirms offer of an off-road route on the west side of the B1345 from Drem – consistent with his publicly stated support for a path between the villages

 

Mediator completes report and recommends support for landowner's route.

 

Drem-Gullane Path Campaign formally backs landowners' route.

 

January, 2017

 

Drem-Gullane Path Campaign formally requests Gullane Area Community Council to back the route offered by the landowner.

 

Parliamentary representatives and national campaign groups write to the Community Council voicing support for the path: Iain Gray MSP; George Kerevan MP; Claudia Beamish MSP; Colin Smyth MSP; Ramblers Scotland; Spokes Lothian; We Walk, We Cycle, We Vote lobby group.

 

Gullane Area Community Council formally back route offered by the landowner.

 

August, 2017

 

Sustrans Scotland-funded consultants, Peter Brett Associates, are commissioned by East Lothian Council to prepare a feasibility study including design options for route - following B1345 to layby - offered by the landowner.

 

September, 2017

 

Campaign organises the first of three meetings with CALA Homes, West Fenton Farm, East Lothian Council councillors and West Fenton residents to discuss Gullane-West Fenton path and steps to secure Quiet Roads designation for West Fenton.

 

February, 2018

 

Consulting engineers Peter Brett Associates make a presentation to campaign group, Drem residents and Council officers on 20 February.

 

They outline engineering options for the 1.2km section that will travel on the west side of the B1345 from Drem northwards to the layby by the Peffer Burn.

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February, 2019

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Peter Brett Associates, again funded by Sustrans Scotland and commissioned by East Lothian Council - start work on path feasibility study for entire Drem-Gullane route. 

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June, 2019

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Peter Brett Associates deliver feasibility report to East Lothian Council concluding that a new cycle route/link from Drem to Gullane is not currently viable.

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August, 2020

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Cala Homes is granted planning permission to construct a path travelling from its Gullane housing development to West Fenton.

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September, 2020

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East Lothian Council and Sustrans Scotland issue a news release announcing that they intend to take a fresh look at plans for a safe link between Drem and Gullane. 

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November, 2020

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East Lothian Council submit a funding application to Sustrans Scotland to undertake a feasibility study of the Drem section of the proposed path.

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April, 2021

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All four candidates to be East Lothian's next MSP back Drem-Gullane path campaign.

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November, 2021

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East Lothian Council submits revised £30,000 funding application to Sustran Scotland for feasibility work on design options for first section of the path.

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January, 2022

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Sustrans Scotland awards East Lothian Council £30,000 to examine design options for the first section of a path.

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March, 2022

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East Lothian Council allocates £30,000 in next year's budget to progress path plans.

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April, 2022

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Consultants Stantec begin work at Drem preparing design options for the first section of path.

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October, 2022

 

Consultants submit report to Council.

 

April - September, 2023

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Repeated attempts to engage with landowner over freeing land on key section west of Drem. The landowner did not respond to our communication.

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October, 2024

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We apply for Drem-Gullane path to be included in East Lothian Council's next Local Development Plan

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January, 2025

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East Lothian Council leader Cllr Norman Hampshire publicly backs path campaign.

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