A MORE-THAN-30-YEAR battle for a footpath linking West Barns and Dunbar has stalled.

Calls for a path connecting Beveridge Row with Brewery Lane in Dunbar date back to the late 1980s.

Funding was secured in 2014 through the CALA Homes development at Castle Bay – between Belhaven and West Barns – for a variety of projects.

However, “significant technical and cost issues” have left it looking unlikely that the path, measuring about 200m, will be created.

Currently, youngsters who live on the south side of the A1087 in West Barns walking to and from Dunbar Grammar School have to cross the road twice.

Alternatively, between Brewery Lane and Beveridge Row, people have to walk on a grass verge or the road.

'Not ideal'

Jacquie Bell, secretary of Dunbar Community Council, and Andrew Ashton, chairman of the neighbouring West Barns group, were unhappy that the previously agreed pavement was being pushed to the side.

Mrs Bell said: “I’ve regularly chased it up [with East Lothian Council].

“Every time I have been in touch with them, they have said that it was not happening for one reason or another.”

A review of pedestrian, cycle and vehicle movements around Belhaven is currently under way but there is no timescale for any route.

Mr Ashton said: “It’s not really ideal. It is not very good for crossing if you are on the other side of the road.

“If they stay on the brewery side of the road in West Barns, the pavement would be much simpler for them to get from A to B.”

Undertaking a review

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council confirmed that they had been in touch with both community councils about the proposed footpath.

Already, a footpath connecting the Castle Bay site, which has about 90 homes, to the neighbouring West Barns Primary School has been established.

The council spokesperson added: “The path to West Barns has been completed; however, significant technical and cost issues were discovered in producing detailed designs for the Brewery Lane path.

“What we have done is provide a pedestrian refuge crossing close to the development site entrance to allow improved access to the Edinburgh Road north footpath, which provides a continuous route eastwards.

“An alternative route is also available via a footpath from the north-east corner of the hospital site.

“In addition, road services is currently undertaking a review of pedestrian, cycle and vehicle movement in the Belhaven area with the aim of producing a single masterplan of potential improvements that could be delivered with existing funds and as further funding becomes available.”