New Year brings a new phase at The Forthquarter as 20 acre park connects development to waterfront
Residents, visitors and businesses in North Edinburgh resolving to get fit and active this new year have no excuses for letting their good intentions fall by the wayside as developer National Grid Property has finally been able to open up The Forthquarter Park. This brand new leisure and recreation facility has until now been accessible only to those in the know.
With access points at West Shore Road, West Granton Road and Waterfront Broadway these 20 acres of landscaped natural parkland, water features, cycle ways and footpaths now connect the existing community with the one that is emerging, integrating the old with the new and, most significantly, providing a natural link with the waterfront and promenade. A significant step welcomed by businesses, residents and outdoor activity providers in the area.
Staff at Waterfront Nursery in Edinburgh’s Telford College are also happy that this section of the Park is finally accessible. Manager Lynn Muir said“ We already use the park for outdoor activities; in fact we held our ‘Walk a mile for Pudsey’ there this year. However after such a long wait it is good to know that the whole park is now open for the children to enjoy.”
National Grid Property, the developers behind the regeneration of the former Granton gasworks, were set to open the Park in April 2008 but following heavy rainfall it was found that run off from damaged drains in the surrounding areas had badly affected water quality in Caroline Burn.
Although local schoolchildren and invited guests were disappointed to be informed that the widely publicised opening event could not go ahead, National Grid Property decided that it could not allow public access until the issues had been rectified.
Following lengthy negotiations with Scottish Water and SEPA and a two-year programme of monitoring and testing water quality at the burn, National Grid is now satisfied that Scottish Water has a robust maintenance and repairs program in place to prevent or identify potential future occurrences.
The water features are a lasting reminder of the industrial heritage of the area:
Caroline Burn has been released from its underground culvert to flow naturally through the Eastern section of the Park and a former cooling pond has been transformed to provide a home for a wide range of local wildlife.
National Grid Property are forging links with local schools, outdoor activity providers, ranger services and a host of organisations to encourage people to take ownership and make the most of this natural environment for leisure, educational and environmental activities.
