13/06/2026
VICTORY: SILVERKNOWES ROAD IS REOPENING DUE TO BOARDWALK BEACH CLUB ACTIONS AND PERSISTENCE. WORK IS DUE TO BEGIN RESURFACING SILVERKNOWES ROAD ON MONDAY 15 JUNE 2026 AND THE ROAD IS EXPECTED TO REOPEN FULLY TO ALL VEHICLES AND LOTHIAN BUSES FROM JULY 2026 --- VICTORY --- LOCAL BUSINESS PERSISTENCE WINS VICTORY!!! THANKS TO FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY MSP AND GARETH BARWELL, CEC CORPORATE DIRECTOR OF PLACE FOR KICKING ASS AND ENSURING CEC ROADS DEPARTMENT & CEC ACTIVE TRAVEL BLOCKERS ARE OVERTURNED!!! VICTORY TO BOARDWALK BEACH CLUB AT LAST AFTER 6 YEARS OF CEC NONSENSE!!! OUR FACEBOOK POSTS ON THE ROAD CLOSURE HAVE HAD MILLIONS OF VIEWS AND EMAILS AND EXPOSURES TO CEC OFFICIALS HAVE WORN THEM DOWN AND EXPOSED THE CRAZINESS OF GBP200K WASTED IN CYCLE LANE BOLLARDS AND ROAD CLOSURE WHICH HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG SINCE MARCH 2020. VICTORY. ENJOY OUR RECENT EMAILS. LIVE THE DREAM...
EMAIL SENT, JUNE 2026 TO:
FIRST MINISTER: John Swinney MSP;
CEC COUNCIL OFFICIALS: Paul Lawrence, CEC Chief Executive; Gareth Barwell, Corporate Director of Place;
CEC COUNCILLORS: Stephen Jenkinson, CEC Head of Transport
CEC COUNCILLORS: Kevin Lang, Louise Young, Lewis Younie (all local Liberal Democrats), Cammy Day (former CEC Leader), Jason Rust (Conservative), Norrie Work (SNP), Robert Aldridge (Lord Provost, LibDem), Mike Pinkerton (Head of PR and Communications),
LOCAL MP: Christine Jardine (LibDem)
LOCAL MSP: Alex Cole-Hamilton (Lib Dem)
LOTHIAN BUSES: Control Duty Manager.
POLICE: Deborah Graham.
RNLI: Ray Cunningham
Dear Sirs and Madame / TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
Silverknowes Road needs to be reopened as soon as possible BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED as per my warnings to CEC since 2021. Reopen Silverknowes Road. Cycle bollards installed on Muirhouse Parkway and Silverknowes Parkway and two remaining on Silverknowes Road and the vast quantity on upper Silverknowes Road along with concrete blocks and road signs are causing traffic congestion and traffic issues which will result in death or injury. The Active Travel scheme is NOT working in this area. Resurface Silverknowes Road which had its northbound surface removed on 1st October 2026 and has remained open to the elements and remove the two bollards in the middle of southbound carriageway. The Scottish Roads Commissioner is aware of breaches.
For the record. Kind regards, E Tait, Boardwalk Beach Club.
EMAIL RESPONSE On 10 Jun 2026, at 19:22, Gareth Barwell wrote:
Dear Eddie,
Thank you for your email. I have asked relevant Senior Manager to look into this and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
Regards
Veronica, Senior Executive Assistant to Gareth Barwell, Corporate Director of Place, City of Edinburgh Council.
EMAIL RESPONSE at 20:35 by E. Tait to Gareth Barwell:
MANY THANKS. JOHN SWINNEY, THE FIRST MINISTER (CC’D ON EMAIL), IS TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH SILVERKNOWES ROAD SINCE A CHILD AND THE PANTOMINE SHOW THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE WITH THE CLOSURE OF SILVERKNOWES ROAD SINCE MARCH 2020 REFLECTS VERY BADLY ON THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL AND THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT. NOW THAT THE ROAD SURFACE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR 9 MONTHS AND THE 29 LOTHIAN BUS SERVICE WAS REMOVED ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2025 WE NEED ANSWERS AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS FARCE. THE SCOTTISH ROADS COMMISSIONER HAS ALREADY SAID THE ROAD CLOSURE IS IN BREACH OF CLOSURE, THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE SENT THE 32 PAGE AECOM DOCUMENT HIGHLIGHTING FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH STAGE THREE SAFETY AUDIT ONE WEEK BEFORE A CYCLIST HAD A NEAR DEATH ACCIDENT FOLLOWING COLLISION WITH CYCLE BOLLARDS. THE ROAD HAS REMAINED CLOSED DESPITE COUNCILLORS VOTING TO REOPEN IT IN NOVEMBER 2023. THE BEACH GOING PUBLIC AND LOCALS ARE FED UP WITH YOUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT NONSENSE FAILING TO LISTEN AND FAILIG TO ACT IN GOOD FAITH. THE BUS SERVICE WAS REVOKED WITH NO NOTICE. WHY HAS THIS ROAD BEEN ALLOWED TO BE CLOSED FOR SO LONG AND WHY HAS IT BEEN SANCTIONED TO BE CLOSED FOR OVER FURTHER YEAR AND A HALF UNTIL MAY 2027? LOCAL COUNCILLORS SEEM WEAK AND LOCAL MSP COLE-HAMILTON SEEMS MISSING IN ACTION. IN GARETH WE TRUST…THANKS IN ADVANCE. PLEASE MAKE IT A MEMORABLE REOPENING SILVERKNOWES ROAD RESPONSE. PLEASE REOPEN SILVERKNOWES ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED. REGARDS, EDDIE
