A new Park-and-Ride facility providing free car parking for 600 vehicles was formally opened at Straiton on October 3.

Located beside the Straiton Retail Park in Midlothian, the new park and ride - which will complement existing services at Newcraighall, Ferrytoll, Hermiston, Ingliston and Sherrifhall - is the latest in a ring of Park-and-Ride services being built around the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The site has a purpose built terminal building, a new signalised road junction, cycle and pedestrian facilities and road improvements. Other features include CCTV, a real-time information board which tells commuters when the next bus is due, a vehicle messaging system and parking management. There will be high frequency buses from the park to the city centre at peak times as well as a Saturday and Sunday service.

-- Advertisement --

Councillor Phil Wheeler, Transport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "I am delighted to formally open the new site at Straiton. The Park-and-Ride facility provides 21st century facilities which will ease the traffic burden on the city of Edinburgh, reduce carbon emissions and provide a secure, reliable way for hundreds of commuters to get into Edinburgh in record time and without taking their car.

"This is a further step towards achieving our aim of a ring of park-and-ride sites around the city, a key objective of the council's local transport strategy. I have no doubt this growing network of park-and-rides will encourage more people to think about the benefits and ease of switching from the car to public transport."

Councillor Russell Imrie, Chair of SEStran - and who is also Midlothian Council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Services - added: "We are delighted to offer additional choices to shoppers and commuters with today's opening of the Straiton Park-and-Ride facility.

"Located just beside one of Midlothian's newest shopping centres, Straiton is one of a number of new park and ride facilities which have been developed to help deliver the free-flowing and efficient movement of goods and people which is vital to supporting a dynamic and flexible market economy in the Lothians."

Funding for the Straiton Park and Ride has been provided by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) and Edinburgh council's capital investment programme.

(GK/JM)