A one kilometre section of the Penicuik to Dalkeith cycle/walkway between Bonnyrigg and Rosewell is about to be upgraded to allow better access to a wider range of users.

This stretch of walkway is worn and poorly drained and the whin surface will be replaced with a 3 metre wide asphalt surface.

This will improve the access for cyclists, wheelchair users, buggy pushers and those with other mobility difficulties, particularly in the winter months.

The project, which is managed by Midlothian Council Land Services, is scheduled for completion in July 09 and will cost £100,000, funded equally by WREN, who administer landfill tax monies on behalf of Waste Recycling Group and, with the approval of the coaling company, Scottish Coal, from the revenues generated by the Opencast Coal workings at Newbigging. These funds are used to improve the environment in the vicinity of the Opencast workings.

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Councillor Wilma Chalmers, Cabinet Member for Commercial Services said: "The upgrade is in line with our long term strategy to upgrade the busier sections of the Penicuik to Dalkeith route as funding becomes available. This work will mean that the section between Dalkeith and Rosewell will be asphalt surfaced and therefore more accessible to all users."

Midlothian's representative on the WREN Edinburgh and Midlothian Advisory Panel, Councillor Russell Imrie added: "WREN is committed to supporting projects which improve accessibility to our countryside and this particular project will certainly open up another stretch of this important walkway to a much wider group of users."

(GK/JM)