Friday August 22nd 2025
Straiton Park and Ride
This View has been written by Midlothian View reader Pamela Mitchelle
The future of Straiton Park and Ride (P&R) hangs in the balance following Lothian Buses’ decision to cease all services to the site from September 7th, 2025. The move, made in consultation with both the City of Edinburgh and Midlothian Councils, comes in response to a “low volume of customers” and a desire to “reduce journey times for most customers” on the main A701 corridor.
But why is the park and ride underused? Could it be that the busses don’t serve where people want to go? The service withdrawal affects the X37, 47, and 47B bus routes. The X37, was the only express service, and had a very limited schedule with only three daily journeys in each direction and was the only bus to serve South Bridge, east end of Princes Street for the St James Quarter, and along Princes Street itself. The more frequent 47/47B routes, is not express, and did not service these key city center locations, instead travelling along Lauriston Place and Lothian Road. Therefore, Midlothian Council spokesman response that while the services will not be reinstated, measures are being taken build new paths to reach nearby bus stops on the A701, may not be entirely unwelcomed. This offers passengers the option to use the Borders Bus X62 which offers a half hourly express service throughout the day into Edinburgh and the east end of Princes Street.
And why not make better use of Straiton Park & Ride? The station building there has been sitting empty since lockdown. Instead of leaving it to waste away, why not turn it into something useful? Turn it into a drive-through café for example. That could actually bring people in and make the site worth using again. This would provide commuters with access to essential facilities like food, beverages, and toilets, while also giving the car park a new purpose beyond its original, failing design. Feels like that would be a smarter option than cramming more drive-throughs and EV charging onto the already congested roundabout at Straiton (next to B&M) which is what’s currently being proposed in a current planning application.
This concept is not new. Public transport authorities in the England have successfully transformed underperforming P&R sites. For instance, the “Yate Park & Change” facility near Bristol integrated services like electric vehicle charging, “Park & Share,” and “Click & Collect” to create a multi-modal hub. Similarly, P&R sites at Askham Bar in York, Loddon Bridge in Reading, Bridlington, and Fairham Pastures in Nottingham all have ancillary facilities including cafes and retail facilities.
These sites demonstrate that integrating commercial ventures can make P&R sites more financially viable, instead of being run at a deficit by the local authorities. By attracting private investment, the City of Edinburgh Council, or Midlothian Council, should they take ownership of the site, could generate revenue from a currently failing asset. This aligns with the Midlothian Local Development Plan’s long-term vision to turn the A701 into a “sustainable transport corridor” that prioritizes walking, cycling, and public transport. Rather than adding new commercial developments to already congested areas, repurposing the P&R could solve both a land use and a traffic problem.
This transformative vision offers a pathway to turn Straiton P&R from an “inconvenient car park” into a dynamic, multi-purpose transport hub that better serves the community’s needs and provides a model for the future of public transport infrastructure.
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