South Queensferry residents are embroiled in a bitter battle with Transport Scotland to secure road access to their new homes.
Transport Scotland have refused access to the Ferrymuir Gait road forcing all residents from the new development to travel through the existing Varney Estate.
All 124 houses on the development must now use Henry Ross Place despite Ferrymuir Gait being the most direct route into the housing development.
Heavy construction traffic used Ferrymuir Gait throughout the build.
The developer has offered to upgrade the road to adoptable standards and Edinburgh Council has indicated a will to adopt the road once this takes place.
Transport Scotland could risk court action if the refusal to permit access continues.
Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury said: “There is considerable anger among residents from both developments. They are strongly in favour of Ferrymuir Gait being used to access the new development.
“Despite my attempts at mediation, this issue has remained irreconcilable for many months, and looks like it will inevitably end in legal action.
“For the sake of the use of one road, Transport Scotland appear to be willing to drag this through the courts at what will inevitably be great expense to the taxpayer.
“I do not believe that the Scottish public will see legal action to prevent residents’ access to new homes as a good or explicable use of public funds.
“It seems to me that it is clearly in the public interest – from the point of view of the residents and the Scottish taxpayer – that this matter be settled reasonably between the two parties.