Tag: cycle path

Project update at end of Stage 2 Concept Design

We have now completed Stage 2 Concept Design for the project in April 2024. This is the first stage of producing design drawings which enables us to discuss the proposed path in more detail with stakeholders such as landowners, the Local Authority, and the community. 

We are planning community engagement activity, including an event later this year to discuss this and the rest of the project with the communities on the route. 

We continue to work with landowners to secure agreement for the proposed route. 

In February this year, Transport Scotland announced a decision to wind up the Sustrans Places for Everyone funding programme over the next year and a half, finally closing in September 2025, and not providing any new construction funding from now. Transport Scotland’s replacement is a new construction fund that will be distributed direct to Local Authorities only and not community organisations. We think that is a pity because community organisations have a much greater focus on working for their local community.

Our approach is to liaise closely with Council officers to ensure they are stakeholders in these design stages, and that local support means the project has to be considered seriously for construction. 

Part of Concept Design in centre of Grange showing a raised table

We applied in May 2024 to our funder Sustrans Places for Everyone to move to Stages 3 & 4 Developed Design. We expect to hear about the result of that funding application in late June or July, and we will update when we do know We understand that it will be a competitive round, so fingers crossed.

Next phase of path development is awarded funding

Artist’s impression of the new path

Off the road walking and cycling links are getting a boost between the Carse villages of Errol, Errol Station and Grange.  We have been successful in securing funding for the next stage of development of the paths. 

The Group’s secretary Roger Humphry said “Roads in the Errol area are experiencing increasing levels of traffic, both cars and HGVs, and if local people including children are to feel save cycling and walking, then we need good quality off road paths.”

Chair Ron Gillies said “We’re really pleased to working positively with Perth and Kinross Council and local landowners to realise this project.  In the longer term we would like to extend the off the road path network across the Carse”.

Last year’s community consultation on the proposed paths showed overwhelming support for more and better links.  It also showed that the main barrier to cycling and walking was road safety, as people were afraid of fast moving vehicles on rural roads.  That perception of danger is borne out by Government statistics; cyclists on rural ‘A’ roads are twice as likely to be killed (per mile travelled) than cyclists on urban roads. 

The current situation is that there is not even a pavement between Errol and Grange, although they are only a mile and a half apart. Pedestrians in particular face an unpleasant and dangerous walk along the straight road joining the villages. They have to deal with fast vehicles and large puddles. 

Carse of Gowrie Group has been awarded £60,000 through Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme, which is funded by Transport Scotland, to carry out concept design and route development for a traffic free path route.  

The Group are planning a cycle festival event to be held around Easter as part of the project.