Gold award for cycle friendly community
National body present prize
The Coupar Angus Cycling Hub has been recognised as a ‘cycle friendly community’ by Cycling Scotland, the national cycling organisation.
And the Forward Coupar Angus initiative was awarded gold for its efforts - making the east Perthshire cycling hub the first in Scotland to achieve the highest possible standard.
The news was announced at the opening event of the Coupar Angus Cycling Festival, which took place over seven days last week.
Coupar Angus cycling development officer, Grant Murdoch, was presented with the award at the event by Pete Mills from Cycling Scotland.
The Cycle Friendly Community Award (CFCA) aims to encourage and support communities across Scotland to take a leading role in increasing the number of people who cycle locally.
The Coupar Angus Cycling Hub was worked hard towards achieving the award and was delighted to have been assessed as being of gold standard level.
Since his appointment, Grant has initiated school bike clubs, organised the bike workshop and its volunteers, started selling bikes and raising funds for a cycling training track.
He said: “It has been great to work with people in the town and to see the enthusiasm for cycling that has developed.
“It’s absolutely amazing to be the first gold cycling community in Scotland and it’s thanks to all the volunteers, the mechanics and so many people who have worked so hard to so this.”
John Palfreyman, one of the founders of the cycling hub and a member of Forward Coupar Angus, was delighted with the award.
He said: “This is a real accolade for the town, for Grant Murdoch for all of his work as cycling development officer and for members of the town for reacting so well to Grant’s enthusiasm.
“Of course this would not have been achieved without various organisations funding the project and Forward Coupar Angus, which set up the CAC Hub, is particularly thankful to the Climate Challenge Fund, the Robertson Trust, NHS Tayside and Cycling Scotland itself for providing funding over the past couple of years.”
Presenting the award, Pete said: “It’s been great working with Coupar Angus Cycling Hub and I’m really pleased to be awarding them the first Cycle Friendly Community Award at gold level.
“John, Grant and the team have shown real commitment to getting more people cycling locally, whether to the shops, work, school or leisure.
“I wish them all the best with their future plans and look forward to visiting again to see the difference their hard work and determination has made.”