Group urges council to save land for path
RESIDENTS in Strathbungo are campaigning for the creation of a new “active travel” path after a piece of land in the community became available.
The campaign is asking for a strip of land between Moray Place and Crossmyloof station to be reserved by Glasgow City Council after a plot, which previously housed Crossmyloof Care Home and Resource Centre, went on sale.
The Strathbungo Society, which has spearheaded the campaign, launched a survey at the start of the year, with most responses backing calls for a pedestrian path in the area.
Andrew Downie, a member of the Strathbungo Society and resident of the area for more than 20 years, said: “It wasn’t my initial idea, it was another member of the group, but I decided to launch the survey to see if it was something which people in Strathbungo were responsive to.
“Making this piece of land into a pedestrian path might sound like a simple thing but it would make it a lot easier for people to get about in the area.
“Strathbungo has become congested with cars and vehicles over the past few years, and creating a traffic-free path would allow safe travel to the train station and also Morrisons supermarket from Moray Place.
“We have heard of people driving to the supermarket because it was easier to do this rather than walk. The path would go towards cutting back car emissions and benefit the environment.”
In response to the initial survey, a local resident said: “This would be an excellent place to provide a traffic-free safe route from Strathbungo to Crossmyloof for walkers and cyclists.
“‘Active’ is a key strategic goal for Glasgow City Council as it looks to become carbon-neutral and to show climate leadership in the year that COP26 comes to Glasgow.”
Andrew added: “The path would also create a direct route to Hutchesons’ Grammar School so pupils could travel to and from school safely by avoiding the roads which get very busy during rush hour.
“We are asking for the council to reserve this land to create this path as if it is sold with the plot, this opportunity will never come up again.”
It would allow for safe travel