Boost for walking and cycling

Focus on active travel plans

Over the past year, £187,000 has been invested in encouraging residents to take up cycling and walking.

And, plans are expected to be approved this week to introduce cycle lockers at bus stops and widening footpaths across the region.

Councillors will be asked to rubberstamp “active travel” plans at a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment and infrastructure committee tomorrow (Wednesday, May 23).

The council has committed to improving opportunities for cycling and walking for all ages, and moves such as introducing shared paths and improvements to helping those with visual impairments and mobility issues have been brought in.

At tomorrow’s meeting, elected members will be asked to approve introducing cycle lockers at bus stops in the Carse of Gowrie, and widened footpaths in Perth and Blairgowrie.

Potential projects could also see existing footpaths widening and pavement “build-outs” to assist school pupils.

Councillor Angus Forbes, convener of environment and infrastructure, said: “The projects we have taken forward, and those we are looking at for this year and next all aim to make a difference in our communities.

“The key areas of focus are to improve our infrastructure and transport links, benefit residents’ health and wellbeing by increasing options for cycling and walking, and make journeys to and from school and community facilities safer.

“We want to make the most effective use we can of our available funding. As a result, the revised criteria for new rural footways is intended to focus on delivering best value - the maximum benefit we can achieve for communities through these types of works.”

The committee will meet to discuss the active travel strategy in the council chambers tomorrow at 10am.