110 rural footways to be built

Perth and Kinross councillors have committed to building 110 new footways across the region where part of the route is missing or where better connections are needed.

It is hoped the move, rubberstamped at an environment and infrastructure meeting on Wednesday, will make the footways more accessible to pedestrians.

The council has £300,000 available for 16 of the routes, ranked according to various criteria. Priority has gone to footways that can be constructed within the existing road network.

Other footways may involve work outwith the network while others may involve a land transfer, holding up the process. A report put to councillors stated:“The expansion of the rural footway network will help support the active travel strategy, by bringing about opportunities for rural residents and visitors to adapt their travel habits.

“The installation of new rural footways, or shared use paths for walking and/or cycling, will encourage the required behavioural change towards more active travel.” The first 16 footways are: Mark Findlay Drive (phase one), Longforgan

Abbey Road, Scone, from Abbey Terrace to Sandy Road

Turfhill Roundabout to Davis Park, Kinross

Ardblair Trail, Elm Drive, Blairgowrie

Mark Findlay Drive (phase two), Longforgan

Northfield Road to Oakbank Road, Guildtown

A94 Wester Denhead, Coupar Angus Broich Terrace, Crieff Moncur Road, Inchture Castle Brae, East Huntingtower Station Road, Coupar Angus at Red House Hotel

Birnam Wood Way (east and west),Wolfhill County Place, Pitcairngreen Kingswell Road East to Main Street, Longforgan

B9099 Murthly Road, Caputh to Caputh Bridge Strowan Road, Comrie. Some routes are already included in the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) scheme. Cash from the CWSS budget may be made available in these cases.