Chance to fashion improvement plan

Consultation on new proposals for town

Consultations are underway on proposals to improve Callander’s streetscape and pedestrian and cycle links.

A joint project between Stirling Council, cycling charity Sustrans, the national park and Callander Partnership is underway to enhance the town.

Amey is undertaking the work on their behalf.

The project area includes Main Street, Station Road, South Church Street and cycle routes between the town centre and Kilmahog.

Quality improvements to streets and better walking and cycling facilities are being reviewed as part of the project.

Traffic has long been a long- standing issue for residents in Callander.

Residents and local businesses were last month asked to give their feedback on suggestions to improve the town.

Callander Youth Project hosted a public exhibition on Saturday to showcase the proposals for the town. These were suggested at an event in April, when townsfolk and businesses were asked to come up with ideas to improve the town.

Some of these proposals include widening the pavement on the north side of Main Street by relocating the parking spaces.

There are also proposals to connect the north and south sides of Ancaster Square through the use of similar surface materials and raise the road so that it is nearly the height of the pavements.

The plans would also see the relocation of the bus stops on Main Street to lay-bys either side of Ancaster Square.

New traffic signals with pedestrian crossing facilities would be put in place at the Main Street, North Church Street and South Church Street junction.

There would be a new pedestrian crossing diagonally across the Main Street, Bridge Street and Cross Street junction.

The project would also see the introduction of pedestrian routes and informal crossing points in Station Road.

Residents want to see a widening of pavements in South Church Street, traffic calming and extension of the walking area to the south.

The new plans would see measures taken to prevent pavement parking and would remove unnecessary signs and street furniture.

A new cycle route between Callander and Kilmahog would also be created.

The proposals have not be finalised and local residents and businesses have the chance to influence changes to the proposals by filling in an online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ callanderproposals.

The results of questionnaires collected at the exhibition event and online surveys will be brought together into a report and submitted to Stirling Council and the steering group for consideration.

The plans will be adjusted to reflect the views that are expressed and Amey will calculate the cost of implementing the proposals.

All improvements are subject to funding being made available.

The questionnaire and plans are available online at www.stirling. gov.uk/roadsconsultation and at Callander Library until June 3.