Grant gift boost to active travel users
Walking and cycling project for villages
A £250,000 grant has been secured to improve active travel in Balfron.
Balfron Community Council were awarded the funding to take forward its ‘A Space for Living’ project which was the focus of a public consultation in the village earlier this year.
The award was made by the national sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, through their Community Links programmes which provides funding towards projects which encourage more people to walk,cycle, scoot or wheel. It is backed by the Scottish government.
Community councillors will now work with Stirling Council and Sustrans to deliver the project.
In 2015 the community council began consultations in response to widespread concerns over the village’s public environment, and in particular its street conditions and transport provision.
A series of desirable outcomes were identified and consultants were then hired to carry out a review of needs and opportunities which went to public consultation in the form of an exhibition in May, at which a large number of villagers attended.
It addressed some of the issues and challenges facing the village including use of public space, parking, footpaths, public transport, traffic management and road safety.
Dave Keane, Community Links manager for Sustrans, said: “This is a fantastic project which addresses the needs of the community for improved walking and cycling links across the village.
“It’s great to see a strong working relationship between the council and community council, a high quality of community engagement which has laid a good foundation for the project to develop on.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the community council on this project.”
Community council chairperson Colin Cameron said: “This is a truly exciting opportunity to improve the environment of the whole village, and to make it work to the benefit of all who live in it and use it for years to come.
“We’re very grateful for the hard work of the residents who have got us this far, and to both Stirling Council and Sustrans for their support and their confidence in this ambitious and transformational project.”
Councillor Jim Thomson, convenor of Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee said: “By working closer together we can help deliver the change desired in specific areas, in accordance with our own strategies and plans, improving access for everyone across Stirling.”
The initial phase of the project will be to produce detailed design proposals informed by a further series of community consultations to ensure that as many people as possible are engaged in planning for the village’s future.