Cowie to get new pathways

A Cowie community group is celebrating after plans for improving the village’s links took a step forward.

Cowie Rural Action Group have been working for five years on projects that would see Cowie better connected with neighbouring areas via an improved footpath network.

The organisation was successful in securing money for three projects a Cowie/Fallin foothpath, a revamp to the Easterton Park in the village and a path linking Cowie and Bannockburn – via Beauly-Denny mitigation cash and Scottish Power.

But after prompting Scottish Power officials, the group have now been given timelines for the trio of works to be finished.

According to an email sent to the group, a contract for the Cowie/ Fallin path is expected to be given by summer, with the project set for a timeline between autumn 2020 and spring 2021.

The email, sent by SP Energy Network’s environment planning manager Grant Douglas, also reveals that the Easterton Park proposals are currently set to be completed by spring and summer next year, although hope remains for it to be finished near the end of this year.

The final step – a footpath to Bannockburn – has the same target time in the first half of next year.

A spokeswoman for

Cowie Rural Action Group told the Observer: “It has been a frustrating wait and projects have fallen behind timescale but we are glad to see a timeline and plan in place to have these projects make a huge impact to our local community and linking us to Fallin, Throsk and Bannockburn in a safe route.

“The walk between the villages can be dangerous due to unsafe walking paths and sharing the road with oncoming traffic.

“These routes will be welcomed by all walkers and non vehicle users.

“Easterton Park has been allowed to fall in to a disused space, the new park will make an unsightly area welcoming and friendly for our younger park users.