Active travel hub plans for Balmaha

Plans have been lodged to create an active travel hub in Balmaha.

Drymen Community Development has submitted an application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

The proposals also include installing an NMU (non motorised user) bridge, alterations to a footpath/roadway to incorporate a“jug-handle”turn, and alterations to bus stop facilities.

The site is a north verge path and footway of the B837 Drymen to Balmaha Road between Balmaha car park and Auchingyle Burn.

In their application, the trust said:“The application concerns three areas of the active travel route. The NMU active travel bridge at Auchingyle is required due to current restrictions within the carriageway and requires a change of use as there is currently no formal public access.

“Gateway features at the entry to the village will feature the jug-handle turn to assist cyclists in leaving shared use and entering the carriageway at the proposed 20mph speed limit. The third area is the improved bus stop facilities and active travel hub.

“The route is currently a pedestrian footway which is being upgraded to shared-use. This requires provision of a new bridge for NMU to bypass the restricted width bridge, the current land use at this location is a wooded area at Auchingyle Burn. The cyclist jug-handle turn is to the north of the carriageway next to the verge and the active travel hub is located within the footprint of the Conic Hill carpark at the existing bus stop.

“Path users are expected to follow the outdoor access code and take litter home where there is no refuse facilities available. There is a bin available in Balmaha at the car park, which is where people would be expected to wish to stop, rather than on the route itself and so no further bins are required or desirable.”