Council bid to make roads safer in Angus

Roads in Angus could be turned into walking and cycle paths as part of measures to make social distancing easier.

Angus Council is preparing a plan including 20mph zones, closing some roads and using road space to widen footpaths.

It will form a bid for a share of the £10 million Spaces for People funding from the Scottish Government, announced at the end of last month.

The local authority is working with Angus Community Planning Partnership on the details but priority will be given to town centres and routes to and from schools, hospitals, shops and pharmacies.

Mark Salmond, the council’s communities convener, said: “This funding is specifically for temporary measures we can make immediately to enable more active travel and to make our streets safer.

“We also have funding available through Transport Scotland’s cycling, walking and safer routes for a longer term programme of work and we are looking to get ideas on what could be done to make Angus a cycle and walking friendly area.”

Although the measures are temporary, it is hoped encouraging people to walk and cycle through town centres will help local businesses recover when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Ideas on how to implement the measures can be sent to roads@angus.gov.uk by Friday.

It comes just after consultants were appointed for the £13 million project to join together “divided” Arbroath.

The Sustrans scheme to improve cycling and walking provision, with a major reworking of part of the A92 through the heart of the town, has moved forward with Angus Council’s Covid-19 special arrangements committee putting the design phase for the project out to a tender expected to cost £500,000 to £1 million.

Officials have admitted the pandemic will have an impact on the progress of the Places for Everyone scheme and controversy continues to surround the plans, with critics claiming the design is already a “done deal” after very little public consultation.

Construction is due to get under way in 2022, with completion towards the end of 2023.