Funding will improve paths across region

Almost £200,000 is to be splashed out to help puddledodging Forfar Loch walkers. The country park path on the south side of the loch is being upgraded as part of a £741,000 Angus Council programme of improvements.

The money is from Transport Scotland’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) fund.

The Angus allocation has leapt from just over £500,000 last year to £741,621 for 2022-23.

And the Forfar Loch path project is one of the bigticket items on this year’s spending list.

It will be good news for the walkers, dog owners and visitors who enjoy the circular loch route.

Forfar Parkrun participants will also feel the benefit. Wet weather can mean tricky conditions for the Saturday morning parkrunners.

Other than Forfar Loch, projects will de-clutter Montrose High Street and put a £200,000 path in place between Kellas and Murroes Primary School.

And the cash will fund feasibility studies into improving links between towns and villages.

Across Angus there are a dozen projects earmarked for CWSR funding.

● Forfar Loch Path Improvements £186K improving path surface along south of loch and links joining the path.

● Drumachlie Loan, Brechin £35K detailed design work following on from last year’s feasibility study to improve local paths.

● Brechin to Montrose Walking and Cycling Route £15K feasibility study looking at a route between Brechin and Montrose.

● Removal of street clutter in Montrose £10K removal and repositioning of barriers and other street clutter to improve accessibility.

● Barns of Craig, Montrose £131K footpath down into Ferryden connecting into the school exclusion zone at Ferryden Primary.

● Angus railway lines £25K feasibility study looking at disused railway lines across Angus with a view to utilise them as active travel routes between settlements.

● Kirriemuir to Forfar £15K feasibility study looking at improving the route between Kirriemuir and Forfar.

● School Road, Tealing £15K feasibility study looking at active travel routes along School Road and around Tealing.

● Milton Place, Monifieth £13K removal of steps and installation of ramp to improve accessibility for path users.

● Leysmill £60K on new footpaths where there is no provision.

● Kellas to Murroes Primary School An additional £201K phase providing a link from last year’s path from the village of Kellas to Murroes Primary School.

● Hillside to Craigo £15K feasibility study looking into a route from Hillside through to Craigo and on towards Marykirk.

UPGRADE: Improvements to the Forfar Loch paths will benefit the regular parkrunners.