Advocating for active travel

ACTIVE travel advocates in St Andrews have stressed they will “take the community with them” in their bid to transform how people get around in the town.

With support from Sustrans, Transition St Andrews is drawing up plans to introduce more space for walking and cycling.

Transition St Andrews is made up members of the community and university focusing on carbon reducing projects.

Alistair Macleod

is project manager with the group.

He said the plans are at an early “fact-finding” stage, with no routes yet identified – although he has some ideas where could use investment.

An online consultation has been launched to canvass residents’ views.

Mr Macleod promised to include the community after witnessing backlash from some businesses when Fife Council removed car parking space as part of the Spaces for People scheme.

Business owners decried a perceived lack of public consultation during that project.

Mr Macleod hopes to have a draft of cycle and walking paths to present by early next year.

He said: “St Andrews is a small coastal town with no rail links and few active travel options, but it has a huge amount of visitors.

“We cannot keep piling cars in.

“We have to make big changes if we are to meet our climate goals.”