Community / Funding worth more than £240k pledged to footpath projects
SHETLAND Islands Council is in line to receive almost quarter of a million pounds of Scottish Government funding towards different footpath projects across the isles.
The money, which is part of a new £20 million investment package, was announced by active travel minister Patrick Harvie.
The six local projects, receiving a total of £242,000, are:
- £15,000 for a new footpath at Baltasound Leisure Centre
- £55,000 for a new footpath at Moorfield Ring Road, Brae
- £21,000 for a new footpath on the A970 South Road roundabout
- £16,000 for a new footpath at Gardentown Road, Symbister
- £56,000 for a new footpath on the A970 at Gulberwick Heathery Park
- And £79,000 for a new footpath on the A970 at Gulberwick Hillside.
Shetland Islands Council’s environment and transport committee chair Moraig Lyall said all of the projects are “already well developed” so it is expected that work to complete them will go ahead fairly shortly.
“It’s clear that there is a real desire in Shetland for additional footpaths to be created so it’s great news that we have been allocated funding for these five projects,” she said.
But Lyall said at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday that the funding has gone to the most advanced projects and not schemes that are most in need elsewhere in Shetland.
The Shetland Central member highlighted how it is therefore important to protects ready to go, in case funding comes through.
The funding was welcomed by Harvie’s Green party colleague, Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess.
“We can ask people to walk, wheel and cycle – but if our streets are dangerous, our pavements blocked off or our traffic too fast, they will not. That’s why this kind of infrastructure is so vital,” she said.
“The new footpaths at Gulberwick will make a big difference to people in South Shetland, enabling the local community and visitors to avoid the A970 and safely access their local community.
“This funding will boost Shetland Islands Council’s active travel strategy and create safer streets for all.”
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