Minister announces funding for a new cycle path in the Trossachs
The funding will be allocated to Sustrans Scotland who will work with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Forestry Commission Scotland to construct the 3.5km cycle path.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park will also provide match funding for the new path between the two villages.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said:
“I am pleased to announce funding for this new cycle path which will provide a traffic free route between the communities of Strathyre and Kingshouse. It will allow residents the opportunity to walk and cycle as part of their everyday journeys and provide access to existing routes in the surrounding areas.
“The Scottish Government is committed to investing in cycling infrastructure, training and road safety projects through active partnerships with charities such as Sustrans to make Scotland a more active and healthy nation and increase the numbers of people choosing to cycle each day.
“This funding is in addition to the £20 million announced in September and will help to deliver our commitment to the shared vision as reiterated in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2013, that by 2020 10% of all journeys will be by bike.”
John Lauder, National Director of Sustrans Scotland said:
“Sustrans Scotland is delighted to be delivering this project from Strathyre to Kingshouse. The new route will provide local people with an excellent off road facility to use on a daily basis, rather than using the busy trunk road. We envisage that it will also prove popular with tourists from both home and abroad, especially given that this is such a scenic part of Scotland.
“We are delighted that Transport Scotland is providing funding to enhance the National Cycle Network in this area. It shows a clear commitment by the Transport Minister to delivering the actions outlined in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland. It is also great to see strong partnership working taking place between the public sector, private sector and third sector.”
Fiona Logan, CEO of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park said:
“This important community and tourism route is something the local community have long campaigned for. Thanks to the Scottish Government, Sustrans and ongoing support from the National Park and Forestry Commission Scotland, the route now provides a community link with safe cycling access for local children and other activities. This new link now paves the way for further economic investment with potential new campsites and local businesses providing recreation facilities. The National Park is committed to developing tourism infrastructure and we’re delighted to see such positive action being taken.”
Will Huckerby, The Commission's Recreation Manager in Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, said:
"We are looking forward to being involved in developing the section of this route that runs across some of the land we manage. It's a great opportunity to encourage more people to come to the area and adds an important link between communities in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park - a great benefit for the area."
Ends
Background
Route 7 of the National Cycle Network is part of the Lochs and Glens route, a beautiful route linking Dumfries with Glasgow and onwards to Inverness, passing through Scotland's two National Parks.
The route through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is largely traffic free, following disused railway lines and forest roads with the exception of between Strathyre and Kingshouse, where a traffic free route was not possible when the route was constructed.
Sustrans and key partners, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and Forestry Commission Scotland, supported by the Strathyre Village Association, have been working since 2008 to develop a project to construct a new traffic free cycle route between the villages of Strathyre and Kingshouse.
This new route will also link to and build on existing local routes and infrastructure constructed by Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and Forestry Commission Scotland, opening up the surrounding areas to the local community and tourists.
Contact Caroline Trainer at Press Transport Scotland on 07837 062 787