Campbeltown Courier

Work starts on active travel routes in town

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Investment of over £684,000 to widen pedestrian routes, build a new cycleway and improve bus stops will make it safer and easier for pedestrian­s, cyclists and bus users to travel between Ralston Road and Meadows Avenue in Campbeltow­n.

Work starts this week to construct the new cycleway linking Ralston Road and Campbeltow­n Hospital to Limecraigs Road, Meadowpark and Meadows Avenue.

The route will also link key community facilities including Campbeltow­n Grammar School and Castlehill Primary School.

In addition to the new cycleway, work to upgrade sections of the existing footway and bus stops will start.

Argyll and Bute Council is delivering the project, funded by Highlands and Islands Regional Transport Partnershi­p (HITRANS) and Transport Scotland’s Cycling Walking and Safer Routes Fund. Work is due to complete by early summer 2023. Councillor Andrew Kain, policy lead for transport, said: “This significan­t investment in delivering active travel and bus accessibil­ity will have far-reaching benefits for residents and visitors to Campbeltow­n.

“As we improve and link pedestrian and cycle routes, we open up more opportunit­ies for children to cycle to school or people working at the hospital to cycle there.

“As we do everything we can to create a climate friendly Argyll and Bute, we hope more people will take advantage when the route completes and travel by bike or foot.”

Vikki Trelfer, active travel officer with the Highlands and Islands Regional Transport Partnershi­p (HITRANS), added: “It’s great to see infrastruc­ture being delivered in Campbeltow­n to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle for their everyday local journeys.

“Being more active helps us to stay healthy, both physically and mentally, saves us money, and helps to reduce carbon emissions.”

The council is aiming to deliver a second phase of improvemen­t works in the future, subject to securing external funding.

The proposed works will extend the cycleway along Limecraigs Road and link routes on Ralston Road and Meadows Avenue to the existing path at the Cutting, an existing active travel route linking to the seafront and harbour.

 ?? ?? The cycleway will link key community facilities like Campbeltow­n Hospital, right, the grammar school and Castlehill primary.
The cycleway will link key community facilities like Campbeltow­n Hospital, right, the grammar school and Castlehill primary.
 ?? ?? Below: Councillor Andrew Kain.
Below: Councillor Andrew Kain.

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