Sustrans grassroots funding now in the hands of Transport Scotland and Stirling Council: we need your support now more than ever!
Following much work and liaison by members of our community over the last decade to try to develop a better active path (cycling, wheeling, walking) infrastructure for Killearn, and 10 months on from our application for stages 3&4 (Detailed Design) of the Sustrans Places for Everyone fund for two active paths: one from Killearn down to Cala homes development/Oakwood, the other from Balfron to Killearn – we are now in a position to update you.
It is with mixed feelings that we report the Places for Everyone funding has now been moved from Sustrans and sits in Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) and going forward, it will be up to Stirling Council on whether they deem our paths suitable for further progression as part of their Active Travel Plan. This changes a lot and takes the possibility of applying for this funding for the next stage out of the hands of the community – and essentially into the hands of Stirling Council.
Here is the feedback regarding our two active paths from Sustrans/Transport Scotland:
Killearn Active Travel Path: Station Road down to Oakwood
For this path, Sustrans told us that our application for stages 3-4 would have been recommended to Transport Scotland for funding via the Active Travel Transformation Fund had it been led by a Local Authority or Regional Transport Partnership.
We have been told that we need to keep in contact with Stirling Council who may choose to apply for funding for the delivery of our project.
Stirling Council’s Sustainable Development Manager, David Hopper has told us that he supports this path and that it will be considered when the Council looks at its rural paths priorities next year.
What will we do next? We will continue to liaise with David Hopper and his team regarding this path, and also the landowners involved. We have also been told that funding for projects is still subject to finalisation of the Scottish Budget, and the availability of funds to Transport Scotland.
We are very reliant on being supported by Stirling Council for funding from the ATIF and will aim to continue our liaison with David Hopper and his team. We are also still continuing discussions with landowners.
Active Travel Path: Killearn to Balfron
This application was unfortunately deemed unsuccessful by Sustrans Stages 3-4 funding, as at the last moment we could not gain full support from David Hopper and his team at Stirling Council for our application. This was very disappointing for our team as most of the land is under private ownership and we have had support from landowners.
We were told that we can still ‘go ahead and apply for ATIF for funding through our Local Authority, Regional Transport Partnership or (where appropriate) your National Park Authority, should this still be sought.’
The reason that we were given was that “Killearn Community Futures Company were unable to agree with Stirling Council that the Killearn to Balfron was part of SC’s prioritisation for delivery through construction.”
The positives are that although this is not an immediate priority for Stirling Council, a link from Killearn to Balfron is included in the Kings Highway Active Travel Path. We will continue to liaise with David Hopper and his team about this.
Meanwhile, the Killearn Paths Group now has good contact with the other rural paths groups in Balfron, Buchlyvie, Blanefield/Strathblane, Drymen, Gargunnock and Kippen, and we will continue to meet as a group supporting our community to create a good network of active travel paths in the area. Unless funding comes from elsewhere, this will be through working with Stirling Council.
How can you help keep the work on these projects going?
Our paths group will be looking at other avenues of funding and keeping in touch with everyone on www.killearnactivetravel.blog and our various social channels, so please do follow us on this journey. This may seem like a setback, and that things are painfully slow, however we remain positive and will likely be asking for your support in the future.
Please do get involved and keep up-to-date – these two projects started as grass roots projects and we would very much like them to continue.
Killearn Active Travel 