Group Council strides forward with over £119k donation

Very important funding awarded for 2 main path upgrades

TWO group paths in Aberdeenshire have been constructed and restored after acquiring important funding from Scotland’s strolling charity, Paths for All, as a part of a £1.5m energetic journey fund.

Westhill & Elrick Group Council [WECC] have celebrated finishing two main tasks upgrading the Westhill Orbital Path after receiving £119,895 in funding final 12 months as a part of the Ian Findlay Path Fund.

An allocation of £29,949 was directed in direction of the development of an 480m lengthy path which has vastly improved the accessibility for customers of path networks within the north of Westhill.

Moreover, £89,910 was allotted to the restoration and upgrading of the principle 1.1km east-west by route in Carnie Woods, together with new signage and the creation of resting factors. This space, together with the woods themselves, suffered vital harm through the 2021 Storm Arwen.

In partnership with Aberdeen Metropolis Council who personal the woods, the WECC hope that by re-routing and upgrading the trail it should service in its place for on a regular basis journey and lowered automobile use throughout the city.

Gordon Prentice, Treasurer of WECC stated: “Paths for All awarded us 70% of venture price for these two paths which has been was pivotal to WECC going forward. 

“Having the ability to safe such a beneficiant contribution made the duty of elevating the stability a lot much less formidable.

“The 480m stretch of the Westhill Orbital Path on the northern fringe of Westhill was a really difficult sector of as the trail was very tough and susceptible to flooding, rendering it just about unusable and positively unattractive a number of instances a 12 months. Drainage issues had been made worse by severe storm harm from Storms Arwen and Malik within the winter of 2021/22.

“Though the unique route had been cleared by volunteers, the prospect of making an expert end utilizing volunteers alone was not possible to ponder. Therefore the seek for funding.”

The Westhill Orbital Path is a 12.7km circuit of Westhill connecting a collection of roads, tracks and paths on the sting of Westhill with two new hyperlinks on the Westhill Golf Membership and Lawsondale Woods, with one other now at Carnie Woods.

The Ian Findlay Path Fund was first introduced in March 2022 as a part of the Scottish Authorities’s file funding for energetic journey. They’re dedicated to investing at the least £320million or 10% of the transport price range for strolling, wheeling and biking by 2024-25.

For the reason that fund’s launch in August 2022, 24 tasks throughout 15 native authority areas in Scotland have acquired funding totalling practically £1.3m.

Group teams, third sector organisations and charities wanting to enhance the accessibility of their native path networks are eligible to use for between £10,000 to £100,000 in what will likely be its second 12 months of operation.

Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All stated “We’re happy to see such nice outcomes from the primary spherical of funding, and the affect it’s already having in these communities.

“The primary 12 months of funding has revealed a variety of thrilling tasks which exhibit the innovation and dedication of applicant teams, encouraging energetic journey by enhancing path networks inside their native communities. 

“The Westhill improve showcases the dedication of native communities to advertise energetic journey and enhance accessibility. We stay up for the progress of future tasks and welcome functions for the second spherical of the Ian Findlay Path Fund.”

The Ian Findlay Path Fund is supported by Transport Scotland. It was established in reminiscence of Ian Findlay CBE, the late Chief Officer of Paths for All, and it continues to assist native initiatives aimed toward enhancing path networks and fostering energetic journey.

Group teams considering making use of for the second spherical of funding can attain out to the Ian Findlay Path Fund group at [email protected].

For extra details about the Loch Leven Heritage Path and the Ian Findlay Path Fund, go to https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/ifpf

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