Rosneath Cyclepath Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 December 2024
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 10 December 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 10 DECEMBER 2024 ROSNEATH CYCLEPATH UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. This report updates members on the progress made in relation to the Rosneath to Castle Caravan Park junction cyclepath. 1.2. Officers have completed a land access agreement with ACHA to allow construction of the section of path between Argyll Road and the Clachan Burn. Officers have also secured £259,950 funding in 24/25 for the construction of the section of the route between Argyll Road and the Clachan Burn. This section of path will be completed by spring 2025. 1.3. Officers secured funding from SPT in 23/24 to commission feasibility and concept design work on phase 2 of the route linking the end of the first phase at the builder’s merchants around Camsail Bay to the Castle Caravan Park junction. 1.4. The initial feasibility and options appraisal examined 4 options for the route around Camsail Bay, with a community consultation open for 2 weeks in November 2023. The associated community event attracting 32 attendees, with the same materials available on the study consultation website. The design team also visited Rosneath Primary School. A total of 80 survey responses were received which represents 7% of the local population. 82% of survey respondents believed that the provision of a route would encourage them to walk and cycle. 1.5. Respondents were also asked for their aspirations of what the concept design should take account of. The main topics were: lower speed limit, good maintenance, tarmac path, minimise road crossings, provision of a cycle lane, preserve the scenery, improve accessibility and improve safety. 1.6. A concept design was developed based on the community and stakeholder feedback and presented to the community for comment in February 2024. It was launched with a community event on 06 Feb, with a total of 16 people attending. Again all consultation materials were made available online. A total of 60 survey responses were received. Of the two options presented at concept design, 78% of respondents indicated a preference of minor realignment of the road inland to provide space for a path on the seaward side. 73% of respondents also stated that the options presented resolved
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most or all of their concerns in regard to walking or cycling between Rosneath and Castle Caravan Park. RECOMMENDATIONS 1.7. It is recommended that the Helensburgh and Lomond members: 1.7.1. Welcome the securing of land agreements and funding to enable construction of section of the route within Rosneath in 24/25. 1.7.2. Support the preferred option identified for Phase 2 of the route around Camsail Bay. 1.7.3. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to complete development of designs for Phase 2 through Developed Design and Technical Design stages. 1.7.4. Instruct Officers to submit a further paper to members on completion of the Technical Design.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 10 DECEMBER 2024 ROSNEATH CYCLEPATH UPDATE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1. This report updates Members of the progress made since the previous quarterly report to the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee in relation to the delivery of a dedicated, high quality walking and cycle path linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton. The delivery of this path is a stated Council Priority. 2.2. Full details of the project, including previous progress is available in the project update reports previously presented to this Committee. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1. It is recommended that the Helensburgh and Lomond members: 3.1.1. Welcome the securing of land agreements and funding to enable construction of section of the route within Rosneath in 24/25. 3.1.2. Support the preferred option identified for Phase 2 of the route around Camsail Bay. 3.1.3. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to complete development of designs for Phase 2 through Developed Design and Technical Design stages. 3.1.4. Instruct Officers to submit a further paper to members on completion of the Technical Design. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1. The Council’s Active Travel Team, 1.7 FTE (Full Time Equivalent employees), is part of the Strategic Transport Team within the Development and Economic Growth Service. No Council funding is currently received by the Active Travel Team. All project costs, including internal staff costs, have to be funded via successfully securing highly competitive external challenge funds. 4.2. In 2023/24 the Active Travel Team secured £2.56M external funding for the development and delivery of a total of 22 projects across Argyll and Bute, including the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath. This required 18 separate competitive funding applications, to 5 separate funds.
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Rosneath Town Section 4.3. Since design work on the 350m section of the route linking Argyll Road to the Clachan Burn was completed in 2021, Officers have been engaging with ACHA as the landowner of the large grass area between Argyll Road and Ferry Road. This engagement resulted in a path agreement being signed between ACHA and the council in September 2024 which permits the council to construct and maintain a path across ACHAs land. 4.4. Officers submitted a funding application to Transport Scotland’s Tier 2 Active Travel fund in late 2023 for 24/25 for funding to enable the construction of the section of the route between Argyll Road and the Clachan Burn. While the announcement of this funding was delayed due to the Scottish Government spending moratorium, fortuitously the funding award was confirmed on 11 November 2024. 4.5. The funding award for £259,950 in 24/25 will enable the construction of the section of the route between Argyll Road and the Clachan Burn. This section of path will be constructed by the council’s roads and infrastructure service and will be completed by spring 2025. Phase 2: Camsail Bay Section 4.6. Officers secured funding from SPT in 23/24 to commission feasibility and concept design work on phase 2 of the route linking the end of the first phase at the builder’s merchants around Camsail Bay to the Castle Caravan Park junction. 4.7. The initial feasibility and options appraisal examined 4 options for the route around Camsail Bay, with a community consultation open for 2 weeks in November 2023. The associated community event attracting 32 attendees, with the same materials available on the study consultation website. The design team also visited Rosneath Primary School. A total of 80 survey responses were received which represents 7% of the local population. 82% of survey respondents believed that the provision of a route would encourage them to walk and cycle. 4.8. Respondents were also asked for their aspirations of what the concept design should take account of. The main topics were: lower speed limit, good maintenance, tarmac path, minimise road crossings, provision of a cycle lane, preserve the scenery, improve accessibility and improve safety. 4.9. A concept design was developed based on the community and stakeholder feedback and presented to the community for comment in a 2 week consultation on February 2024. The consultation was promoted via local press, social media, 1000 leaflets distributed with the community magazine, and a pop up event in the local Coop. It was launched with another community event on 06 Feb, with a total of 16 people attending. Again all consultation materials were made available online. A total of 60 survey responses were received. This is in line with other projects where community
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engagement reduces following the initial consultation when the community are broadly supportive or ambivalent about the project. Of the two options presented at concept design, 78% of respondents indicated a preference of minor realignment of the road inland to provide space for a path on the seaward side. 73% of respondents also stated that the options presented resolved most or all of their concerns in regard to walking or cycling between Rosneath and Castle Caravan Park. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1. Completion of the Rosneath Cyclepath will provide an accessible walking and cycle route linking Rosneath to the Castle Caravan Park junction. This route will provide improved opportunities for local residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and actively by walking and cycling. This will provide a safe alternative to having to use a private car to travel between these communities and help lower Argyll and Bute’s carbon footprint.. 5.2. The delivery of the Rosneath Cyclepath is dependent on completing the design work, securing highly competitive external challenge funding, committing appropriate match funding and securing access to private land for the route. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1. Policy Completion of this project will support the Council’s SOA outcomes 2: We have infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and 5: People live active, healthier and independent lives. The project also supports achievement of the Scottish Government’s objectives set out in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) and Let’s Get Scotland Walking - The National Walking Strategy. 6.2. Financial The design, construction and land purchase will be funded by external competitive funding applications. External funding is not currently available to cover maintenance costs. To date, the Council has not contributed any funding to design or capital costs. There is strong evidence that people who are more active, for example by walking or cycling, have been physical and mental health and are less likely to require social care services in later life which could result in a future saving to the Council or HSCP. 6.3. Legal Continued input will be required from Legal Services to support contractual agreements and land purchase including a CPO should this be deemed necessary. 6.4. HR None. 6.5. Fairer Scotland Duty:
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6.5.1 Equalities Completion of this project will provide opportunities for local residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and actively by walking, wheeling and cycling. The route has been designed to be DDA compliant and will provide a safe and accessible route for those with mobility aids including wheelchairs and parents/guardians with a child’s pram or buggy. 6.5.2 Socio- economic Duty The route, once completed, will offer residents the opportunity to choose to travel using active travel, which are lower cost than alternative modes of transport. The route will also improve access to essential services, retail, leisure and employment opportunities for residents living along the route, with studies demonstrating those who travelled actively had a higher monthly spend in local businesses than those who travel via motorised transport. The path will also offer opportunities for individuals to travel for leisure, again encouraging spend in local businesses along and connected by the route. 6.5.3 Islands There are no adverse impacts. 6.6. Climate Change Active Travel is the least carbon intensive mode of travel. Providing the opportunity for residents and visitors to consider an alternative to having to use a private car to travel between these communities will help lower Argyll and Bute’s carbon footprint. 6.7. Risk There is a reputational risk to the Council if the project is not completed within a reasonable timeframe. 6.8. Customer Services None. 6.9. The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Active travel is the most accessible mode of travel to young people, as it does not have any minimum age limits, does not require any form of licence, is free to use and is not tied to any fixed timetable. All new active travel infrastructure is designed to be utilised by an unaccompanied 12 year old. Engagement feedback demonstrates even stronger support for the delivery walking and cycling infrastructure from younger members of the community than the already high overall level of community support. Wider engagement with school pupils indicates that the vast majority of pupils strongly support the provision of new active travel infrastructure, even where it would adversely impact other modes of transport.
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Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth: Kirsty Flanagan Head of Development and Economic Growth: Fergus Murray Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services: Councillor John Armour 11 November 2024 For further information contact: Colin Young Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer Colin.Young@argyll-bute.gov.uk Tel: 01546 604275 Appendix 1: Options Feasibility Report Appendix 2: Community Engagement Report