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2023/24 Active Travel Progress Report

Argyll and Bute Council · 12 March 2024
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 12 March 2024 and its agenda

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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL  Helensburgh and Lomond
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH 
12 March 2024 
2023/24 Active Travel Progress Report 
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
1.1. This report provides an update to Members on the progress made in 2023/24 in
relation to active travel projects in the Helensburgh and Lomond (H&L) Area,
informs Members of the significant changes in Scottish Government active travel
funding and seeks continued support for the projects and wider active travel
measures from Members. 
1.2. Active travel encompasses accessible, everyday Walking, Mobility Assistance
and child prams (sometime collectively termed “Wheeling”) and Cycling.  The
focus of active travel is on accessible provision including those with mobility
impairments. 
1.3. The Council’s Active Travel Team, 1.7 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. 
1.4. The Active Travel Team work with communities, internal and external
stakeholders across Argyll and Bute to develop and deliver active travel projects
which provide new/improved accessible infrastructure (e.g. paths, cycle lanes)
and behaviour change (e.g. access to bikes, walking/cycle training, promotional
activities). 
1.5. In 2023/24 to date, the Active Travel Team secured £2.56M external funding for
the development and delivery of a total of 23 projects across Argyll and Bute. 
These include Argyll and Bute wide projects, valued at £155,000 in 23/24 and
projects specific to the H&L area, with a 23/24 value of £628,000. 
1.6. The Active Travel Team work to source and secure highly competitive funding
from a range of sources, the main of which are Transport Scotland’s Places for
Everyone (PFE) Programme (administered by Sustrans), the Scottish
Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) fund and Delivery
Resource Fund, Paths for All Smarter Choices Smarter Places (SCSP)
programme, Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF),

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and HITRANS Regional Active Travel Fund.  Further funding has been secured
for some projects via local community organisations and from willing
businesses.  It is recognised at a national level that the Active Travel Team in
Argyll and Bute Council secure significantly more funding, and subsequently
deliver more projects, than similar staffed teams in other Local Authorities and/or
local authorities with similar populations. 
1.7. Transport Scotland have informed Officers that, as of 24/25, the funding model
for active travel will change.  The primary change will be the reallocation of the
significant funding currently disbursed via third-sector organisations (such as
Sustrans or Paths for All) and, to a lesser extent Transport Scotland (e.g.
CWSR), to individual Local Authority block grants and a single Transport
Scotland controlled Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF).  This will be
undertaken incrementally over a 2 year transition period. 
1.8. Transitional arrangements for infrastructure design and construction are
understood by Officers to be:
• 24/25 a proportion of the Scottish Government’s active travel funding will be
allocated to Local Authority block grants with the remainder remaining as
challenge funding, in particular in the PFE Programme (administered by
Sustrans) and Transport Scotland’s ATIF fund.  Transport Scotland have
stated that failure to expend the block grant allocation on appropriate active
travel projects will negatively affect the Council’s opportunity to secure
additional funding from the ATIF.  The Scottish Government’s budget
commits a total of £220M to active travel in 24/25.
• 25/26, those Local Authorities which chose (in 24/25) to expend the full
amount of active travel funding in their block grant on appropriate active
travel projects will receive an increase in their block grant allowance for
active travel, with a smaller percentage of the overall funding being available
via challenge funds following the closure of the PFE programme (forecast for
December 2025). The Scottish Government has set an objective of
committing 10% of the 25/26 transport budget to active travel, estimated to
be c.£320M.
• 26/27 onwards the challenge funding available will be solely focused on
assisting Local Authorities with the cost of delivering very highly ambitious
active travel projects, as active travel infrastructure funding for smaller
projects will be included within block grants of those Local Authorities which
have chosen in 24/25 and 25/26 to dedicate it to active travel. 
1.9. Transitional arrangement for behaviour change is understood by Officers to be
the transfer of the majority of the Scottish Government’s behaviour change
funding in 24/25 onwards from third sector organisations to the Regional
Transport Partnerships (RTPs).  This will enable the development and delivery
of behaviour change programmes/activities which are tailored to the specific
requirements of each RTP area.  A small element of the Scottish Government’s
behaviour change funding will be retained to continue campaigns/cycle training

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programmes which are deemed to be most effective when delivered at a
national scale. 
1.10. Separately, Officers are working to develop an Active Travel Strategy (ATS) for
Argyll and Bute which will set out the policy and strategic context for the
development and delivery of active travel across the whole of Argyll and Bute. 
Subsequent to this, an Active Travel Delivery Plan (ATDP) will be developed
which will identify the specific projects to be developed in order to achieve the
ambition set in the ATS. 
1.11. Active Travel can offer significant benefits to the area:
• Access to essential services and employment: In H&L 20% of households
(2,115 households) do not have access to a motor vehicle and are reliant on
public transport and active travel modes.
• Health benefits: being more active reduces the risk of premature morbidity
and death, particularly from diseases related to inactivity.
• Economics: People who travel to shops by walking and/or cycling have a
higher monthly spend than people who travel to shops by private car.
• Improving safety: reduces injuries from car collisions. 
1.12. A number of active travel projects link to schools, offering the opportunity to
increase the numbers of pupils, parents and staff choosing to walk, cycle or
wheel to school.  While the main benefits are improved physical and mental
health, where new active travel infrastructure creates a safe route to school
where one did not previously exist it could reduce the requirement to provide
school transport on safety grounds, thereby creating a revenue saving to the
school transport budget. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
1.13. It is recommended that the Helensburgh and Lomond members: 
1.13.1. Welcome the progress made to date across a significant number of
active travel projects by the small Active Travel Team. 
1.13.2. Support the continuation of the projects and the submission of future
funding applications to external challenge funds (while these still exist)
to continue to develop design and construction stages in order to
deliver these projects. 
1.13.3. Support the allocation of the active travel funding element in the
Council’s 24/25 block grant to the development and delivery of
appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in
H&L.

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1.13.4. Instruct Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel
projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities.

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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL  Helensburgh and Lomond
DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH 
12 March 2024 
2023/24 Active Travel Progress Report 
2.0 INTRODUCTION 
2.1. This report provides an update to Members on the progress made in 2023/24 in
relation to active travel projects in the H&L Area and seeks continued support for
the projects from Members. 
2.2. Active travel encompasses accessible, everyday Walking, Mobility Assistance
and child prams (sometime collectively termed “Wheeling”) and Cycling.  The
focus of active travel is on accessible provision including those with mobility
impairments. 
3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 
3.1. It is recommended that the Helensburgh and Lomond members: 
3.1.1. Welcome the progress made to date across a significant number of
active travel projects by the small Active Travel Team. 
3.1.2. Support the continuation of the projects and the submission of future
funding applications to external challenge funds (while these still exist)
to continue to develop design and construction stages in order to
deliver these projects. 
3.1.3. Support the allocation of the active travel funding element in the
Council’s 24/25 block grant to the development and delivery of
appropriate active travel projects, including those already underway in
H&L. 
3.1.4. Instruct Officers to continue to identify and develop new active travel
projects to benefit local residents, businesses and communities. 
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

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Team. All project costs, including internal staff costs, have to be funded via
successfully securing highly competitive external challenge funds. 
4.2. It is recognised at a national level that the Active Travel Team in Argyll and Bute
Council secure significantly more funding, and subsequently deliver more
projects, than similar staffed teams in other Local Authorities and/or local
authorities with similar populations. 
4.3. The Active Travel Team work with communities, internal and external
stakeholders across Argyll and Bute to develop and deliver active travel projects
which provide new/improved accessible infrastructure (e.g. paths, cycle lanes)
and behaviour change (e.g. access to bikes, walking/cycle training, promotional
activities). 
4.4. In 2023/24 to date, the Active Travel Team secured £2.56M external funding for
the development and delivery of a total of 23 projects across Argyll and Bute,
including Argyll and Bute wide projects, valued at £155,000 in 23/24 and projects
specific to the H&L area, with a 23/24 value of £628,000.  Further details of these
projects is presented in Appendix 1. 
Future Funding Model 
4.5. Transport Scotland informed Officers on 23 January 2024 that, as of 24/25, the
funding model for active travel will change.  At the time of writing, Transport
Scotland have stated that they are unable to confirm the value of specific
funding streams for 24/25 as these are still subject to agreement with COSLA.  It
is understood the primary change will be the reallocation of the significant
funding currently disbursed via third-sector organisations (such as Sustrans or
Paths for All) and, to a lesser extent Transport Scotland (e.g. CWSR) to
individual Local Authority block grants and a single Transport Scotland
challenge fund, the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF).  This will be
undertaken incrementally over a 2 year transition period. 
4.6. Provisional transitional arrangements for infrastructure design and construction
are understood by Officers to be:
• 24/25 the allocation of a proportion of the Scottish Government’s active travel
funding to Local Authority block grants with the remainder remaining as
challenge funding, in particular in the PFE Programme (administered by
Sustrans) and Transport Scotland’s ATIF.  The split of allocation the funding
is understood to still be in negation between Transport Scotland and COSLA
with Transport Scotland expecting to confirm values in early 24/25. 
Transport Scotland have also stated that failure to expend the block grant
allocation on appropriate active travel work will negatively affect the Council’s
opportunity to secure additional funding from the ATIF.
• 25/26, those Local Authorities which chose (in 24/25) to expend the full
amount of active travel funding in their block grant on appropriate active

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travel projects will receive an increase in their block grant allowance for
active travel, with a smaller percentage of the overall funding being available
via challenge funds including the closure of the PFE programme (forecast for
December 2025).
• From 26/27 onwards the challenge funding available (e.g. ATIF) will be
solely focused on assisting Local Authorities with the cost of delivering very
highly ambitious active travel projects, as the active travel infrastructure
funding for smaller projects will be included within the block grants of those
Local Authorities which chose to dedicate it to active travel in 24/25 and
25/26. 
4.7. Behaviour change funding will be transferred from third sector organisations to
the Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) in 24/25 onwards.  This will enable
the development and delivery of behaviour change programmes/activities which
are tailored to the specific requirements of each RTP area.  A small element of
the Scottish Government’s behaviour change funding will be retained to continue
campaigns/programmes which are deemed to be most effective when delivered
at a national scale.  Officers have started to engage with our RTPs (HITRANS
and SPT) in order to understand and influence the future plans for the delivery of
behaviour change projects. 
Current (2023/24) Funding Model 
4.8. The Active Travel Team work to source and secure highly competitive funding
from a range of sources, the main of which are Transport Scotland’s Places for
Everyone (PFE) Programme (administered by Sustrans), the Scottish
Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) fund and Delivery
Resource Fund, Paths for All Smarter Choices Smarter Places (SCSP)
programme, Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF),
and HITRANS Regional Active Travel Fund.  Further funding has been secured
for some projects via local community organisations and from willing
businesses.  It is recognised at a national level that the Active Travel Team in
Argyll and Bute Council secure significantly more funding, and subsequently
delivery more projects, than similar staffed teams in other Local Authorities
and/or local authorities with similar populations. 
4.9. The primary external funding route for active travel infrastructure design is
Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone (PFE) programme (which Sustrans
are paid to administer).  The PFE Programme is a competitive challenge fund
structured around 8 project stages; with the 32 local authorities, 7 regional
transport partnerships, two national parks and numerous community groups
across Scotland competing against each other to secure the funding each
project requires.  In 23/24, the Active Travel Team secured £1.7M from the PFE
Programme.  It has been announced that the PFE Programme will by wound
down with a final closure date of December 2025.

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4.10. A minimum of three new competitive funding submissions are required to
complete a project using PFE funding, with competitive applications required, as
a minimum, prior to Stage 0 (Strategic Definition), Stage 3 (Developed Design)
and Stage 5 (Construction).  The full project stages are (0) Strategic Definition,
(1) Preparation and Brief, (2) Concept Design), (3) Developed Design, (4)
Technical Design, (5) Construction, (6) Handover & Close Out and (7) In Use. 
4.11. The Scottish Government Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) fund is
an annual ring-fenced fund which provides the opportunity for Local Authorities
to identify and deliver lower value active travel infrastructure without the level of
complexity and time required by the PFE route.  In 23/24, the Active Travel
Team secured £551,000 from the CWSR fund.  It is understood by Officers that
the CWSR fund will terminate in March 2024. 
4.12. The Smarter Choices Smarter Places (SCSP) programme is run by Paths for All
and provides funding for behaviour change projects.  Behaviour change projects
are designed to influence behaviour and choice, rather than provide new
infrastructure.  In 23/24, the Active Travel Team secured £80,000 from the
SCSP programme.  It has been announced that the SCSP programme will
terminate in March 2024.   
4.13. Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF) was launched
in 23/24 and focuses on supporting Local Authorities, RTPs and National Parks
with the additional cost of constructing very ambitious, high-quality active travel
projects.  Projects must be fully construction ready prior to submission to the
ATTF.  Officers submitted two applications to the 23/24 ATTF, including for the
Bowmore – Bridgend Path on Islay, but, while these were shortlisted on the
reserve list, were unsuccessful in securing funding in 23/24.  The application
deadline for 24/25 projects to ATTF is late January 2024 and, at the time of
writing, Officers are developing submissions including resubmitting the Bowmore
– Bridgend Path project. 
4.14. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Capital Programme currently
supports a number of active travel projects in H&L including the Rosneath
Cycleway, Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath and the
Helensburgh – Garelochhead Cycleway. 
Benefits of Active Travel 
4.15. 20% of households (2,115 households) in the H&L area do not have access to
any motor vehicles (2011 census) and are therefore reliant on public transport
and active travel methods to move around. 
4.16. Transport poverty is defined as households and individuals who spend a
significant percentage of their income to make the journeys they need (UK
Government, 2019).  In H&L, where a higher than Scottish average of the

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population have low incomes (SIMD, 2020), the cost of travel is a significant
barrier to a substantial number of the community.  This is highlighted by the
higher than Scottish average number of households have multiple cars but
shorter than Scottish average journey distances to work/study (2011 census),
indicating that a significant number of households own multiple cars to travel
short distances.  Walking, wheeling (mobility aids/child prams) and cycling are
much cheaper than running a car or using public transport, and improving
opportunities to choose to walk/cycle for essential journeys can improve access
to essential services, reduce social exclusion and increase opportunities to
access education and employment. 
4.17. Health benefits of enabling individuals and communities to choose to travel more
actively are well documented and a significant body of research has identified
that having active, healthy lifestyles helps to reduce fragility and reduce falls as
individuals age, and increase social inclusion and accessibility.  In particular,
being more active reduces the risk of premature morbidity and death,
particularly from diseases related to inactivity including cardiovascular
disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, dementia, type 2 diabetes, hip
fractures and cancer.  Active travel also has significant mental health benefits
including increasing social inclusion and reducing depression. This means
those who choose to be more active are less likely to require social care
services in later life which could result in a future saving to the Council or
HSCP (DfT, 2014; CIHT, 2016; Centre for Mental Health, 2016; Scottish
Government, 2018; Dunoon Shaping Places for Wellbeing, 2022; World Health
Organisation, 2022; Public Health Scotland, 2022; Public Health Scotland,
2023). 
4.18. Economics: People who travel to shops actively by walking and/or cycling, while
they spend less per individual visit, make more visits a month and have a higher
monthly spend than people who travel to shops by private car (Pedestrian
Pound, 2018).  Improving public realm and routes to shops for pedestrians and
cyclists can increase trade by up to 40% (Pedestrian Pound, 2018).   
4.19. Improving safety through good design, in particular to protect more vulnerable
individuals, pedestrians and cyclists, reduces injuries from car collisions (Public
Health Scotland, 2022).  Where people choose to travel actively to make a
journey instead of using a private car, this reduces the number of car
movements which makes streets cleaner, improves air quality, reduces traffic
congestion and reduces demand for space to park in key hotspots. 
4.20. A number of the active travel projects link to schools, thereby offering the
opportunity to increase the numbers of pupils, parents and staff choosing to
walk, cycle or wheel to school.  While the main benefits are improved physical
and mental health, such provision may also generate a saving on school
transport provision.  Argyll and Bute Council provide free school transport to
some pupils on safety grounds.  This is where pupils live less than the legislative

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minimum distance from school to qualify for free school transport provision, but
where there is no safe active travel route to school.  Where new active travel
infrastructure creates a safe route to school where one did not previously exist it
could reduce the requirement to provide school transport on safety grounds,
thereby creating a revenue saving. 
Design guidance 
4.21. It is understood that adherence to the latest design criteria for active travel (e.g.
Cycle by Design for cycle projects) will continue to be a requirement.  However,
the removal of national third-sector organisations from control of the main active
travel funding steams should enable Officers to apply the guidance in a more
flexible and specific manner to local circumstances.  Utilising adopted design
guidance provides a clear framework for development of designs which are
appropriate, accessible, attractive and safe. 
Active Travel Strategy (ATS) 
4.22. Separately, Officers are working to develop an Active Travel Strategy (ATS) for
Argyll and Bute which will set out the policy and strategic context for the
development and delivery of active travel across the whole of Argyll and Bute. 
Subsequent to this, an Active Travel Delivery Plan (ATDP) will be developed
which will identify the specific projects to be developed in order to achieve the
ambition set in the ATS. 
5.0 CONCLUSION 
5.1. Significant changes to the funding model in 2024/25 and 2025/26 will create
opportunities for active travel projects to focus on local priorities, rather than
projects which meet the aspirations and objectives of national organisations. 
However, continued delivery of new and improved active travel opportunities to
the residents, businesses, communities and visitors in the H&L area will require
Members to commit the additional active travel funding allocation in the 24/25
Council Block Grant to the development and delivery of active travel projects. 
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.

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6.2. Financial The change in approach to the provision of active
travel funding by the Scottish Government from
external challenge funding to including it within the
Council’s block grant will require Members to decide to
allocate the funding to develop and deliver active
travel projects.
Improved active travel provision could reduce the
requirement to provide school transport on safety
grounds, thereby creating a revenue saving.
There is strong evidence that people who are more
active, for example by walking or cycling, have better
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 any land acquisition required for the creation
of active travel routes.
6.4. HR None.
6.5. Fairer Scotland
Duty: 
6.5.1 Equalities Provision of new and improved active travel
infrastructure and behaviour change options will
provide enhanced opportunities for residents and
visitors to choose to travel more sustainably and
actively by walking, wheeling and cycling.
All new active travel routes are designed to be
accessible and DDA compliant to 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
New and improved active travel routes will improve
access to essential services, retail, leisure and
employment opportunities for local residents, with
studies demonstrating those who travelled actively had
a higher monthly spend in local businesses than those
who travel via motorised transport.
The routes will also offer opportunities for individuals
to travel for leisure, again encouraging spend in local
businesses connected by the routes.
6.5.3 Islands A number of the active travel projects are based on
islands, thereby providing the same opportunities for
island residents/visitors to choose to travel actively as
those on the mainland.  Where visitors choose to
travel actively in leu of taking a motor vehicle this can
help reduce demand for the overstretched vehicle
capacity on the ferry services.

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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 will help lower Argyll and Bute’s
carbon footprint.
6.7. Risk There is a reputational risk to the Council if the
projects are not completed within a reasonable
timeframe.
6.8. Customer
Services  
None.
6.9. The Rights of the
Child 
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 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.   
Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic
Growth: Kirsty Flanagan 
Policy Lead: Cllr Andrew Kain 
05 January 2024 
For further information contact:  Colin Young    
Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer    
colin.young@argyll-bute.gov.uk    
01546 604275 
Appendix 1: 2023/24 Active Travel Projects

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Appendix 1: 2023/24 Projects 
Project Outline Programme Detail
Active Travel Promotional
Campaign 
Spring 2024: launch and 1st
campaign 
24/25: continue campaign 
Future: potential to continue
campaign dependent on
securing funding
Creation of a new sustainable travel (walking, wheeling, cycling
and public transport) promotional brand “Better Journeys” and
develop a promotional campaign to raise awareness of
opportunities to travel actively and sustainably across Argyll and
Bute.  External funding has been retained within the Council by
working with the Council’s Communications Team to develop
the brand, campaign materials including posters and social
media clips and prepare to launch the campaign in spring 2024.
Beat the Street Game 14 Feb – 27 Mar 2024 Beat the Street is a 6-week game run by Intelligent Health and
funded by Paths for All Smarter Choices Smarter Places,
supported by Transport Scotland.  The Argyll and Bute Beat the
Streets game is being run jointly with North Ayrshire Council
between 14 Feb and 27 Mar 2024, and within Argyll and Bute
includes the settlements of Helensburgh, Cardross, Rhu and
Kilcreggan; Dunoon, Toward, Strone and Sandbank; Rothesay
and Port Bannatyne; Campbeltown, Carradale, Drumlemble and
Southend. 
Beat the Street is a free, fun, walking, cycling and wheeling
game which gets communities, school pupils, and their families
out and about in the local area, having fun and keeping healthy.
It’s designed to get children and communities moving by helping
people to make small changes, such as walking or cycling to
school every day, to improve physical and mental health and
help embed physical activity into everyday life.  Free game
packs have been delivered to primary schools within the areas
above, including a contactless game card for each

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pupil.  Additional game cards can be collected by members of
the public from public distribution locations such as libraries in
the game areas.  Players use contactless game cards to hover
over the Beat Boxes which have been installed on lamp posts in
the game areas and score points as they travel around.  There
is also a smartphone app which players over 13 years old can
download.  For further information please see:
https://www.beatthestreet.me/activenation/
Smart phone app promotion Summer 2023: 1st campaign 
Summer 2024: 2nd campaign 
Future: potential to repeat
campaign annually dependent
on securing funding
Promotional campaign to raise awareness and use of the five
existing active travel smartphone apps (Campbeltown, Dunoon,
Helensburgh, Oban and Rothesay).  The first year of the
campaign in summer 2023 increased downloads of the free to
access apps by 74%.
Pedestrian and Cycle Counters Ongoing: dependent on
securing annual funding
Argyll and Bute Council operate a network of automated
pedestrian and cycle counters with 36 installed across the Council
area. The data from these counters is used to monitor changes in
pedestrian/cycle numbers, including from new routes, and by
partners to support compilation of national statistics. The data is
also publicly available via a dedicated website.
Helensburgh – Cardross –
Dumbarton Cyclepath
2001 – 2018: designs for 2
different routes developed 
2019: 3rd preferred route
selected via community and
landowner consultation 
2019 – 2020: Concept Design
for new preferred route
Design and construction of a safe, accessible walking and cycling
path linking the centre of Helensburgh with the settlements of
Cardross and Dumbarton to the east. Once completed, this path
will provide a safe and accessible alternative to the A814 to
enable local residents and visitors to choose to walk or cycle to
access essential services, shops and leisure facilities.

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2021 – 2024: Developed
Design for new preferred route 
2024/25: Complete Developed
and Technical Designs for new
preferred route subject to
securing funding 
2025/26 – 2030: Land
acquisition and construction
subject to securing funding
Helensburgh – Garelochhead
Cycleway
2019 – 2021: Feasibility and
Concept Design 
2022 – 2024: Stage 1
Developed and Technical
Design 
2025/26: Stage 2 Developed
and Technical Design subject
to securing funding 
2025 – 2030: Construction and
Land Acquisition subject to
securing funding
The Helensburgh – Garelochhead Cycleway project will design
and construct a segregated, accessible walking and cycling route
linking the centre of Helensburgh to Rhu, Shandon, HMNB Clyde
and Garelochhead.  A concept design for the whole route was
developed in 2019, with Phase 1 linking Helensburgh to HMNB
Clyde due to complete the full technical design stage in Autumn
2024.
Rosneath Cyclepath 2024/25: Rosneath Town
Construction subject to
securing funding 
Delivery of a community desired route linking the centre of
Rosneath to the Castle Caravan Park junction along the B833. 
Phase 1 of the route was constructed in 2018, with the phase
within Rosneath town planned for construction in 2024/25 and the

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2025/26: Stage 2 Camsail Bay
Developed and Technical
Design subject to securing
funding 
2027/28: Stage 2 Camsail Bay
Construction subject to
securing funding
final phase around Camsail Bay currently being designed in
partnership with the community.