Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth
Argyll and Bute Council · 20 September 2022
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 20 September 2022 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 20 September 2022 Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton Cyclepath Update 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. This report updates Members on the progress made since the previous report to the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on 14 June 2022 in relation to the delivery of a dedicated, high quality walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton. 1.2. Officers are working with WSP to agree an updated work plan and programme to progress the design process to the technical design stage. WSP have indicated an estimated timescale of 20 weeks to complete their work once an updated work plan is agreed. 1.3. Phase 3, linking Helensburgh Town Centre to the existing section of cyclepath adjacent to Morrison’s Supermarket, has received 22/23 funding from the highly competitive Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone Programme challenge fund to undertake community engagement, route identification and concept design (PFE stages 0 – 2). RECOMMENDATIONS 1.4. It is recommended that the Helensburgh and Lomond members: 1.4.1. Note the continued efforts of Officers to engage with WSP Design Consultants to confirm the programme to complete the design process for Phases 1 & 2, Helensburgh to Cardross and Cardross to Dumbarton. 1.4.2. Welcome the securing of funding from the highly competitive Places for Everyone Programme for initial design development of Phase 3, Helensburgh Town. 1.4.3. Instruct Officers in future to provide an annual update report on the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath project in line with the annual nature of the external funding used to develop and deliver this project.
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1.4.4. Instruct Officers to provide update reports additional to the annual update report to the Committee by exception when a significant development which members should be aware of occurs.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 20 September 2022 Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton Cyclepath Update 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1. This report updates Members of the progress made since the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on 14 June 2022 in relation to the delivery of a dedicated, high quality walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton. 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. Note the continued efforts of Officers to engage with WSP Design Consultants to confirm the programme to complete the design process for Phases 1 & 2, Helensburgh to Cardross and Cardross to Dumbarton. 3.1.2. Welcome the securing of funding from the highly competitive Places for Everyone Programme for initial design development of Phase 3, Helensburgh Town. 3.1.3. Instruct Officers in future to provide an annual update report on the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath project in line with the annual nature of the external funding used to develop and deliver this project. 3.1.4. Instruct Officers to provide update reports additional to the annual update report to the Committee by exception when a significant development which members should be aware of occurs. 4.0 DETAIL Finances 4.1. Design (Phase 1 Colgrain to Cardross & Phase 2 Cardross to Dumbarton). Funding for the design development has been confirmed from the Transport Scotland Places for Everyone programme, administered by Sustrans. The Places for Everyone programme, funded by the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland, is a highly competitive challenge fund which requires projects to
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closely comply with the ever evolving design requirements set by Sustrans as administrators of the funding. 4.2. Design (Phase 3 Helensburgh Town). Funding has been secured from the highly competitive challenge fund Places for Everyone programme, which administered by Sustrans. This funding will be used to engage an external design consultant to lead on community engagement, preferred route identification and concept design. The Places for Everyone programme, funded by the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland, is a highly competitive challenge fund which requires projects to closely comply with the ever evolving design requirements set by Sustrans as administrators of the funding. 4.3. Construction (Cardross Rail Station to Geilston Burn). Costs for the final works in Cardross Park to complete the section linking Cardross Rail Station to the Geilston Burn have been paid to the Council’s Roads and Infrastructure Service. These costs were secured from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Capital Programme and the Scottish Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes fund. 4.4. The Council’s Active Travel Team (1.3 FTE) 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. Design 4.5. Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone funding programme, administered by Sustrans, is structured around 8 project stages with gateways which require approval from the Sustrans Project Board at the end of Stage 2 (Concept Design) and Stage 4 (Technical Design) to progress to the next stage. The 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. 4.6. Phase 1 & 2 Developed design (stage 3) work for the outstanding section of the route linking Colgrain to Geilston Burn, Cardross and Ferry Road, Cardross to Dumbarton has been paused by WSP. Officers are working with WSP to confirm a programme to complete the developed design, including considering the outcomes of the community engagement prior to progressing the necessary design work. 4.7. Phase 1 & 2 Technical Design (stage 4) engineering investigation and design finalization is planned to be progressed following completion of the develop design stage. Officers are working with WSP to confirm a programme to complete the technical design stage. Once completed, the Developed Design and Technical Design will complete the design stages required prior to land acquisition and construction.
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4.8. Phase 1 & 2 Landowner engagement. As instructed, WSP have sought engagement with all identified landowners affected by the route to gain their input to the design development. Landowner comments have been considered and, where appropriate incorporated, within the developed designs. 4.9. Phase 3 (Helensburgh Town) Concept Design (stage 0 – 2) will commence on completion of the procurement exercise required to appoint a design consultant. This is for the initial design stages and will include community engagement, identification of a preferred route and concept design. Due to the entire reliance of this project on external funding it has not been possible to commence procurement or work on this important section of the route until a funding decision was received. Construction (stage 5): Cardross Station to Geilston Burn 4.10. The section of route linking Cardross Station to Cardross Park opened in December 2021 and is already being well used by the community. 4.11. Confirmation is awaited from the Council’s Roads Operations team as to when the final surfacing, signs and lines for the whole route linking Cardross Station to the Geilston Burn will be completed. This will require to fit within the available delivery capacity and existing workload of the Roads Operations team. Programme 4.12. Appendix 1 provides the current programme of the key stages and forecast timescales for each section of the Phase 1: Helensburgh to Cardross section of the Cyclepath; Phase 2: Cardross to Dumbarton; and, Phase 3: Helensburgh: Hermitage Academy to Town Centre. 4.13. Appendix 2 provides an update on commercial discussions with the design contractor and the current position on land negotiations. [EXEMPT] 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1. Completion of the Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton Cyclepath will provide a dedicated, high quality, accessible walking and cycle route linking Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton. This route will provide opportunities for all in the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton corridor 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. Funding for these works has been secured from our key active travel partners with further bids being developed to enable the construction of further sections of the cycleway following detailed design work and as and when land purchases have been concluded. 5.2. The delivery of the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton Cyclepath is dependent on securing highly competitive challenge funding, committing appropriate match funding and securing access to private land for the route.
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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 grant funding applications. The Council has not contributed any funding to design or capital costs. There is evidence to indicate that people who are more active, for example by walking or cycling, are less likely to require social care services in later life which could result in a future saving to the Council or HSCP although the value of this would be difficult to quantify. 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: 6.5.1 Equalities Completion of this project will provide opportunities for all in the Helensburgh – Cardross – Dumbarton corridor to travel more sustainably and actively by walking, wheeling and cycling. 6.5.2 Socio- economic Duty 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. 6.5.3 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.
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6.8. Customer Services None. Executive Director with the responsibility for Development and Economic Growth: Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead: Cllr Andrew Kain 17 August 2022 For further information contact: Colin Young Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer Colin.Young@argyll-bute.gov.uk Tel: 01546 604275 Appendix 1: Helensburgh, Cardross & Dumbarton Cyclepath Programme Appendix 2: Update on Land Negotiations for Helensburgh, Cardross and Dumbarton Cyclepath [EXEMPT]