Campbeltown Esplanade and Kinloch Park Active Travel Progress Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 December 2024
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 4 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 4 DECEMBER 2024 Campbeltown Esplanade and Kinloch Park Active Travel Progress Report 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. This report updates members on progress made in relation to initial feasibility and concept design of improved active opportunities and wider public realm infrastructure on the Campbeltown Esplanade and in the vicinity of Kinloch Park. 1.2. This is phase 4 of the longer-term cross active travel route linking key destinations across Campbeltown including the hospital, schools, harbour, town centre and leisure facilities. Provision of improved active travel opportunities was identified as a priority for the community in the Campbeltown Community Action Plan 2022 – 2027, including for the 34% of households in Campbeltown without access to a car or van (2002 census). 1.3. Officers secured external funding from the Scottish Government’s Tier 1 Active Travel fund to enable initial feasibility (stage 1) and development of concept designs (stage 2). 1.4. The project commenced focusing on the Esplanade and Kinloch Park and surrounding streets. A total of 41 survey responses were received to the initial consultation in February/March 2024, with 61 individuals attending the public event. 57% of respondents indicated that a traffic free route would encourage them to walk or cycle more. 1.5. A potential concept design was developed for the Esplanade, Kinloch Park and surrounding streets taking account of the comments received to the first consultation and sought to balance access and space for all users equitably. To achieve this the design seeks to (a) ensure the Esplanade continues to function as a key route including for HGVs, PSVs and extra wide loads in line with current design standards; (b) retain and where possible enhance existing on street parking provision; (c) reduce traffic speeds in key locations to increase pedestrian crossing opportunities; (d) increase space and accessibility for pedestrians; and, (e) provide dedicated space for cyclists (a key funder requirement). The proposals also sought to improve the wider public realm including around the war memorial, as well as proposing renewal of all surfacing and lining on the affected streets. 1.6. A second community consultation was held between August and October 2024 on the initial concept design proposals. A total of 149 qualitative responses were received, comprising 82 surveys and 67 community feedback map
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comments. 66% of respondents viewed the design proposals as being beneficial for improving Campbeltown’s walking and cycling future mobility, while 58% of respondents felt the design was aligned to the needs of the community. 1.7. The design is currently at Concept Design (stage 2) of the Transport Scotland Places for Everyone (PFE) programme 4-stage design process; (1) Feasibility; (2) Concept Design; (3) Developed Design; and, (4) Technical Design. All design stages require to be completed before the designs are at a constructible standard. 1.8. Technical design (stage 4) is the final stage of the design process and a further report will be presented to Members on completion of the Technical design stage. RECOMMENDATIONS 1.9. It is recommended that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands members: 1.9.1. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to continue development of the designs for this option to Developed Design (stage 3) and Technical Design (stage 4). 1.9.2. Instruct Officers to submit a further paper to members on completion of the Technical Design.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL MID ARGYLL, KINTYRE AND THE ISLANDS AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 4 DECEMBER 2024 Campbeltown Esplanade and Kinloch Park Active Travel Progress Report 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1. This report updates members on progress made in relation to initial feasibility and concept design of improved active opportunities and wider public realm infrastructure on the Campbeltown Esplanade and in the vicinity of Kinloch Park. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1. It is recommended that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands members: 3.1.1. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to continue development of the designs for this option to Developed Design (stage 3) and Technical Design (stage 4). 3.1.2. 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 Craighouse to Corran Sands Active Travel Route. This required 18 separate competitive funding applications, to 5 separate funds. 4.3. The 2022 census identified that 34% of households in Campbeltown don’t have access to a car or van, resulting in them being reliant on public transport and active travel to access education, employment, shops, leisure and other essential services. Funding 4.4. Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone (PFE) programme is the primary external active travel design funding model in Scotland. It is structured around 8
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project stages with a competitive challenge fund, 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 on an annual basis. While the model for active travel design funding is due to change in 25/26, it is expected that the new funding model will be based on the PFE model and requirements. 4.5. As of 2024/25, the construction element of the funding has been taken into a separate competitive fund, Transport Scotland’s Tier 2 active travel fund. Tier 2 funding requires a separate competitive application to be submitted and has to date only opened for applications once a year. All projects submitted to Tier 2 must have completed the 4 PFE design stages and be ready in all respects to commence construction, including having any legal or regulatory approvals required in place. Stage 1: Feasibility 4.6. A contract was awarded to Connected Transport Planning (CTP) in November 2023 to undertake the initial 2 stages (Feasibility and Concept Design) of the 4 stage PFE design process. 4.7. The initial feasibility stage of the project commenced in November 2023 and was completed in March 2024. 4.8. A three week consultation was undertaken between 28 February to 20 March 2024. A public drop-in event was held on Tuesday 28 February in the Town Hall, Campbeltown and all consultation materials were available on a dedicated consultation website from 28 February to 20 March. The consultation was promoted via social media, local press, Campbeltown Community Council, posters, 1000 flyers and a pop-up event in entrance of the Tesco supermarket. 4.9. A total of 61 people attended the public drop-in event, with 41 qualitative responses received to the consultation. The responses represented less than 1% of the population of Campbeltown, a lower than average turnout. 4.10. 25% of the respondents reported that they walked or cycled every day, with a further 50% doing so at least twice a week. 57% of survey respondents indicated that a traffic free route would encourage them to walk or cycle more. 4.11. Respondents identified opportunities to improve Kinloch Park could include improved lighting (50%), level ground (20%), cycle paths (10%), wider footpaths (10%) and 10% improved maintenance. Other improvements requested included more bins, more parking spaces and more benches/seats. 4.12. The consultation identified a number of key objectives the concept design should seek to address. These were: • Lack of pedestrian crossings; • Some road crossings perceived as unsafe; • Lack of lowered curbs; • Lack of provision for disabled and minority user groups;
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• Poorly surfaced pavements; • Connection across Kinloch Road between social housing and community allotments; • Protect atmosphere of Kinloch Park; • Retain parking along esplanade; and, • Provision of specific campervans and overnight parking. Stage 2: Concept Design 4.13. The concept design stage of the project commenced in May 2024 and was completed in October 2024. 4.14. A potential concept design was developed for the Esplanade, Kinloch Park and surrounding streets taking account of the comments received to the first consultation and sought to balance access and space for all users equitably. To achieve this the design seeks to (a) ensure the Esplanade continues to function as a key route including for HGVs, PSVs and extra wide loads in line with current design standards; (b) retain and where possible enhance existing on street parking provision; (c) reduce traffic speeds in key locations to increase pedestrian crossing opportunities; (d) increase space and accessibility for pedestrians; and, (e) provide dedicated space for cyclists (a key funder requirement). The proposals also sought to improve the wider public realm including around the war memorial, as well as proposing renewal of all surfacing and lining on the affected streets. 4.15. A six-week consultation was undertaken between 28 August and 10 October 2024. A public drop in-event was held on Wednesday 28 August in the Town Hall, Campbeltown and all consultation materials including video fly-through of the design were available on a dedicated consultation website from 28 August to 10 October. The design team also virtually attended two meetings with the Campbeltown Community Council. 4.16. A total of 149 qualitative responses were received, comprising 82 surveys and 67 community feedback map comments. 4.17. 55% of respondents felt that the designs would benefit the community, with 27% of respondents not supporting the proposals and 18% being unsure. 4.18. 66% of respondents viewed the design proposals as being beneficial for improving Campbeltown’s walking and cycling future mobility, while 34% were of the view that the proposals would not be beneficial. 4.19. 58% of respondents felt the design was aligned to the needs of the community, with 42% indicating they had concerns regarding the design. 4.20. Of the general comments received, key topics mentioned included requests for more placemaking, requests for more crossing facilities, concerns regarding parking enforcement, support for level of parking provision proposed, that the project was ‘waste of money’ or should be relocated somewhere else, and suggestions on how the bus station layout could be improved or left as is. A
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number of other comments received related to items outside the scope of the project. Future Design Stages 4.21. Developed design (Stage 3) is the most time intensive of all design stages as it develops the initial concept proposals into a deliverable design taking account of the detailed constraints on site. This stage includes further community and stakeholder consultation on the specific details of the design. 4.22. Technical design (Stage 4) advances the developed designs into a completed design package. The design package would all necessary designs and associated documents to allow the construction of the final design. The technical design stage also includes securing statutory approvals required to allow construction. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1. Provision of an improved walking, wheeling and cycling facilities and associated public realm will provide opportunities for residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and actively. This will help reduce Argyll and Bute’s carbon footprint and improve accessibility to local facilities for the community, including the 34% of households in Campbeltown who don’t have access to a car or van (2022 census). The improvements will also help support the wider regeneration of Campbeltown, including supporting the local economy. 5.2. The delivery of the route is dependent on securing highly competitive external funding to complete the design work. Funding for the work to date has been secured from the Scottish Government’s active travel funding with further applications being developed to enable the completion of the design process if approved by members. 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
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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 Future input will be required from Legal Services to support land agreements should these be deemed necessary. 6.4. HR None. 6.5. Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities Completion of this project will provide opportunities for the majority of the population of Jura to travel more sustainably and actively by walking, wheeling and cycling. The route will be 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 and visitors the opportunity to choose to travel using active modes, 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. The path will also offer opportunities for individuals to travel for leisure. 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.
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Engagement feedback demonstrates even stronger support for the delivery of the active travel route 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. 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: Engagement Report