Craighouse to Corran Sands, Isle of Jura Active Travel Route Progress Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 September 2024
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre & the Islands Area Committee — 4 September 2024 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 04 September 2024 Craighouse to Corran Sands, Isle of Jura Active Travel Route Progress Report 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. This report updates Members on the progress made in relation to developing plans to improve opportunities to walk, wheel or cycle between Craighouse and Corran Sands on the Isle of Jura. This project was identified as a priority for the community in the Isle of Jura Community Action Plan 2018 – 2023. 1.2. Officers secured external funding in 2023/24 from the highly competitive Transport Scotland Places for Everyone (PFE) programme, administered by Sustrans, to enable initial feasibility (stage 1) and development of concept designs (stage 2). 1.3. A project steering group including representatives of Jura Community Council, Jura Community Development Trust, Argyll and Bute Council and Sustrans was formed. The steering group helped guide the project to ensure it delivered to the needs of the community. 1.4. Two design options have been developed to concept design, a do-minimum option which remains within the existing adopted road corridor of the A846 and a do-something option which provides a higher level of service to users but requires additional land. While concept design usually produces a single, preferred option, two options were developed as the community preference is for a do-something option but there are challenges in securing landowner agreement to the very high specification for an off-road path imposed by Sustrans. 1.5. A 2024/25 funding application has been submitted to Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone (PFE) programme to enable identification of a final preferred option, and for this option to be progressed through Developed Design (stage 3) in 2024/25 and Technical Design (stage 4) in 2025/26. A decision in regard to 2024/25 funding is expected in late summer 2024. Should members decide not to support the future development of the project the funding application will be withdrawn. 1.6. Technical design (stage 4) is the final stage of the design process and a further report will be presented to Members prior to commencement of any construction. RECOMMENDATIONS 1.7. It is recommended that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands members:
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1.7.1. Support progression of the project to full Technical Design, as required by the external funder. 1.7.2. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to identify a single preferred option and to continue development of the designs for this option to Developed Design (stage 3) and Technical Design (stage 4).
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 04 September 2024 Craighouse to Corran Sands, Isle of Jura Active Travel Route Progress Report 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1. This report updates Members on the progress made in relation to developing plans to improve opportunities to walk, wheel or cycle between Craighouse and Corran Sands on the Isle of Jura. This project was identified as a priority for the community in the Isle of Jura Community Action Plan 2018 – 2023. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1. It is recommended that the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands members: 3.1.1. Support progression of the project to full Technical Design, as required by the external funder. 3.1.2. Instruct Officers, subject to securing external funding, to identify a single preferred option and to continue development of the designs for this option to Developed Design (stage 3) and Technical Design (stage 4). 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. Funding 4.3. Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone (PFE) programme is the primary external active travel design funding available in Scotland. It is structured around 8 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.
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4.4. As of 2024/25, the construction element of the funding has been taken into a separate competitive fund, Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF). ATIF still requires a separate competitive application to be submitted but is, currently, only open for applications once a year. All projects submitted to ATIF must be ready in all respects to commence construction, including having any legal or regulatory approvals required in place. 4.5. A minimum of three new competitive funding submissions are required to complete a project using external funding, with competitive applications required, as a minimum, to PFE prior to Stage 0 (Strategic Definition) and Stage 3 (Developed Design) and to the new Transport Scotland ATIF prior to Stage 5 (Construction). 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. Officers have submitted a funding application for 24/25 funding from Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone Programme to enable this work continue the design process through Developed Design (stage 3) in 2024/25 and Technical Design (stage 4) in 2025/26. A decision in regard to 2024/25 funding is expected in late summer 2024. Should members decide not to support the future development of the project the funding application will be withdrawn. Community Engagement 4.7. The Craighouse to Corran Sands route was identified by the community as a key missing link to enable more people to choose to walk, wheel or cycle for everyday journeys on Jura. The community have already constructed a rough path linking Knockrome to the Corran Sands car park. 4.8. Several rounds of community engagement were undertaken including in-person events on Jura and online events/consultation website. The consultation identified: • Strong community support for improvement. • Preference for an alternative to walking on the 60mph single track A846 outside Craighouse where possible. • Concerns regarding visibility especially due to vegetation growth along side of A836, and a lack of suitable locations to ‘step-off’ the single track A846 to allow vehicles to pass. • Desire the route included the new housing at Otter Brae on the south of Craighouse which were developed without a footway connection to Craighouse. The study area was altered to include these new dwellings. Concept Design 4.9. In addition to linking around 80% of all dwelling on Jura, the route will also provide a suitable opportunity to choose to walk or cycle to the Small Isles Primary School, Jura Distillery, Jura Hotel, Jura Service Point, Community Shop, Community Hall, Church, Playpark, Pier, Community Fire Station and the Coastguard Station.
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4.10. The paid PFE fund administrators, Sustrans, impose a significant number of design conditions on the PFE funding. These include an aim of providing a high level of service under Cycle by Design (2021) guidance and limitations of a minimum 3m width for off-road paths and a maximum gradient of 7%. Where cyclists are expected to on road Sustrans require designs to include a maximum 20mph speed limit. 4.11. A number of design options were identified for discussion with the community, Argyll and Bute Council Roads and Infrastructure Service, landowners and other stakeholders. From these discussions two options were developed to concept design stage, a do-minimum option and a do-something option. Both option include new pedestrian footways within Craighouse, with the main differences being outside Craighouse between the village edge and Corran Sands. 4.12. Do-minimum option aims to minimise any private land required and therefore restricts the design to the current corridor of the A846. As such, outside Craighouse it consists of minor interventions on the A846 to improve visibility, manage vehicle speeds are key locations and improve opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to ‘step-off’ the A846 to allow vehicles to pass. While a cheaper option and deliverable without private land take, the do-minimum option fails to provide a high level of service under Cycle by Design. 4.13. Do-something option aims to provide a high level of service under Cycle by Design and to meet more of the Sustrans imposed design requirements. As such, outside Craighouse the proposal was for an off-road wide path which mirrored the alignment of the A846 but would require access to private land. To reduce cost, the design proposed returning onto the A846 for short distances to cross 3 larger rivers using the existing A846 bridges rather than constructing new bridges specifically for the path. To more closely align with Sustrans design requirements, the do-something option was proposed at 2m wide with a bound surface. The proposed width still requires to be agreed with Sustrans, as while it is more in keeping with the rural location it is lower than Sustrans stated design requirements. While supported by the community, the main landowners expressed concern that the provision of an off-road path was out of keeping with Jura and therefore have not agreed to this option at present. 4.14. The community expressed a preference for the do-something option, but agreed with the view that the Sustrans imposed minimum width of 3m for a share-use path is excessively wide for the likely user numbers on Jura, and that a 2m wide path would be more appropriate. Unfortunately, engagement to date with Sustrans has failed to secure their agreement to a derivation from the design standards imposed to enable a less obtrusive path width to be considered. It is planned to continue engagement with Sustrans, community and landowners in future design stages. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1. Provision of an improved walking, wheeling and cycling route linking Craighouse and Corran Sands on the Isle of Jura would provide opportunities for residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and actively by walking and cycling. This
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will provide an alternative to having to use a private car to travel between these communities and help lower Argyll and Bute’s carbon footprint. Funding for the development of designs to date has been secured from Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone (PFE) Programme with further competative applications having been submitted, but not yet funded, to enable the design process to be completed in 2024/25 and 2025/26. 5.2. The delivery of the route is dependent on completing the design work, securing highly competitive external challenge funding, committing appropriate match funding and potentially securing access to private land should the do-something option continue to be the preferred option. 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 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
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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. 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 Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services: Councillor John Armour 19 July 2024 For further information contact: Colin Young Strategic Transportation Delivery Officer Colin.Young@argyll-bute.gov.uk
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