Major investment in Speyside Way
Over £343,000 of improvements to the popular Speyside Way route have just been completed.
Moray Council have resurfaced a 10km stretch of the path, replaced four timber bridges and improved drainage. In addition new tunnel lighting and fencing have been installed, along with bike repair stations placed at strategic points along the route.
Since the launch of the path last year average daily cycling and walking figures have increased rapidly. In July 2019 an average of 6 cyclists a day used the route, leaping to 40 a day in the same month this year. At Fiddich Park, Craigellachie, pedestrian numbers jumped from an average daily figure of 67 in 2019 to 183 in the same period this year.
Chair of Speyside Area Forum, Sandy Henderson, said that the improvements have enabled residents and visitors to use their bikes and to walk in a COVID-safe environment, even during periods of lockdown.
“We are delighted to have been able to work with Moray Council to support the creation of the Speyside Low Carbon Hub and it is hugely encouraging to see that the number of people accessing the Speyside Way has increased. We look forward to seeing further improvements being carried out next year as this will not only provide increased connectivity and access to our more rural communities within Speyside but also generate support to the local businesses along the route.”
Due to the success of these latest improvements and the increased use of the route, Moray Council have secured further funding of £635,000 to make additional improvements to the Speyside Way.
This next stage will include the upgrading of the path from Carron to Cragganmore, providing a high quality active travel route to access Aberlour and Craigellachie for a number of smaller settlements, individual properties and businesses. Works are due to commence in spring 2021.
In addition, work is due to upgrade the existing surface, improve drainage, carry out more bridge repairs, and replace information boards and way markers at strategic points installed along the route.
In tandem with the Speyside Way improvements and as part of the overall Speyside Low Carbon Hub project, Findhorn-based Moray Carshare is launching their car and e-bike sharing service into the area. The new services consist of a hybrid electric car and two electric bikes available for hire near the Aberlour Visitor Centre, plus 2 more electric bikes stationed in a bike shelter at the Fiddich Park car park in Craigellachie.
The Speyside Low Carbon Hub project received the funding as part of the Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund, established by Transport Scotland from the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 programme.