Up to £469,094 to be invested in regeneration area’s cycle and pedestrian links

20 September 2017

Travel routes in and around Heathryfold Park, Middlefield and Northfield will be significantly upgraded as part of the wider regeneration of the area.

Members of the Aberdeen City Council Finance, Policy and Resources Committee today (20 September 2017) agreed to accept a grant of up to £469,094 from national body Sustrans to fund the work.

The project is designed to increase the accessibility and usage of paths that cross Heathryfold Park and routes which link with the part, improve the night-time accessibility of the paths and increase the number of journeys made by cycle and on foot in Middlefield and Northfield by enhancing active travel routes.

The initial idea for the scheme came from a Total Place consultation process which began in 2014. Local residents identified the lack of provision for cyclists and the quality of the environment as a priority.

An audit of the streets and paths in the area was undertaken in 2016 by Living Streets and members of the public, helping to inform a community based steering group which has been formed to guide the development of designs.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Councillor Douglas Lumsden, convener of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee, said: “Middlefield and Northfield has been the focus of a number of regeneration projects in recent years and the improvements to the cycle and pedestrian links are part of that bigger picture, enhancing safety for those using the routes and in turn providing better access to the expanding range of community facilities.

“It is also in line with our commitment throughout Aberdeen to encourage sustainable transport as we work toward increasing the proportion of journeys being made on foot and bicycle. We welcome the Sustrans funding and look forward to moving forward with the project.”

A procurement exercise will be undertaken to deliver the improvements. The committee’s decision is subject to confirmation from legal and finance officers that the grant funding conditions can be met.