Funding of £194,000 received from the Scottish Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Projects will be used to further enhance a range of facilities in South Ayrshire.

In December 2003 the Scottish Government allocated South Ayrshire Council funding of £192,000 for the financial year 2005/06 for the development of Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Projects along with funding of £194,000 for financial year 2006/07 and £199,000 for financial year 2007/08.

Councillor Margaret Toner Convener of the Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee which approved the projects said: “The funding from the Scottish Government will enable the Council to further expand and improve the cycle and walking network in South Ayrshire. These facilities can be used by people of all ages to get outdoors and have some exercise and fun.”

The following projects will be carried out using the specifically allocated funding:

RIVER STREET/NEW BRIDGE STREET, AYR – £30,000

The National Cycle Network Route 7 travels southwards through Ayr town centre along Main Street and along River Street, cyclists then dismount to go over the Auld Brig into Ayr High Street. The National Cycle Route then directs cyclists along South Harbour Street to Ayr Esplanade. It is proposed to close off the southbound slip lane from Main Street to River Street to improve road safety, a service bay will be installed with access for cyclists and emergency vehicles being maintained. Consultations on this proposal have already taken place and Strathclyde Police have welcomed it on road safety grounds.

DUNDONALD ROAD, TROON TO KILMARNOCK ROAD, BARASSIE - £90,000

Previous work addressed problems at the embankments on Kilmarnock Road and established an initial stretch of cycle route. The next phase will create a properly surfaced path from Kilmarnock Road to Dundonald Road that will be parallel to the west boundary of the golf course. This will establish a direct cycle route to Marr College and provide a safer route to the school.

LOCAL CYCLE NETWORK - £24,000

In 2005/2006 Cycling Scotland undertook a feasibility study to identify routes that could be developed to enhance the Local Cycle Network. The installation of the National Cycle Route 7, running from north to south through South Ayrshire, has encouraged more people to cycle. The study will identify east to west feeder routes for the National Cycle route and other local routes that are or could be made cycle friendly. Some of these projects are likely to be small and would require limited funding to implement. Any residual funds available will be used to implement these
schemes and ensure maximum use is made of the financial package available. The main routes proposed for implementation and the costs are Whitletts £6,000, Newton £6,000, Belmont £6,000 and Alloway £6,000.

SAFER STREETS INITIATIVES – 20 MPH ZONES - £50,000

There are ongoing plans to implement further 20 mph zones, the main scheme proposed for the coming financial year is for the Citadel, along Ayr Esplanade and Blackburn Drive to the roundabout at the west end of Seafield Road.

The Safer Streets initiatives are very important as the risk of accidents and the severity of injury to casualties, particularly pedestrians, increases as vehicle speeds increase. The introduction of 20 mph speed limits, the reduction from 40 mph to 30 mph fosters a greater acceptance by some motorists of their need to drive at safer and slower speeds in towns and villages.

July 2006