Meeting to decide future of £13m Arbroath active travel project

Angus councillors will today (Tuesday) be given an update on the Arbroath A Place for Everyone project including details of the final estimated cost for delivery, and will be asked to agree to proceed with this ambitious scheme at a special meeting rescheduled following last week’s disruption by Storm Babet.
Mark Dowie
By Mark Dowie
Published 24th Oct 2023, 07:00 GMT
If approved, work on the project would begin in January.If approved, work on the project would begin in January.
If approved, work on the project would begin in January.

The council has said that the £13m scheme has the potential to be a once-in-a-lifetime, transformational project and a catalyst for the development of further projects to support the regeneration of the town. The project is aimed at making safe connections, to improve the appearance of the area, bringing green infrastructure into the centre of the town and drawing people to the seafront and historic core.

Its purpose is to provide a walking, wheeling and cycling route, accessible to all, connecting destinations throughout Arbroath and improving accessibility in the town by restoring those areas and facilities disconnected by the current road, creating a seafront people will increasingly want to use. The project also aims help to improve the local economy through increased footfall to shopping areas and attractions for locals and visitors.

Financial support was awarded under the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme in 2019. The Arbroath project is amongst the most ambitious being funded by the programme and the town is the first in Scotland to receive the highest level of funding available, which will be lost should it not go ahead.

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Councillor Beth Whiteside, Angus Council leader, said: “If the devastating events of this last week have taught us anything, it is that we must look at the effects of climate change on our environment and act accordingly.

“Improving our towns and communities, making them a greener place to live and encouraging a low carbon lifestyle is a vital part of the longer-term future for the whole of Angus.

“First Minister Humza Yousaf saw for himself the devastation caused by Storm Babet as he visited Brechin. He committed to long-term support to Angus to help us rebuild from the damage and to allow us to reconsider our flood protection measures across the whole of the council area.

“Now is not the time to walk away from green schemes such as Arbroath A Place For Everyone, that can not only help protect the future of our environment, but will boost our local economy and could become a catalyst for further investment in our towns in the future.”

If agreed, construction on the project is scheduled to start next January with an estimated completion date of July 2025.

Related topics:Humza YousafAngusScotlandBrechin