Sustrans Scotland has awarded £15,000 of match funding towards a creating a new pathway in Rosneath.

Work is to begin on the development phase of the scheme, which will link the B833 with Castle Park. The council will start researching detailed designs and costs to secure further external funding for the project.

Lucy Clarke, Community Links Officer at Sustrans Scotland, said: "We're pleased to be able to offer our support to the development of the Rosneath path through our Community Links programme grant fund.

"The project is an excellent example of how we and local authorities can work in partnership to help facilitate more sustainable travel options for members of the public.

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"The path will offer the community a wide variety of benefits, including benefits to the local economy, people's health and the environment. By improving active travel conditions for the public's day-to-day movements, our hope is that society at large will increasingly choose to walk and cycle for shorter journeys rather than taking the car."

Councillor Robert G MacIntyre added: "We're delighted to have secured the funding to do the necessary background work. It's a two stage process – we need all of our designs and costs in place before we can go for the funding to build the path.

"We've done a lot of work in the background to get the project to this stage. It's great to see it taking shape. The path is much needed – it will provide a safe walking and cycling route for visitors at the caravan park to get into the village to access local amenities, as well as giving easy access from Rosneath to the marine businesses and sailing school."

The development forms part of the Scottish Government's plan to make 10% of everyday journeys made by bike by 2020.

(LM/JP)