HITRANS – the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership – has appointed Arup to deliver an active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) masterplan for Stornoway on behalf of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES).

The aim of the masterplan is to enable short local journeys to be made actively in Stornoway and to deliver placemaking improvements that make the town centre a more attractive and inviting place for local residents and visitors.

A public consultation has been launched on the proposed active travel development, with views sought on from the local community and stakeholders within Stornoway and the surrounding area to explore the following key topics:

• What are the key services and facilities within Stornoway and the surrounding area?

• What are the key barriers and opportunities to walking, wheeling and cycling in the area?

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• Where would you like to see walking, wheeling and cycling improvements?

• What types of walking, wheeling and cycling improvements would you like to see?

HITRANS said: "A key part of the project is to also engage with young people and their parents/guardians, to ensure young people's voices are heard and their views are incorporated into the final masterplan.

"We have prepared an engagement survey (Opens in a new window or downloads a file) for school pupils and parents/guardians, which centres around what they believe the main barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling are and the types of improvements they would like to see within Stornoway.

"Please also find attached an engagement form which can be sent to school pupils and their parents/guardians. For secondary school pupils, we anticipate that they will be able to fill out the survey individually, however for primary school pupils below the age of 10 we anticipate that parents/guardians may want to fill the survey out on their child's behalf.

"Following the closing date of the consultation all responses will be reviewed by Arup. The results of the consultation will be used to shape and inform the Stornoway Active Travel Masterplan which will be prepared by Arup to be presented to HITRANS and Comhairle for review and approval.

"Once a final masterplan is prepared and agreed this will be presented to council for approval . The report to Comhairle will detail consultation responses and provide detail on the proposed actions to be taken."