Funding from SSEN Transmission has seen the successful development of a new multi-user fully accessible footpath around the Diamond Jubilee Park in Alyth, allowing the community access to the popular green space in the village.

The new 1.8m wide tarmac all weather path has been installed around the perimeter of the park and stretches around 665m long, providing much improved access to a site which had been all grass previously. The site is now readily accessible for wheelchairs as well as prams and buggies, ensuring it is accessible to all ages, abilities and for any use for the whole community.

Perth and Kinross Council Community Greenspace provided the Jubilee Park Working Group, which are part of the Alyth Development Trust, with consent to develop the path after the community recognised a need to make the popular Diamond Jubilee Park area more accessible. The SSEN Transmission team working on the new Alyth Substation site heard about the need for funding to develop the path and stepped in with a donation of £28,000 to cover a significant portion of the costs for the development, materials and construction of the new path, which was carried out by local contractor SHH Construction.

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Today the path has been officially opened by members of the Alyth Development Trust, SSEN Transmission and their Principal Contractor Siemens BAM.

The project team from SSEN Transmission is developing a new substation around four miles from Alyth, and have been working closely with the community to see how they can help support with various community initiatives in the area. Previous community work has included donations and funding to purchase a new freezer for the local food bank, volunteer days with community group ‘Alyth in Bloom' to help plant bulbs and spruce up the area, as well as landscaping work to help tidy up the local bowling green.

Lead Project Manager Archie Munro said: "As a responsible developer we're always looking for ways to support the local community, and when we heard that the Alyth Development Trust and Jubilee Park Working Group were looking for funding for the development of a new accessible path we were happy to step in to help.

"Our contribution of £28,000 now means that all members of the local community can safely access and enjoy the Diamond Jubilee Park thanks to the new path, and we're delighted to hear it is already being well-used.

"As guests in the area, it's great to know that we can help, have a positive impact on the local community and leave a lasting legacy through the project by supporting initiatives like the new footpath at Diamond Jubilee Park."

Russell Willis Taylor, secretary of Alyth Development Trust, said: "Alyth Development Trust is delighted to support this new amenity for everyone in our town, made possible by a committed volunteer committee who have worked tirelessly over the past year to make this happen. At a time when we all recognise the importance of being out in nature for wellbeing, they created a new way for Alyth to enjoy the Diamond Jubilee Park and we are all very grateful."

SSEN Transmission's scheme at Alyth includes the development of a new reaction compensation substation, which once complete will enable the connection of new renewable generation to the grid, helping to facilitate the transmission to net zero emissions. The Alyth scheme is on course to be completed in autumn 2023.