Have your say on plans to encourage more people to use Bo'ness path

The call comes from walking and cycling charity Sustrans.

The Scottish Greenways Programme, backed by funding from Transport Scotland, has asked local people to share their views on improvements which will encourage more people to use the traffic-free path at Bo’ness Foreshore.

An online consultation will allow people to submit their ideas through an interactive map of the route.

The consultation will be open for comments until September 30.

Shaped by feedback provided by the public and further consultation with groups and individuals in the area later this year, the £100,000 project will be carried out during 2021.

Kristen Layne, Greenways Programme Coordinator at Sustrans Scotland, said: “Given the global events of the past few months, the importance of providing more opportunities for people to walk, wheel and cycle safely has never been higher.

“Many people across Scotland have been discovering their local greenspaces for the first time, and are enjoying the physical and mental health benefits of walking, wheeling or cycling for essential journeys and daily exercise.

“Scotland’s communities are our greatest source of local knowledge, and are uniquely placed to share the needs and ambitions of people living, working and socialising in their area.

“We want to work with the communities of Bo’ness to shape this exciting investment in their local route to make it more welcoming, attractive and accessible for everyone, and we hope that to hear from as many people in the area as possible through our online consultation process.”

Councillor Paul Garner, Falkirk Council’s portfolio holder for environment, added: “We know how important it has been over the last few months for people to be able to get out and about in their local area for their daily exercise.

“This has brought into focus a need for improvements to some parts of our path network to help more people do this.

"We are therefore delighted to be working with Sustrans and our communities in Bo’ness to help us make the foreshore area even easier to access and more pleasant for everyone.

“Between 2014 and 2018, the Council has successfully secured over £6M to invest in our paths – helping us become Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood 2019.

"This project will help us build on this success and continue to deliver our aspirations of creating a network of paths across our area that is suitable for as many different users as possible.”

The consultation, and more information about the project, can be accessed at www.bonessforeshore.co.uk

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