News | Posted April 30, 2025
Read the NEW Action Plans for Ruthrieston, Fa’side, Eskdalemuir, and Kelty!
To mark the end of the Sustaining Choices project, Local Walking and Wheeling Action Plans have been published for all areas, outlining key tasks the local communities can work towards to encourage active travel. Read on to find out more!
The reports bring together information gathered from engagement events and online surveys that took place between November 2024 and March 2025 – the thoughts of over 650 people! They analyse barriers to walking and wheeling in the area and outline suggestions to make it easier, safer, and more accessible for all.
“The ideas of a connecting path between Pencaitland and East Saltoun would have remained just ideas without your help. Now it looks like an idea with legs (excuse the pun) thanks to your help.” Ralph (volunteer Fa’side)
Common issues that came up across the areas include:
- The need for better signposting
- Poor path maintenance
- Barriers to accessibility
- Safety concerns
- A lack of awareness of facilities
- Connectivity of existing routes
Some of the key tasks identified are:
- Working to improve pathways including fixing surfaces, overgrown plants, and signage
- Increasing the accessibility of routes and facilities
- Gathering information on and raising awareness of existing facilities through maps, webpages, and leaflets
- Developing walking groups
- Creating new, better connected, and safer routes
Diane, Project & Training Officer at Planning Aid Scotland has been involved in the Sustaining Choices project from the start:
“I have really enjoyed working closely with the communities, there is a real sense of momentum and a willingness to create change. I’m optimistic that these plans will give the communities a solid base to build on to make positive change in their local areas.”
We would like to thank everyone who got involved in the project, and our funder, Paths for All Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Open Fund. We hope that these plans are ‘a step in the right direction’ towards encouraging more people to walk/wheel in their local area!
You can read the full Action Plans here:
“This has been so much more beneficial than I ever thought for our community. It has brought new people into the hub which might not have normally come in, been a brilliant basis for us to start a bike group, and we have engaged with some of the difficult to reach 20–28 year old boys.” Lara (Centre Manager, Eskdalemuir Community Hub)
