Dumfries and Galloway Council commissioned Ethos to deliver a feasibility study and concept design to link Annan, Eastriggs, Gretna and Powfoot through connecting existing walking and cycle paths, after being awarded funding through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone Programme.
Safety concerns had been raised for a number of years due to the existing provision of the National Cycling Network route 7 that runs through the region. The majority of the route within Annandale involved cycling on along a busy road that was subject to high volumes of traffic, especially HGVs.
The council had several core paths in the area which are used for walking and cycling. By connecting these core paths with new paths and upgrading some of the existing paths, it would allow safer travel for everyday journeys.
The project followed the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme, covering stages 0-2. Stage 0, Strategic Definition required us to produce an outline business case for the project. We developed a series of aims and objectives, which included the need to involve local communities throughout the lifecycle of the project, and to overcome barriers to achieve an increase in modal shift.
The outline business case also required a risk register, outline delivery plan, and a stakeholder engagement plan that included stakeholder mapping to identify all stakeholders, their role, and importance on the project.
For stage 1, our project team commenced the collation of data that included traffic surveys, and an ecological appraisal. We undertook a comprehensive site visit that involved visiting all potential route options identified. Each potential route was appraised using our bespoke criteria that provided an evidence base for the preferred route alignment that was identified.
During stage 1, we undertook the first of two community consultations. This involved the creation of a storyboard and survey to support our digital engagement offering. We undertook a week-long period of consultation roadshows visiting venues across the region at different times of the day and evening to encourage participation. Our project team visited schools running road safety education workshops whilst discussing the project.
Large parts of the proposed path network required land acquisition. We contacted landowners to begin negotiation. Positive feedback was received from the majority of landowners, which increase the likelihood of securing the land parcels, which would be carried out prior to construction commencing.
Stage 2 commenced upon identification of the preferred route alignment. Our multi-disciplinary design team produced concept designs with supporting visualisations across the route, which was over 9 miles in length between Powfoot to the west, and Gretna to the east. We produced cost estimates for the implementation of the scheme, which was split into four routes due to the costs involved, and the likely need for multi-year funding. Routes were prioritised based on our options appraisal and survey results.
Stage 2 required us to prepare a full business case, which included updated risk registers, delivery programmes, benefit cost ratios, and evidence of support from stakeholders. The second community consultation was held as part of stage 2, which focused on the concept designs. Further drop-in sessions were held across the region, which had good attendance and very strong support. This was backed-up with results from the digital engagement tools. Further engagement was undertaken with schools, and our project team held workshops designed to target protected characteristics.
Following review of the funding application, the project has been awarded the required funding to enable progression to stages 3&4 of the Places for Everyone programme.
