19 September 2018

Upgrades to Ellon riverside path completed, providing shared route to town centre and community campus

Ellon’s Riverside Path has been upgraded to encourage walkers and cyclists to make more use of the route along the banks of the Ythan. 

The path, which provides a safe route to the town centre and Ellon Academy community campus, has been widened to allow both pedestrians and cyclists to safely use it.

This three-metre-wide ‘shared-use’ path has been created on the north side of the river, having been identified as a core route by the local community.

It runs from Modley Avenue, where it links with the Formartine and Buchan way, along the riverside to the town centre, where it links into the existing path leading up to Ellon Academy. 

The project forms part of Aberdeenshire Council’s upcoming Integrated Travel Town (ITT) project – which will see investment in walking and cycling provision in five of the area’s main towns. 

With plans due to be launched later this year, this ambitious project seeks to increase active travel levels and decrease the number of short journeys being made by car. 

Providing and enhancing safe cycling routes is one of the project’s main objectives and the upgraded riverside path helps achieve this for Ellon.

The project also covers educational resources for schools.  An award winning resource pack is being used to provide workshops and lesson plans focusing on the themes of active and sustainable travel.

Chair of the Formartine Area Committee and local councillor, Isobel Davidson, said: “I really hope the investment in upgrading this path makes a big difference in terms of encouraging people to reduce the number of short car journeys in the town centre and to Ellon Community Campus in particular.

“As well as the benefits for the local environment, the extra exercise would have a really positive effect on the physical and mental health of those making the extra effort.”

Chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Peter Argyle, said: “I am pleased to see early progress in the Ellon Integrated Travel Town (ITT) Masterplan. Ellon is one of five towns in Aberdeenshire which have had an ITT masterplan developed and strategic cycle corridors from Ellon, Inverurie and Stonehaven to Aberdeen are also being progressed.

“These are ambitious projects to improve walking and cycling across Aberdeenshire and they help highlight our commitment to active and sustainable travel.”