What can be done to improve walking, cycling, wheeling * and public transport opportunities that will better connect our communities within the Lochbroom area, and with our neighbouring communities?
Our ability to move around Ullapool, travel within Lochbroom and in surrounding areas through improved walking, cycling or wheeling paths – or better public transport – was identified as a key priority in the Ullapool Community Trust survey last year.
Ullapool Community Trust (UCT) has been discussing possible active travel routes with Highland Council, Transport Scotland, HITRANS and Lochbroom Community Council and there are now a number of key developments that could help the Trust make real progress in improving local access and transport options.
* wheeling refers to baby buggies, wheelchairs and similar non-bicycle forms of wheeled transport
The Sustrans ‘Places for Everyone’ fund re-opens at the end of July.
If an application for funding is successful, this could provide vital funds to look at the feasibility and creation (or upgrading) of walking, cycling and wheeling routes to link Braemore, Leckmelm and Lochside communities to the south and Ardmair and Rhue to the north with Ullapool.
“Living Well Locally: 20 Minute Communities in the Highlands and Islands”, a report commissioned by HITRANS, and supported by Sustrans is now available.
Illustrated by case studies in Ullapool, Orkney, South Loch Ness and Islay, the report gives an insight into:
- The background to ‘20 Minute Neighbourhoods’.
- Applying the concept in the Highlands and Islands, and elsewhere in rural Scotland.
- Examples of real projects across rural Scotland that make 20 Minute Neighbourhoods a practical concept.
While recognising the unique challenges of achieving this level of access to amenities in Scotland’s rural areas, the authors of the report say “Just as the report builds on other people’s research and experience, we hope that others will discuss and develop its content. The report is a step on the way to delivering 20 Minute Neighbourhoods across Scotland, not the last word.”
The full report can be found at: Living Well Locally: 20 Minute Communities in the Highlands and Islands.
It’s time to have your say…
To help us be ready to make use of all potential initiatives, UCT are pleased to announce a collaboration with the Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) funded by Paths for All and HITRANS under the Sustaining Choices programme to review our community’s active travel and community transport needs.
PAS and UCT will host four meetings with the community starting on July 27th and continuing in August, both in person and online, to get your views on how to connect our community better. The schedule of events is as follows:
- 27th July – Zoom (on-line event) – 7.00pm – 8.30pm
- 1st August – Dundonnell Hotel (in-person event) -7.00pm – 8.30pm
- 4th August – Ullapool Harbour Building (in-person and on-line event*) from 7.00p – 8.30pm
- 16th August – Braemore Hall (in-person event) from 7.00pm – 8.30pm
You can sign up to any of these events at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/383337582027
PAS will then use the information gathered from these events and associated surveys to build an active travel and transport plan for our community, identifying key projects to improve walking, cycling, wheeling opportunities and public transport across Lochbroom and beyond.
For those unable to attend these events we have prepared a short survey below which can either be completed online at: https://forms.office.com/r/kGJWA8fDUt
