£10m designs for a new cycle track between Helensburgh and Garelochhead have been revealed – and the cost would rise by nearly £3m if new ‘placemaking nodes’ are included.
Built two decades ago by Argyll and Bute Council, the current cycle track to the Faslane naval base is often not used by cyclists.
And a new report for the council says both pedestrians and cyclists feel unsafe on the current route.
It says that £200,000 has been awarded by Transport Scotland and SPT to develop a new concept design to a technical stage.
The proposals are different in several respects from the current path but would still cross the main A814 in Rhu – there would also be a new ‘safe crossing’ at Faslane’s south gate.
In Rhu itself there could be a new park, a well as seating at bus shelters and information boards to mark the area’s history.
Landowners Luss Estates, Helensburgh Sailing Club, the Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club and Garelochhead Coaches are all said to be supportive of the plan.
A joint report by Icecream Architecture, Page & Park, Civic Engineers, Urban Movement, Sustrans and the council is due to be considered by the council next week.
It says the current path is regularly flooded, adding: “Cyclists are discouraged from using the existing path due to it’s stop-start nature, particularly at driveways, and the safety of using the path.
“Continuity of the route is important or it will frustrate cyclists and they will choose to cycle on the road where they can move quickly without barriers.
“Maintenance is vital – currently the lack of maintenance makes it very unappealing and unsafe for cyclists due to overgrown vegetation and bad surfaces
“Pedestrians and cyclists should have segregated routes as pedestrians are unsafe mixing with cyclists who want to travel at speed.”
A bi-directional cycle track is proposed, running on the southern side of the road heading out of Helensburgh, crossing the road just north of Rhu to continue on the northern side of the road as far as the north gate of the naval base .
The section beyond this into Garelochhead is said to be still under review.
‘Placemaking opportunities’ are proposed, with cycle racks and storage, cycle repair, rest stops and water stops prioritised and three particular ‘nodes’ identified:
Kidston Park, where the north part of the site occupied by the sailing club is said in the report to be undeveloped, but used seasonally for boat storage. The site itself is leased from Luss Estates: “Its location at a key point on the route means a long-term opportunity exists to create a new public amenity on at the end of Helensburgh promenade.”
Rhu,where the preferred route line passes through land currently owned by the yacht club, the council and the owner of the Ardenvohr Stables ruin. A new park is suggested ‘at the end of the promenade.
Garelochhead: Current access to the train station here is said to be challenging. The report adds: “The Garelochhead Coaches site is currently in active use, but a long-term opportunity exists for the site to be developed to create a new civic space.”
The report says 59% of people consulted said they would be ‘certain to walk, cycle or wheel more if the proposals went ahead, while 14% said they would not be encouraged to do this.
For the path itself, costs are estimated at £1.2m for the stretch from Helensburgh town centre to Kidston Park, and £2.1m to get from there to Rhu Primary School.
The next stretch, to the south gate at Faslane, would cost £3.4m, with another £1.m for the stretch to the north gate and another £1.6m.
The placemaking nodes would cost £2m in Rhu, £700,000 for Kidston Park and £150,000 for Garelochhead.
The council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee is due to discuss the plans on Tuesday.
The reports are available here (large PDF files): Appendix 3.1,
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