Inverurie residents to benefit from active travel investment in the Kellands area

Works are set to begin on an exciting project to improve an important active travel route through the Kellands area of Inverurie.

Aberdeenshire Council has secured 100% capital funding from the Scottish Government’s Active Travel Infrastructure 2 Fund, a competitive programme which supports projects encouraging walking, wheeling and cycling while helping to create healthier communities, cut carbon emissions and reduce congestion.

Thanks to this investment, a range of high-quality improvements will be delivered, including new wide, accessible paths through Kellands Park, junction improvements at Selbie Drive and Kellands Road and new all-ability access onto Kellands Primary School.

The works will enhance the park environment for all users, making it safer, more welcoming and easier to navigate. As part of the project, lighting within the park will also be upgraded with the installation of modern, energy-efficient LED streetlights, improving visibility and safety throughout the year.

While every effort will be made to minimise disruption during the anticipated two-month construction period, pedestrians are asked to be aware of and follow any temporary local path closures during the works.

Welcoming the grant award, Cllr Marion Ewenson, chair of the council’s Garioch Area Committee, said: “Receiving this level of capital funding is great news for the local community and these improvements mark a positive step forward for active travel in Inverurie, supporting healthier lifestyles and making it easier for people of all ages and abilities to choose walking, wheeling or cycling for everyday journeys. Our bid was successful in part due to the joined-up approach set out in our award-winning Inverurie Integrated Travel Town Masterplan and will support the School Streets scheme being rolled out for Kellands Primary School later this year. Kellands Park is a busy thoroughfare and these improvements will support much improved access between the schools, community leisure facilities, the hospital campus and the town centre.”

Cllr Alan Turner, chair of the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, added: “This funding award is part of a larger grant of £980,000 to support several projects across the area and is a first for Aberdeenshire Council. By demonstrating a clear and bold ambition towards sustainable and active travel, officers have been successful in sharing this vision with colleagues at Transport Scotland which has led to this scale of investment, reflecting their confidence in the council.”

Other schemes being funded include a new 2.5km shared use path linking Fraserburgh to Cairnbulg and Inverallochy as part of the Fraserburgh Integrated Travel Town project and the delivery of a much-championed link at Collieburn in Peterhead to create a strategic north-south link across the town.