An Angus clifftop path is in need of work to protect it from erosion and protect the safety of children and walkers, a councillor has claimed.
Arbroath East and Lunan SNP councillor Brenda Durno said investment in the route, which runs between Arbroath and Auchmithie, would also help to attract more visitors and boost the Angus tourism economy.
She said erosion at Seaton cliffs was causing significant concern and posing an increasing risk to the path.
Ms Durno said investment was necessary to develop the stretch, part of the Arbroath path network, into a cycle route with a view to extending the path in the future.
She said: “I absolutely share the concerns of walkers who feel that constant erosion is posing a threat to the path.
“I have also had reports of children going very close to the cliff edge on their bikes, and this is also deeply worrying.
“I think this is an opportunity to take look at the situation and see what can be done to improve it, especially to allow cyclists greater use there. For example, there is a huge amount of cultural activity at Auchmithie, but limited parking, so making it easier for people to enjoy a walk or bike ride from Arbroath to the village would be real help.
“The path is also often used by agricultural workers coming into town, so this is not just a recreational route. I appreciate that this would need the agreement of local landowners, but there are huge opportunities here to attract people into the area and boost tourism.”
Ms Durno said funding sources including the Coastal Communities Fund had given grants to similar projects.
An Angus Council spokesperson said the authority was not aware of any recent erosion affecting the cliff path at Arbroath, although one section of the route at Seaton Den remains closed for safety reasons due to landslides. An alternative route is available via Carlingheugh Bay.
“We have previously worked with landowners to secure a re-alignment where erosion made the path unsafe,” said the spokesperson.
“There are currently no plans to upgrade the route to a cycle path.”
The walk, at around five miles long, is considered to be one of the most dramatic in Angus, with varied wildlife, biodiversity and unusual rock formations.
