Three Perthshire communities have joined forces to transform cycling and walking routes in a million-pound effort.
Locals in Alyth, Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus are working together on a £1.6 million project to benefit cyclists and walkers across the area, in what will be known as the Strathmore Cycle Network.
The effort will link the three towns together and is expected to improve road safety, cut carbon emissions and pollution.
So far, more than £250,000 has been raised and is being invested in new cross-country paths and bridges, linking Alyth and Blairgowrie.
Cycling and footpath charity Sustrans Scotland has given £37,000 and the Scottish Government’s Improving Access for All Fund contributed £200,000. Another £8,000 has come from the National Lottery Awards for All fund, in addition to £10,000 from Tactran.
Perth and Kinross Council has earmarked a further £100,000 in its recent budget.
The network will combine eight miles of existing country lanes with seven miles of new cycle routes and walking paths.
As part of the plans, the Couttie Bridge could be converted to a single carriageway with new paths for cyclists built alongside the A923.
Public meetings will be held in early September to help decide the route between Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie.
Conservative councillor Kathleen Baird said: “We’re pleased to see this project coming forward that aims to improve road safety for cyclists in East Perthshire.
“This is reflected in the £100,000 earmarked in the capital budget for the Strathmore Cycle Network.
“The joint working approach by local communities and the council has clearly been bearing fruit and provides a really good example of a community-led drive to make a difference at a local level.”
Len Seal, chairman of the steering group, said: “I am amazed and really pleased at the rate of progress.
“I think this is down to the development trusts in all three towns working well together, the support from Sustrans, Perth and Kinross Council and the public spirit of local landowners.”
Development trusts in the three areas will continue to press ahead with fundraising.
No time scale has been set for the completion of the paths.
If fundraising goes to plan, it is hoped the network could be finished in the next two or three years.
The public meetings will take place at the Coupar Angus Cycle Hub at 7.30pm on September 4 and number one Upper Allan Street, Blairgowrie, at 7pm on September 5.
