Aberdeenshire Council will spend almost £900,000 to connect Fraserburgh to nearby villages as part of a project to promote cycling.
Local authority planners have identified the creation of a cycle network between Fraserburgh, Inverallochy and St Combs as a “main project” to take forward into next year, with routes through the Waters of Philorth and Pitullie being kept on a reserve list.
The scheme, valued at £857,500, will provide new footways which walkers and bikers can use to travel between Fraserburgh and its surrounding villages.
From Inverallochy to St Combs – the most likely of the projects to be carried forward by the council – the work is expected to cost £21,000.
Stephen Archer, the authority’s director of infrastructure services, will present a report to councillors on the council’s infrastructure committee next week.
He has urged the group to back the plans which have been part-funded through the council’s own capital plan and the Scottish Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets initiative.
The scheme, however, has the potential to run over its assigned budget.
Mr Archer confirmed that where work could not be done in-house by the council, tenders would be sought which could increase the price of the initiative.
He said: “This may well vary the sum due to the contractor from that stated in the estimated value reported to committee.
“The committee is therefore asked to delegate authority for the approval of costs associated with contract re-measurement.
“Any movement in the cost of works will be monitored and managed within the overall budget availability.”
If approved by the committee next week, the project will be referred to Banff and Buchan area committee where local councillors will make a final decision.
Proposals for improved cycle networks around Fraserburgh were first mooted in 2004 when Aberdeenshire Council announced plans to promote cycling as an alternative to short car journeys.
At the time, £5,000 was allocated to begin the work to connect the port to the Formartine and Buchan Way.
A spokesman for the council said more links would be created when money became available.
