SOUTH Ayrshire Council has given the green light to the fourth stage of the cycle route to Coylton.

Ayrshire Roads Alliance were asked to investigate alternative routes for the Holmston Road cycle path last October.

This included the route along the path running parallel to the south bank of the River Ayr.

They came up with six options and settled for two options, E and F.

Option E offered the route to run along the north bank of the River Ayr from Station Road towards the existing footbridge within the UWS Craigie campus, across the river and then join Holmston Road, following the A70 towards the A77 and option F illustrated the route along the south bank of the River Ayr from Station Road, following the unnamed burn before Kyle Academy to Overmills Road, and onto the A70 Holmston Road towards the A77.

It was proposed that “the Leadership Panel requests Ayrshire Roads Alliance to undertake further feasibility and design work on the preferred option E and F and that Leadership Panel requests that a further report is submitted to a future meeting of the Leadership Panel in spring 2018 to seek approval for the preferred route prior to seeking external funding.”

Lesley Bloomer, Executive Director of Economy, Neighbourhood and Environment, said: “A range of options were considered for the cycle path and the two preferred options are E and F. 

“We are asking to carry out further work on these options and with the recommended route, we are then seeking funding to carry out the work in phases.”

Cllr Brian McGinley questioned the proposal.

He said: “What I would like to know is how the cyclists would fit in with the walkers on these particular paths and other users, like dog walkers – how complementary would that be?”

Kevin Braidwood, ARA project manager, said: “In terms of healthy living, these footways would be shared by cyclists and walkers.”

Cllr McGinley, replied: “It doesn’t necessarily seem ideal to me if someone was out walking their dog and then a cyclist is coming up miles an hour behind you. 

“How would that be managed? It seems there is a bit of contradiction of conflict for this.”

Mr Braidwood reassured Cllr McGinley that they could put in appropriate line marking on the footways to delineate between walkers and cyclists.

Councillors wanted reassurance that a consultation had been carried out with the South Ayrshire Cycling forum as the report stated that the application had be discussed with “cycling clubs”.

Ms Bloomer explained that they were going to look back and confirm the exact discussions that had been made.

Cllr Douglas Campbell, added: “This is a very well-prepared report and I don’t think that we would want to stop the progress that is being made but I think we just need to clarify whether the cycling forum has been consulted.

“I think, perhaps, this also needs to go to the Renaissance Board - just for them to take a view on the cycle routes within Ayr and any projects that they may have and whether the cycle routes have been taken into account.

“We wholly accept [the application], with the recommendations as they are, but the cycling forum need to be aware of what we are discussing and the Renaissance, to see if there are projects in the town and make sure anything that the developing meets the requirements.”