New cycle route proposals from Ayr station

The groups want to develop three main cycle routes from the station.
But no plans have been created yet as they want the community to decide if this would be beneficial.

Representatives from the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Dougall Baillie Associates presented their suggestion at the Fort, Seafield and Wallacetown Community Council last Wednesday.

Stuart Harrow, of Dougall Baillie, said: “I wanted to give an overview on how we believe we can improve access to the railway station in respect of cycling and walking.

“We want to open up routes to and from the town centre, UWS, Ayr Academy, Ayrshire College, the beach and the NCN7.

“But we want to hear the views of the community. There are no designs or proposals just maps of where we want to create this route. 

“We want to gain as many views and opinions as possible. But we are in the very early stages.

“If this goes ahead the next steps would be applying for grant funding from Sustrans, who will be given money from the Scottish Government.”

Colin Weir, Senior Engineer, Transport at Dougall Baillie Associates, added: “We are talking about the possibility of having two main routes going across the river with three routes in total.

“We want the community to be openly involved in the discussions.

“We have done a walking assessment of the various routes and analysed them.

“There seem to be some difficulties, with the low parapets and steps onto bridges which would need to be addressed but this is just one issue.

“We want to take this forward.”

Stuart continued: “We welcome your views and we will look at whether or not we can incorporate them all or any of them.”

The community council will look at the proposals highlighted on the map and give them back to Dougall Baillie within four to six weeks.

The company will be speaking at other public meetings shortly.

There will also be a consultation tab available to use on the Ayrshire Roads Alliance website.