PUBLIC consultation responses regarding an active travel route for Campbeltown have been revealed, with the majority of respondents backing the proposals.

An update on the planned route, between the town’s esplanade and Kinloch Park, will be given to councillors for the area at a meeting next week.

A consultation exercise was conducted by Argyll and Bute Council between August and October, attracting 149 responses. Almost two thirds of respondents felt that the plans would benefit Campbeltown’s walking and cycling future mobility.

Councillors are recommended to ask authority officers to continue development of designs for the active travel route, subject to external funding being secured.

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “A six-week consultation was undertaken between August 28 and October 10. A public drop in-event was held on August 28 in the Town Hall, Campbeltown and all consultation materials including video fly-through of the design were available on a dedicated consultation website.

"The design team also virtually attended two meetings with the Campbeltown Community Council.

“Fifty-five per cent of respondents felt that the designs would benefit the community, with 27 per cent of respondents not supporting the proposals and 18 per cent being unsure.

“Sixty-six per cent of respondents viewed the design proposals as being beneficial for improving Campbeltown’s walking and cycling future mobility, while 34 per cent were of the view that the proposals would not be beneficial.

“Fifty-eight per cent of respondents felt the design was aligned to the needs of the community, with 42 per cent indicating they had concerns regarding the design.

“Of the general comments received, key topics mentioned included requests for more placemaking, requests for more crossing facilities, concerns regarding parking enforcement, support for level of parking provision proposed, that the project was ‘waste of money’ or should be relocated somewhere else, and suggestions on how the bus station layout could be improved or left as is.

"A number of other comments received related to items outside the scope of the project.”

Ms Flanagan added: “Provision of an improved walking, wheeling and cycling facilities and associated public realm will provide opportunities for residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and actively.

“This will help reduce Argyll and Bute’s carbon footprint and improve accessibility to local facilities for the community, including the 34 per cent of households in Campbeltown who don’t have access to a car or van (2022 census).

“The improvements will also help support the wider regeneration of Campbeltown, including supporting the local economy.

“The delivery of the route is dependent on securing highly competitive external funding to complete the design work.

“Funding for the work to date has been secured from the Scottish Government’s active travel funding with further applications being developed to enable the completion of the design process if approved by members.”