In February 2024 Transport Scotland announced the closure of the Sustrans “Places for Everyone” funding programme by September 2025. Transport Scotland will no longer provide new construction funding for paths and will support Local Authorities instead, who will still need to apply for the additional funding. This development potentially reduces community say in the path projects the authority will support.
In April our consultant completed Stage 1 of the project’s feasibility study. This stage assessed potential paths (the 4 route options), conducted technical surveys and desk studies, identified some of the environmental and physical constraints and other permissions needed. There is a strong desire to improve the network of paths for walking, wheeling, and cycling – town-wide, a prominent conclusion that also emerged from the West Barns and Dunbar Local Place Plan process, evidence which will inform East Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan. The project hopes to continue the constructive dialogue with stakeholders, including landowners, the Local Authority, interest groups and the wider community.
In May we applied to Sustrans Places for Everyone to move to Stage 2 Concept Design to create concept designs and prioritise which parts of the Dunbar network are worth developing. A funding decision is due in late June or July. It is a competitive process, but we are hopeful for a positive outcome.
While we are concerned that communities will have less control over projects, we are working closely with Council officers to ensure the communities ideas are taken into account and ensure that any proposals that are eventually taken forward reflect local concerns.
We hope to organise a community engagement event later this year to discuss the project so far and gather feedback from residents on the emerging proposals. We will work with local stakeholders to discuss and refine the proposals selected to be taken forward.
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