I had asked Aberdeenshire Council officers if an application is being made to a Scottish Government scheme to build a new link alongside the A90 from Muchalls to Stonehaven for cyclists. The answer is disappointing.

The council’s transportation strategy manager Mark Skilling responded today to my enquiry to see if council is submitting a bid into the Community Links Plus Competition. He says: “The answer is no.  The objectives that bids will be based on are as follows:

• Increasing modal shift helping achieve the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland vision of 10% of everyday trip by bike by 2020.
• Creating safer, convenient, seamless and segregated routes to and through cities;
• Connecting to and through major short trip generators;
• Contributing to sustainable place-making, delivering high quality design projects and improving the urban realm whilst meeting the need and aspirations of the community;
• Integrating the needs of pedestrians following the principles of Designing Streets.

“The proposed footpath is unlikely to score highly against any of these criteria.

“Aberdeenshire Council is submitting a bid for a significant town centre improvement scheme in Huntly in partnership with Huntly and District Development Trust.”

I had hoped this might have been possible, but I guess there is no point in entering if it doesn’t tick the right boxes. Another opportunity will no doubt come along in due course.