Green changes to travelling around Aviemore are afoot
Proposals are to be unveiled next week aimed at making it easier for people to get around Aviemore by walking and cycling and for those using a wheelchair.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority has been busy working work on transforming how people get around in the strath as part of the Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 programme.
The programme is being supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Places for Everyone, an active travel infrastructure programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans.
During 2022, the project team held in-person and online consultations with people who live and work in Aviemore.
The team received more than 600 suggestions from residents and other interested parties and these ideas have shaped the proposals that will go on show next Wednesday (April 19) at Aviemore Community Centre.
Colin Simpson, the CNPA's head of visitor services and active travel, said: “Thank you to the Aviemore community for getting involved and providing more than 600 ideas and comments so far.
"This feedback has helped us to understand key problems and opportunities in Aviemore for walking, cycling or using a wheelchair.
“The project team has created proposals based on the ideas and feedback received, and we look forward to meeting up with people in Aviemore to chat through these proposals and get their views.”
The drop-in event will take place from 2pm to 6.30pm.
It will be the latest in a series of community feedback events to be held this year in the national park, with more planned for Braemar, Ballater, Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie, along with other projects to change and improve the way people get around the region.
Drop-in events were held in Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Dulnain Bridge, Nethy Bridge and Newtonmore took place in February.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded up to £12.5 million for Heritage Horizons: Cairngorms 2030 in July 2021 – a programme led by the CNPA and involving more than 45 partners.
Its aims over the next five years are to:
• put local people at the heart of decision-making;
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• work with land managers to restore and enhance landscapes;
• make getting around the National Park easier, safer, and greener;
• foster healthier, happier communities with wellbeing at their heart; and
• help shape this work, views have been gathered from people who live, visit and work in the national park.
More than 30 community events and workshops have taken place and over 1,200 responses have been received online.
The CNPA is currently pulling together all findings from the last 12 months into a final proposal to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
If successful, the next stage of the programme will kick off in January, next year.
For more information visit www.cairngorms2030.commonplace.is
People can drop in any time during the Aviemore session to find out more and leave comments. Feedback can also be sent by emailing transport@cairngorms.co.uk .
