A public consultation on proposals to transform travel by foot and bike in neighbourhoods south of Stirling city centre has started as the council plans to make major changes to help encourage more cycling and walking.

Residents are now being asked for their views on the City Centre South project, which is looking at ways to make it easier and more attractive for people of all abilities to move sustainably around, benefitting all local communities.

The area initially sought to be covered by the scheme takes in all of Kings Park, part of Braehead and Torbrex, and a small area of Mercat Cross leading from Craigs roundabout to the bus station.

The council said the Developing the City Centre South Masterplan will be broken up into six phases. This first and current phase is about raising awareness of the project and understanding which aspects of the project communities want prioritised. In a few weeks we will be starting Phase 2, asking residents to tell the council where they think there are problems for getting around in the City Centre South area and what needs improved so that families can walk, cycle and travel sustainably in your neighbourhoods.

The council said Phase 3 is about looking at possible solutions to these problems and working together to determine which are most suitable for the area. It said Phase 4 will be about determining what is actually doable and developing a feasibility plan. Phase 5 will be a first draft of the City Centre south Masterplan and getting feedback from residents on these concept designs that have been developed. Then Phase 6, the presentation of the final Masterplan is scheduled for May next year.

Convenor of Stirling Council’s Environment and Housing Committee, Councillor Jim Thomson, said: “From previous conversations with communities over the past few years, we know of improvements that they want to see realised, such as better access to Kings Park, especially at the double mini roundabouts; a stop to rat running on Linden Avenue, and a new crossing further down St Ninian’s Road.

“Through City Centre South we will work with residents to make positive changes for everyday travel in these neighbourhoods.”

A survey posted on Engage Stirling will allow residents to give their views on which of the project outcomes matter most to them.

The initial phases of the consultation will run until the end of September and will also offer residents the chance to pinpoint locations where they believe there are currently issues for people of all abilities to access the area without a car.

The public’s feedback will be used to create options for improvements, developed in conjunction with local communities, with a final City Centre South masterplan to be developed next year.

Vice Convenor, Councillor Danny Gibson, said: “The City Centre South project will make a difference to how people get around in their neighbourhoods. It’s also an important link in a wider programme of making walking and cycling more attractive across the city.”

The City Centre South project will link into:

• New Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling routes to the University and Forth Valley College to the north;
• Future ideas for routes to Cambusbarron, and the Carse villages to the west;
• Kerse Road and Forthside redevelopments to the east; and
• Bannockburn, the new developments at Durieshill and South Stirling Gateway, and on to Falkirk in the south.

The project is supported by £150,000 funding from Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, which aims to create safe, attractive, healthier places by increasing the number of trips made by walking, cycling and wheeling for everyday journeys.

The scheme is funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and is administered by Sustrans. Places for Everyone contributes to the Scottish Government’s aim for a healthier, environmentally sustainable nation with a strong economy and communities, as laid out in the National Performance Framework.