Dumfries and Galloway bike facilities set for upgrade thanks to Levelling Up cash
Bike facilities are set to be improved in two Stewartry towns.
Plans are being made for 'multi-modal transport hubs' in both Castle Douglas and Gatehouse.
The developments – which would include bike lockers, repair stations and electric vehicle charging points – would be funded by the UK Government's Levelling Up fund.
Two years ago, the council was awarded £13.8 million through the scheme to boost green transport links.
One of the hubs could be in the Market Hill area of Castle Douglas and would include the existing tourist information centre.
A public consultation on the idea is under way, with documents showing it would contain bike storage lockers – including e-bike charging points – a repair station, a bike and dog wash, EV charging points and parking bays for car club hire. There would also be 'improved community space'.
The proposal was discussed at a recent meeting of the town's community council.
Posting on the body's Facebook page, community councillor Colin Eade said: 'We were amongst several other community groups in the town who received this presentation from the council, and we were asked for our thoughts and feedback, as were the other groups.
'As a community council, whilst we thought the idea was a great one, we were concerned with potential designs that would require losing parking spaces on the Market Hill, as this could be detrimental to local businesses.
'We were also concerned about designs that required trees to be chopped down, or too much green space being used that could negatively impact events such as the producers' market, civic week events or the soap box derby, as well as the day-to-day enjoyment of the park by local people.
'We suggested considering the space immediately beside the existing Heart of Galloway building, as this would protect parking spaces and trees, but remain in a central location.
'There was no vote taken by the community council regarding where the hub should be located, and the final design has been created by Dumfries and Galloway Council based on feedback from all the community groups.'
And he added: 'As a community council, we fully support the creation of this new hub as we believe it will be a great asset to our town.'
A council spokesman said: 'Dumfries and Galloway Council is currently developing a multi-modal transport hub in Castle Douglas, to be located on Market Hill, supported by funding from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.
'This is part of a wider initiative to deliver nine transport hubs across the region, aimed at making sustainable and active travel more accessible for residents and visitors.
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'The Castle Douglas hub will incorporate the tourist information centre and is designed to support walking, cycling, and public transport use.
'The consultation is advertised in several places on the land, within the local customer service centre, and within the visitor information centre. Local stakeholder groups have also been sent the notices and information.'
Paper copies of the consultation are available from the customer service centre in Castle Douglas Library.
Responses can be submitted there or to LUFtransport@dumgal.gov.uk.
A planning application has been submitted to create another hub at Fleet Vale Car Park in Gatehouse.
It would also have lockers, a repair station and an EV charging point as well as a bus waiting area.
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