The prospect of a decent off-road path linking all the way from Crieff to Comrie took a step forward this week with the submission of a planning application.
Long-awaited proposals to improve adopted core path ‘CMRI/126’, between the minor road ZU198 and Comrie, have been welcomed by locals.
Perth and Kinross Council’s community greenspace team has applied for permission to carry out “the improvement to multi-use standard of a route which is largely on an adopted core path and former railway line across private land”.
Should it get the go-ahead, work would include new bridge structures as well as surfacing, fencing and landscape improvements.
The track, of around five kilometres is passable at the moment, but missing bridges and overgrown sections make it difficult to negotiate.
Easily accessible core paths exist part-way to Comrie, from Crieff to Trowan, but the plans seek to improve the rest of the off-road route to the Shaky Village, making it suitable for all non-motorised user groups, including cyclists and horse riders.
Community greenspace established the CMRI/126 Project Group in January 2014 to deliver the path improvements.
The group consists of community representatives, with Crieff Community Trust (CCT) taking the lead, and funding partners – most notably Sustrans – who are continuing to work to deliver the path.
A community survey carried out by CCT in 2014 showed overwhelming public support for the route, with 96 per cent of 1316 respondents supporting the path improvement. Once complete, the path would contribute to the National Cycle Network and also link in to the Cross-Scotland Pilgrims’ way from St Andrews to Iona, as well as other community-led multi-use paths already established to the west of Comrie and east of Crieff.
However, some sections of the proposed path are currently used for livestock, which would be incompatible with the level of public access expected, and mitigation or compensation arrangements would have to be agreed with landowners.
Jim Anderson of CCT welcomed the planning application. He said: “After many years of research, studies, investigations, flood modelling, negotiations and design iterations, PKC’s community greenspace team has now submitted this hugely important path for planning approval.
“Crieff Community Trust is delighted that this project now has a chance to move forward.
“It will have enormous health, social and economic benefits, not just for Crieff and Comrie but also for the whole of Strathearn.”
Comrie Croft’s Andrew Donaldson, who is also part of the CMRI/126 Project Group, commented: “We hope that this big step forward will herald a change of pace with the project to connect Crieff and Comrie via traffic-free paths.
“COVID lockdowns demonstrated that many more people would cycle for short journeys rather than take the car if they had safe routes to go on.
“So it’s imperative to get this route up and running as soon as possible and then to work on connecting Strathearn’s other towns, villages and assets – such as Muthill and Cultybraggan Camp.”
Strathearn ward SNP councillor Stewart Donaldson has also long been behind the project.
He stated: “I’m delighted that a planning application has been submitted.
“I would encourage anyone who supports the core path project to put in comments in favour. As I’m not a member of the council’s planning committee, I certainly will do so myself.
“We are not there yet, and negotiations still have to be concluded with landowners.
“I know there will be a meeting of the steering group early next month, and a meeting with ward councillors very soon after that. I just hope that we can make further progress by then.”
