A GROUP working to pave a foot and cycle link between Lockerbie and Lochmaben has appointed a new chairman.
Stuart Bowe, who led the Lochmaben to Lockerbie Community Access Group (LLCAG), stepped down from his role recently. And taking his place at the helm is Hamish McGhie.
Hamish said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to take on the role, I think it’s a very worthwhile project and something that’s been talked about for many years. It’s great that the communities of Lochmaben, Lockerbie and Heck, and all the ones in-between, have an opportunity to establish something that will benefit everybody.
“I’m a keen cyclist and I don’t like cycling between Lockerbie and Lochmaben, that road now with all the timber lorries and the traffic, it just would be better to have something that’s completely separate.”
It is the aim of the cohort to eventually link-up the new path with existing national cycle routes 74 and 7, as well as regional cycle route 10, diverting cycling traffic away from the busy A709.
Colin Davidson, chair of Lochmaben Community Council, who has supported the group, acknowledged the “ground work” that Mr Bowe had contributed to the project, adding: “It’s really good that they can go from what he’s put in place and take it on further.”
Furthermore, he said new volunteers were “forthcoming” to the LLCAG following a recent drive to get more people on board.
He added: “It’s gone from strength to strength. There’s not a whole lot that can be done until the funding comes in in September, that’s when it looks like Sustrans will be offering funding.”
Furthermore, Mr Davidson stressed the path is “not purely going to be a cycleway”.
He said: “It’s going to be for access for walkers and everybody else because that helps to attract funding and make it more attractive to Government initiatives.”
