Local health initiative Getting Better Together worked with a group of pupils from Calderhead High School to resurface 100m of a disused path in Shotts town centre, upgrading it into a safe and welcoming active travel route.
Despite several days of torrential rain the volunteers transported and laid 40 tonnes of path material – that’s 35 cars’ worth.
The group received a Community Active Travel grant of £3000 from Paths for All last year after putting together a successful application which aimed to make the path visible again and easier for residents to walk or cycle on as part of their daily journeys.
The funding, supported by Transport Scotland, was used to buy materials and tools that the pupils used to upgrade the path. The youngsters learned the necessary skills by taking in part in Paths for All’s Path Skillz project.
Kyrstie Connor, a youth worker at Getting Better Together said
We’ve had such a positive response from the local community who are really enjoying being able to use the path again for walking, running and cycling about Shotts.
We’re hoping that the reopening of the route will continue to encourage more people to get out and about and leave the car at home.
“I first applied for the grant after seeing it on a Youth Scotland bulletin and shortly after, Paths for All came along and held a course in the school.
“We were in the classroom for the first two days learning how to safely carry out the work, before spending the rest of the week completing the project.
“With help from Paths for All, the pupils have learned some really valuable skills - both practical and theoretical - which I’m sure many of them will build on later in life.”
The group have also installed a signpost to highlight the route to encourage more people to use it for walking and cycling.
The public is being invited to keep up to date with the improvement work and thank the group for their efforts by using the hashtag #KnowYourRoutes on Twitter.
Paths for All has awarded £90,000 worth of grants to 48 groups across Scotland, from South Ayrshire to Angus, who will transform neglected parts of their local path networks in the coming months.
The projects will be carried out mainly by volunteers and charities and their work is expected to be finished by early 2019.
As part of a Know Your Routes campaign, money will be used for wide-ranging work including structural improvements, installing signage, hiring tools or contractors, promoting hidden routes and improving biodiversity along path networks.
This year’s three grant schemes have been funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.