New £1.5 million path fund named in honour of our late inspirational leader

A new £1.5 million path fund has been announced and named in memory of our late Chief Officer Ian Findlay.

Ian Findlay CBE

The Ian Findlay Path Fund will support the improvement of path networks within and between communities, making it easier for people to walk, wheel or cycle for daily journeys.

The path fund announcement, made by Active Travel Minister Patrick Harvie at the Scottish Parliament today, comes just over a year after Ian's sudden death and on what would have been his 61st birthday.

During the active travel debate, a series of investments were announced to help make active travel the natural choice for everyday journeys.

Minister for Active Travel Patrick Harvie said: 

“I am delighted that through the Co-operation Agreement the Scottish Government is investing a record sum of £150 million for active travel in 2022/23 and have committed to investing at least £320 million or 10% of the transport budget for active travel by 2024-25.

“What matters now is for that record investment to deliver on the ground, with exciting new ideas for footpaths and cycleways, increased safety, provision of bikes where cost is a barrier and making sure that more people feel confident to choose to walk, wheel or cycle – and so much more.

“I look forward to seeing that new investment translated into projects.

But I am especially pleased that the Scottish Government will fund a new programme in memory of Ian Findlay, the Chief Officer of Paths for All who sadly died last year. 

The new fund, delivered through Paths for All, will provide over £1.5 million to remove barriers on the existing path network. It will ensure our paths are more resilient to climate change and increased use, building on Ian’s proud legacy and contributions to everyday walking across Scotland.

“Through the wide ranging actions outlined today, we’ll continue to help build an active nation – essential to our health and to our green recovery – where more people can walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys than ever before.”

Kevin Lafferty, our Chief Executive Officer said: 

“We greatly welcome this additional investment in active travel in Scotland.

“The new Ian Findlay Path Fund will support community path projects right across the country and help get more people walking and wheeling by removing barriers.

The fund will play an important role in improving health and wellbeing and it is a fitting tribute to Ian whose vision was to make Scotland a walking nation where everyone has the opportunity to be active every day.

Alongside the new path fund, Mr Harvie also announced:

Increasing the Cycling Walking and Safer Routes budget which goes directly to local authorities from nearly £24 million to £35 million for 2022/23.

Nearly doubling funding for the National Cycle Network to over £10 million for 2022/23.

Allocating over £300,000 in road safety framework funding to develop a National Dashcam Safety Portal with Police Scotland – making it easier to report crimes that put other road users, particularly cyclists and pedestrians, in danger.

The Ian Findlay Path Fund will open to applications this summer. To find out more, visit www.pathsforall.org.uk/IanFindlayPathFund

For more information on how the Scottish Government is working to build an Active Nation visit www.transport.gov.scot/activenation