A missing section of the path between the communities, next to the B9124, now runs from Easter Greenyards Farm to the railway bridge heading towards Cowie.
Work on the 1.4km route, which was started in May, cost £500,000, with £375,000 from Transport Scotland as part of their Active Travel Transformation Fund and £125,000 from Stirling Council’s Core Capital Fund.
Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, Cllr Jen Preston said: “There was strong support from the people in Bannockburn and Cowie to see their communities better connected by the completion of the missing link of this important pathway.
“It is a crucial corridor that allows the people of Cowie to connect with Bannockburn and, from there, onto the city centre. Likewise, we know the people of Bannockburn were also keen for better active travel links with Cowie and the eastern villages for leisure and work purposes.
“The completion of this important section of pathway will also allow people to improve their health and wellbeing by encouraging more active travel. In the process, it will also benefit our climate and nature ambitions.”
Other recent projects in the Stirling area funded by the Active Travel Transformation Fund include the new footpath on the West Highland Way at Carbeth, widening and resurfacing work on the footpath linking Fallin and Millhall Road and a track behind The Blairdrummond Smiddy farm shop to nearby Kirk Lane.
Environment
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “I’m pleased that the new active travel route between Cowie and Bannockburn has now been completed through support of nearly £375,000 from the Scottish Government’s Active Travel Transformation Fund.
“This new route will open up healthier, happier and more sustainable travel options for people and communities – saving people money and protecting the environment.
“We’ve already allocated £145 million for active travel this year, more than triple what we invested in 2017, which will continue to bring about real transformation in communities across Scotland. In doing so, we’re supporting our long term vision for active travel by 2030 – where walking, wheeling and cycling is the natural choice for shorter, everyday journeys.”
Negotiate
Local resident Chris Terrell, who regularly walks and cycles between Cowie and Bannockburn, said: “The new path is a significant and welcome improvement for people using this route.
“It removes the need to negotiate a hazardous blind bend on the B9124. Even as an experienced cyclist, I found the bend intimidating, especially at peak times and during darker months.
“By making the path continuous, walkers and wheelers will enjoy greater safety and it will encourage more of us to travel actively between our two communities.”
Tommy Cattigan of Bannockburn Community Council said: “The new path will ensure the safety of all who walk and wheel from Bannockburn to Cowie – a big thanks to everyone who managed the funding of this project.”