£217k grant for Montgarrie-Alford park path welcomed
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A NEW off-road path will link Montgarrie and Alford within 12 months.
The £217,000 path, which will pass through Alford's Haughton Park, was approved at a Marr Area Committee meeting on May 23.
Approved as part of the Environment and Sustainability Works Programme 2023/24, local Councillor and Marr Area Committee chairperson Robbie Withey said the community will feel the benefit of the active travel route.
“This new infrastructure will greatly enhance the safety and convenience of active travel in the area, it will be a fantastic little walk but also provides a safe route to school and Alford village centre," he said.
“This footpath will offer a safer alternative walking route through one of the most beautiful country parks in the country.”
Initially, Cllr Withey said he had hoped for a pavement to be built along the road, but that the new path was the "next best option".
He said: "“Initially the hope was to build a pavement alongside the road but that wasn’t possible.
"I certainly wasn’t going to give up on getting some kind of path that could link Alford and Montgarrie and I really appreciate that council officers took the same approach and worked with me for a number of years to find an alternative solution.
“I firmly believe that the inclusion of this footpath as part of the park is the next best option and will ultimately provide a fantastic walking and cycling route between Alford and Montgarrie.”
The planned two-meter wide path is described in Council documents as a "country-style" footpath suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users, as well as those with prams and buggies.
Cllr Withey, who lives in Alford, also welcomed details of enhancement and regeneration to Haughton Park also contained in the proposals.
Future plans include the resurfacing of roads and car parks, improved lighting, the introduction of new play equipment, and the upgrading or rebuilding of the park's toilet facilities.
“I met with the landscape services team just last week, in Haughton Park to discuss regeneration, this is something I’ve been pushing as a campaign since election in 2017," Cllr Withey said.
"I was excited, to say the least, when I heard how many ideas had been taken forward.
"We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves, currently the upgrades and improvements are on the reserve list until funding becomes available, but it’s still great news."
