Outdoor Access in Dundee

[Image: Outdoor Access Image Strip]

Introduction

What is Outdoor Access?

Under the new access legislation, everyone will have the right of responsible access to land and inland water in Scotland. This will come into effect at the same time as the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which achieved Royal Assent on the 25th of February 2004. Part 1 of the Act, which relates to access rights and responsibilities, came into force on 9th of February 2005.

You can view a copy on the HMSO website.

What is Dundee City Council doing to help improve access throughout the city?

The major routes in Dundee for walking and cycling include: the Green Circular, Sustrans Route 1, Sustrans Route 77, the North Sea Cycle Route and the newly developed Greenways.

Through Dundee’s Outdoor Access Strategy we have been improving access in many areas. There is a continuing programme to resurface and improve sections of the popular Green Circular route. Look out for new information boards and improved signage, which will be appearing along th route over the next year.

One of the main projects from the strategy taken forward in 2006 was the development of Dundee’s Greenways. Dundee City Council was granted funding from Fresh Futures – Transforming Your Space to take forward plans for two new cycle routes in the West of Dundee. These have now been completed and are mostly off-road, connecting the City Centre to Ninewells, South Road Park and the Green Circular. It is hoped that the Greenways project will be used to develop plans for similar routes in the North and East of the City. Watch this space for updates on progress. The Outdoor Access Strategy, Core Path Planning consultations and the Local Access Forum will help us to identify and develop other key routes throughout the city.

This year, thanks to funding from Scottish Natural Heritage, we are taking forward a project to create a new path at Templeton Woods. The path will create a short loop from the visitor centre, encompassing the Sculpture Trail and the Green Circular. The Countryside Rangers will be working with groups of volunteers to create the path and with Artists to create a special new drystone dyke seating area.

We are also taking forward the Greenways East project this year, which will provide a link through Dawson Park.

Outdoor Access Strategy

Committee approved Dundee’s Outdoor Access Strategy in August 2005. The strategy forms a framework for the future planning, development and management of access in Dundee. It aims to progress access through five main themes which are highlighted within:

The updated action plan for 2007 is available as a PDF (128KB)

A City for Living

Although access is traditionally associated with countryside recreation, in Dundee it provides an important functional role as a part of everyday life. Access in Dundee is primarily about getting out and about every day, for work, school, shops and recreation, especially as car ownership is low. Access needs to allow people access to services and facilities that they need to use. By working to develop commuter routes and travel planning, the aim is to identify commuting infrastructure and promotional needs, with clear links to walking and cycling.

A Safe City

A citywide access network is only likely to bring benefits if it is used. Too often, people’s concerns about personal safety and issues associated with road safety can be a barrier to the use of access routes. Use of routes needs to be encouraged from an early age with safe routes to school and services. This theme focuses on ways of addressing these issues using community involvement, creative urban design and integrated transport management.

A City to Enjoy

Even though a path network is accessible and safe, people need to be motivated to use it. People use access not only as a means of transport but for a number of more personal reasons; because they like the place, because it has memories for them, or it may simply be fun. Access can be enjoyable, educational and inspirational. Building on opportunities for recreation and tourism which already exist in the city, the Outdoor Access Strategy aims to define ways in which projects can help to raise awareness of, and interest in, the city’s built, cultural and natural heritage. This in turn is likely not only to enhance the quality of life of local people, but also to help build on initiatives which help stimulate visitor interest in the city.

A Healthy City

Access can play a key role in improving people’s health and well-being. The Access Strategy defines the ways in which access can encourage people to improve their personal health, as well as focusing on the role of access as an integral part of healthy communities. Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, The University of Dundee and Ninewells Hospital will use the Access Strategy to promote sustainable and healthy travel planning.

A City for Everyone

The development of an inclusive access network, which is ‘owned’ by the people of Dundee, is central to the success of the Strategy. The aim is to create access that is freely available for all people regardless of age or ability. It is important that all of the citizens of Dundee have the opportunity to be involved in the planning and management of access. The Strategy provides advice, ranging from specific projects which aim to encourage participation, through to the broader emphasis on the role of access within regeneration and place promotion programmes. The aim is to strengthen the perception of Dundee as a desirable place to live.

Delivering the Strategy

The strategy’s action plan takes forward projects across these themes and also identifies the Council's duties under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Strategy is available for download as a PDF (1.09MB).

Core Path Planning

Dundee City Council is preparing a draft plan of its Core Path Network in consultation with communities and the Local Access Forum. Dundee’s Core Path Network will eventually be mapped and signposted and will link into the Path Networks of neighbouring local authorities. Local people will decide which paths are chosen for the Core Path Network. This will not include every path, but the most important ones for access in each area. If you would like to get involved in the consultation process, or would like more information, visit the Core Paths page.

Local Access Forum

The outdoor access forum provides an opportunity for those interested in access issues to discuss ways of improving access in Dundee. The Forum has now elected its members, but you can still get involved in annual open meetings. Check the Local Access Forum page of this website for more details.

Contact Details

To contact the Access Officer in the Leisure and Communities Department please call 01382 433748.

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