A new fully accessible footpath has been installed around the Diamond Jubilee Park in Alyth, Perthshire.
Following a £28,000 funding donation from SSEN Transmission, a new 1.8m wide tarmac all-weather path has been installed around the perimeter, giving the community access to the popular green space in the village.
The looped walkway stretches for around 665 metres, providing much improved access for wheelchairs, prams and buggies to a site which had been all grass previously.
The site is now readily accessible to all abilities. It’s for the whole community.
Perth and Kinross Council Community Greenspace provided the Jubilee Park Working Group, which is part of the Alyth Development Trust, with consent to develop the path after the community recognised a need to make the popular Diamond Jubilee Park area more accessible.
The SSEN Transmission team, working on the new Alyth Substation site located around four miles from the village and on course to be completed in autumn 2023, heard about the need for funding to develop the path.
They stepped in with a donation of £28,000 to cover a significant portion of the costs for the development, materials and construction of the new path.
The surfacing work was carried out by local contractor SHH Construction.
On Monday, April 25 the path was officially opened by members of the Alyth Development Trust, SSEN Transmission and their principal contractor Siemens BAM.
The project team from SSEN Transmission have been working closely with the community to see how they can help support with various community initiatives in the area.
Previous community work has included donations and funding to purchase a new freezer for the local food bank, volunteer days with community group ‘Alyth in Bloom’ to help plant bulbs and spruce up the area, as well as landscaping work to tidy up the local bowling green.
Lead project manager Archie Munro said: “As a responsible developer, we’re always looking for ways to support the local community, and when we heard that the Alyth Development Trust and Jubilee Park Working Group were looking for funding for the development of a new accessible path we were happy to step in to help.
“Our contribution of £28,000 now means that all members of the local community can safely access and enjoy the Diamond Jubilee Park thanks to the new path, and we’re delighted to hear it is already being well-used.
Russell Willis Taylor, secretary of Alyth Development Trust, said: “Alyth Development Trust is delighted to support this new amenity for everyone in our town, made possible by a committed volunteer committee.
“Members of this committee have worked tirelessly over the past year to make this happen.
“At a time when we all recognise the importance of being out in nature for wellbeing, they created a new way for Alyth to enjoy the Diamond Jubilee Park and we are all very grateful.”
