The Establishment of a Public Footpath at the Western End of Bonawe Road, North Connel, Argyll
Residents felt that repeated requests to Argyll & Bute Council and their predecessors over a period of more than nine years by residents of the western end of the Bonawe road for a public footpath were constantly rejected. However, the Ardchattan Community Council never wavered from the view that such a footpath along this busy stretch of road was essential in the interests of public safety.
The road varies in width from 3 to 4.5 metres and is 9 miles long, terminating in a granite quarry which produces 80,000 tons of aggregate per year. The road is the only recognised route to and from the quarry.
In the surrounding area there are around 150 domestic dwellings (numbers are increasing) a Nursing home, Village Hall, Church and School, a haulage company, several farms also fish and shellfish farms. The Community Council was determined to bring to an end the "Russian Roulette" approach experienced by the very old, young children and others who were forced to walk in the road.
The introduction of the Community Environmental Renewal Grant Scheme raised the possibility of the Community Council providing the necessary footpath, an opportunity of which Ardchattan Community Council were quick to take advantage. Subsequent discussions involving the Council and a Consulting Civil and Structural Engineer produced a rough cost estimate per metre which indicated that grants might be available for the provision of a footpath in North Connel extending over 540 metres.
The proposed section would provide safe walking facilities for around 60 domestic properties, Nursing home, and Village Hall. Residents would be able to walk to the trunk road with local and long distance buses; the Village Hall with pre-fives, dances, scouts and guides; and the doctor's surgery - without having to walk in the road.
The application for Community Environmental Renewal Grant of £50,000 was made on November 19 2002 and confirmed as succesful on January 13 2003. West Highland European Leader Kist (WHELK) Leader+ and Argyll & Bute Council were also approached in the hope of raising a further £22,000, the total cost of the project having originally been estimated at £72,000.
In the interim, signed agreements had to be obtained from residents whose land abutted the road. One land owner gave a strip of 130 metres of land.
A digital survey had to be carried out before the Civil Engineers could prepare plans which would meet with the approval of Argyll & Bute Council's Roads Manager, who indicated that if the footpath was constructed to the Council's specification, including gullies and drainage, Argyll & Bute Council would be prepared to adopt the footpath, relieving the Community Council of the responsibility of meeting revenue charges.
With plans completed and with agreements with land owners signed up, it was time to go out to tender on January 31 2003. Five firms were asked to quote, by February 10 all five had done so. From figures coming in, it was obvious that the group had under estimated by some £6,500. It was February 27 before all the papers were signed and both sides were satisfied with all the clauses in the contract.
The Community Environmental Renewal Grant had to be spent by March 31 2003 and to achieve this it was decided to split the project into two phases. A key clause in the contract stipulated that work on phase one had to be completed by March 31 2003. In the event, the first phase, consisting of 330 metres was completed by March 30 2003.
The Community Council hoped to complete phase two by September 2003 provided that the necessary balance of £6,500 could be raised.
So far not mentioned are the pre-commencement site meetings, Health & Safety at Work requirements and the problems of allowing vehicles access while road crossings for drainage were being installed and private driveways being excavated. Adding to the complexities were discovering hidden drains that were not shown on Council records, avoiding water as well as BT and power cables, taking care not to obstruct contractors building yet another house.
Costing the project proved difficult. The main contractor's price included VAT. The civil engineer's figure was 11% of the contractor's net cost plus VAT. Postage and telephone costs were kept to a minimum by the use of e-mails. This also helped to keep the contract within the four weeks, reducing delay times. The site was visited daily by the Ardchattan Community Council Secretary or Chairman and they had an excellent working arrangement with the contractor though snags cropped up almost daily which, where possible, had to be resolved at the time. Four weeks was a very narrow window which allowed for no delays in decision making.
Residents and visitors are now making extensive use of the path and vehicle drivers are clearly pleased at the additional security which it affords them. It is reassuring to see the residents of the Nursing Home being wheeled along the path rather than the road.
Contact
Douglas Trigg
Secretary
Ardchattan Community Council
Creagvullin
Benderloch
By Oban
Argyll
PA37 1QS
Telephone: 01631 720379
Email: douglasj@trigg1.freeserve.co.uk