Smarter Choices Smarter Places is a Scottish Government partnership project with COSLA. Designed to increase active travel and public transport use and tackle transport emissions, it will contribute to a number of objectives in the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework, and Local Authorities' Single Outcome Agreements.
An announcement of the seven proposals to be funded was made on Wednesday 13th August. Press Release click here
The following authorities and regional transport partnership have been successful in attracting Scottish Government funding:-
Dumfries & Galloway and SWestrans - Dumfries
Dundee - Dundee Health Central
East Dunbartonshire - Kirkintilloch and Lenzie
East Renfrewshire - Barrhead
Falkirk - Larbert and Stenhousemuir)
Glasgow - East End Accessibility (Supporting Commonwealth Games)
Orkney - Kirkwall
Activities in these local authorities will include: better public transport services and residential improvements; upgrades in walking and cycling infrastructures; studies into travel patters and access; intensive marketing and awareness campaigns; and workshops and information packs. Communities involved range from between approximately 10,000 in Kirkwall to 37,000 in Dumfries.
A total of 39 proposals from 28 Local Authorities were received for Stage 1. The proposals were assessed against an initial set of criteria. Twelve local authorities submitted Stage 2 proposals and these were assessed according to a further set of criteria.
The Scottish Government and COSLA launched Smarter Places, Smarter Choices ( Letter to Local Authorities) on the 17 March 2008 ( Press Release)