Timeline

• March 2019 – community survey showed support for improvements to accessibility of the trail
• September 2021 – concept report issued
• 2023/24 – further consultation though the local steering group, community council and local stakeholders to inform concept design and then detailed design for phase 1 
• December 2024 – stakeholders contacted as part of the consultation process for the construction of this phase, ecological appraisal completed
• February 2025 – response to project received from local community members, addressing issues around spend and ecological concerns, these were responded to and no further communications were received.
• Summer/ autumn 2025 – drainage on Phase 1 discussed with Grounds Maintenance north and designs amended to endure drainage is away from houses.
• November 2025 – Gilmartin’s contracted to construct phase 1
• December 2025 – Start date of January 12th 2026 decided and notices sent to residents
• January 2026 – Active travel post cards to be put through residents doors with active travel email contact on them. Works to start 12th January.
• 2026 – design work on the other route sections from Birkhill avenue to Flass Road and Waterstone Crook leisure centre to Newport Primary School.

Rationale for project

Upgrading the nature trail in Wormit creates an accessible of road link to school for children who attend both Wormit and Newport Primary Schools. This first section (phase 1) is part of a wider scheme connecting Birkhill avenue to Newport Primary School and then eventually on to the Tay Bridge. Upgrades to this section have been an ask of the community and local councillors to ensure that it is up to modern accessibility standards. This includes ramp accesses where there are currently stairs and grading out other accesses to improve the gradients.

Consultation

• Published on Fife Council active travel webpage - Wormit to Newport - Active Travel Corridor | Fife Council
• Shared with key stakeholders including Tay Bridgehead ward councillors, Working group Members, Wormit Primary School, Newport, Wormit and Forgan Community Council, Disability groups, Fife Centre for Equalities, Fife Communities Climate Action Network, Waterstone crook Sports centre, local football club, Fife Council grounds maintenance
• Ongoing communications with the working group on all aspects of the path from concept through design.

Frequently asked Questions regarding the project

1) How much will it cost (is the original £50k still accurate) ?

The construction costs for this section have increased to approximately £250k. The reason for this is that the £50k was allocated last financial year and was aimed to tackle some small isolated early interventions, these works did not take place. Therefore, as part of this year's funding allocations, it was considered more pragmatic to undertake a whole length at once, i.e. between the school and the sports centre, hence the £250k was allocated. In summary, the extent of the proposed works was expanded considerably, delivering a more usable asset. The website article has now been updated to reflect this change of budget and timeline. 

2) Is the money ring fenced for active travel and how much is coming from the Scottish Government?

Yes, the money is ringfenced for active travel, all of it comes from Transport Scotland and therefore the Scottish Government. This funding can only be used on active travel projects.

3) Can you describe what the consultation with stakeholders entailed?

Consultation has been ongoing throughout the project, including consultation with the community council, local businesses, community groups, elected members, the schools and the leisure centre. This consultation has shaped the designs of the project, with opportunities for comment at various points in the design process. Consultation first began in 2019 with a community survey where residents were able to give their views on the nature trail. From there the project has taken shape with the community consulted through the community council and other local groups as the designs progressed. 

4) Was an environmental impact assessment carried out and would it be possible to have sight and share with my constituent?

There was an Ecological & Arboricultural Impact Assessment done for the project which is available to download below. Fife Council has also been in contact and had meetings with Butterfly Conservation Scotland regarding Holly Blue butterflies found in the area, they are satisfied that the project t is not disturbing the butterflies. 
 

Questions put to Fife Council regarding the project

Please see the below for the answers to the questions raised:

1. Who made the decision?

Decisions were made with the community working group based on consultation and design standards for active travel. Cycling by Design is the design standard we work to, to ensure that infrastructure we build is accessible for all. To ensure that the surface is accessible to all, including wheelchair access, it must be smooth and well maintained with good drainage to prevent uneven surfaces and pooling water. This aims to ensure that anyone living and working in Fife has the same access to facilities including off road paths. This section in particular links Wormit primary school to Waterstone Crook Leisure Centre. Active travel paths are designed to be used by anyone walking, wheeling or cycling, in this case wheeling includes modes of transport such as wheelchairs, scooters, prams and buggies

2. Can you refer to the meeting minutes and governing body papers that recorded this decision?

During the last few years, local councillors are stakeholders have been kept up to date with the progress alongside the community council.

3. When and where was the decision made?

The process for active travel projects such as this one is as follows:

• Once a potential project is outlined a feasibility study for it is completed, this looks at the project area and determines the most feasible route for a path which will benefit the most users and be accessible to all. Initial community engagement is part of this process and for this project, that started in 2019
• The second step is to complete initial designs, once the feasibility study is complete. This is another opportunity for the community and other local stakeholders to comment on and shape the designs into what will be most useful for them
• The third step is detailed design, where details such as drainage are worked out. Again the community have the opportunity to be involved at this stage 
• The final step is construction and maintenance of the project, this is where we are currently at with this section of the project. (other sections are still at the detailed design phase and will move to construction at a later date) 

Throughout all these stages environmental impact assessments and ecological appraisals take place to ensure that we catch all potential issues at the relevant stage, this enables us to mitigate these impacts.

4. How was consultation done with the local community ahead of the decision?

Consultation has been ongoing throughout the project, including consultation with the community council, local businesses, community groups, the schools and the leisure centre. This consultation has shaped the designs of the project. Consultation first began in 2019 with a community survey where residents were able to give their views on the nature trail. Since then, the project has taken shape with the community consulted through the community council and other local groups as the designs progressed.

5. Where is the evidence of the "wide variety of views for and against" this decision that you refer to?

We have had a range of comments on the project from members of the community, these have included positive comments on increasing the accessibility of the path for all users through creating a flat even surface and access ramps, increasing the accessibility to Wormit primary school for pupils in the winter months when the path would have been inaccessible and increasing access to Waterstonecrook Sports centre. The comments against the path improvements have centred around the nature and wildlife on the path, I would like to reassure you that ecological surveys have been undertaken for the project to assess the impact and this has shown minimal impact on nature in the area. I have also been in touch with the contractor on site and so far, in the construction of the project there has been minimal stripping of vegetation to achieve the desired width.

6. Please can you refer to the documentation of this consultation?

Consultation material can be found here: Wormit to Newport - Active Travel Corridor | Fife Council

This is what has been shared with the community for comment, this page is regularly updated with project progress. 

7. Who are the active travel experts you speak of and can you provide their contact details?

The project team for this scheme included Fife Council's dedicated active travel team, design engineers with years of experience in active travel. In the initial stages of this project Fife Council have worked in partnership with Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.

8. What is Fife Council's policy on protecting wildlife?

As will all our active travel projects we minimise the disruption caused by construction works on local wildlife, this is done by timing construction to be outside protected seasons for species in that area. Any protected species will have been picked up during the feasibility and design process.

9. How do the active travel team work with Fife council's environmental or sustainability arm?

As part of active travel projects, ecological appraisals are undertaken to understand the impact the project will have on the environment. In addition, throughout the consultation process stakeholders are consulted, this includes any local groups with an interest in the project from an environmental point of view.