New route for islanders and visitors in the Outer Hebrides after seven year campaign

New route for islanders and visitors in the Outer Hebrides after seven year campaign.

Key points

• Almost 3, 000 hanit decking boards have been applied along the route, supplied through Kacey Recycled Plastic and HAHN Plastics UK.
• The Slighe an Iochdair route in Iochdar in South Uist includes a fully accessible shared route for walkers, cyclists and motorists.
• Funding has come from Transport Scotland, Sustrans' Places for Everyone programme, HITRANS and a range of community and regional partners.
• Anne Bird, secretary of Iochdar Community Council, remarked the scheme began with families wanting a safer place for children and older residents to walk.
• Mathew Baxendale, head of sales and marketing at HAHN Plastics UK, remarked the project demonstrated how recycled materials could be employed to create infrastructure designed to last.

For context, the project improves travel for visitors and islanders alike, particularly during peak tourist season.

In practice, a new walkway created using recycled plastic has been installed along an island's narrow and winding road to produce travel easier and safer for locals and visitors.

Meanwhile, the Slighe an Iochdair route in Iochdar in South Uist includes a fully accessible shared route for walkers, cyclists and motorists.

Notably, the pathway links the local primary school and nursery Sgoil an Iochdair with local homes, school, community facilities, local shop and post office and sections of the Hebridean Way, a route of around 200 miles up the Outer Hebridean islands that is popular with tourists.

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Meanwhile, the aim of the development is to support residents and visitors move safely through the village for the first time. When there is an rise in traffic during busy tourist seasons, as is the case with plenty of island communities, narrow and single track roads have long triggered concern for local residents, particularly for children walking to school.

Almost 3, 000 hanit decking boards have been applied along the route, supplied through Kacey Recycled Plastic and HAHN Plastics UK. Mapping the future of uninhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides.

Notably, the firms stated the material is manufactured from recycled plastic waste and was selected for its durability and longevity, both of which are particularly significant for infrastructure exposed to severe coastal weather in an island community.

They remarked the apply of recycled material has additionally saved more than 20, 000kg of carbon dioxide emissions compared with traditional construction materials which would be the equivalent to emissions from driving more than 100, 000 miles in an average UK car.

Notably, the project has been led by Iochdar Community Council in partnership with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, HITRANS, Transport Scotland and other organisations, with backing from residents throughout South Uist.

"Over the years it has grown into something much bigger for the whole community through a lot of campaigning and fundraising, " she remarked.

"We wanted the pathway to be built to a high standard that would genuinely last, and the materials and design choices have been a very important part of that."

"Remote and coastal infrastructure projects demand materials that are both sustainable and exceptionally durable, " he remarked.

Islanders remarked the pathway has already begun to change life at the local school.

While teachers felt inspired to apply the route for outdoor learning and physical activities, joan MacDonald, head teacher at Sgoil an Iochdair, remarked pupils were now keen to walk or cycle to school.

Notably, the nursery, Sgoil Araich, has additionally been using it for picnics, dancing and exploring the surrounding community and wildlife.

Funding has come from Transport Scotland, Sustrans' Places for Everyone programme, HITRANS and a range of community and regional partners. When residents, community representatives and project partners will gather to mark the completion of what organisers describe as one of South Uist's most significant recent investments in active travel, the official opening will take place on September 4.

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Taken together, the developments around new route for islanders and visitors in the Outer Hebrides after seven point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.