Walkers, cyclists, and horseriders are among the groups to benefit from the extension of the Tweed Valley Railway multi-use path, which was officially opened this week (Thursday 14 March).
The opening of the new £500,000 2.5km section of the Tweed Valley path was carried out by SBC Leader Councillor Shona Haslam, who also opened The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) GO e-Bike Hub in Innerleithen. The exciting new venture by Tweeddale Youth Action – supported by GO e-Bike – provides local community access to electric bikes for personal use and electric cargo bikes for the business community.
Councillor Shona Haslam, SBC’s Leader, said: “The Tweed Valley Railway multi-use path is already hugely popular but this extension improves an already excellent facility to allow local people and visitors to get active and enjoy our fantastic area in a safe environment.
“The opening of the SEStran GO e-Bike Hub is an equally exciting project which will aim to provide health and environmental benefits.
“Both facilities add to the already impressive offering we have in the Borders for cycling, and we plan in future to extended at both ends.”
Councillor Gordon Edgar, SBC’s Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, and SEStran chair, added: “I am delighted the Tweed Valley Railway multi-use path is now completed, and hope it encourages more people to jump on their bike or pull on their walking shoes and get active.
“The Council has worked with a number of partners on various multi-use path projects across the Borders in recent years, and we must thank Sustrans Scotland and SEStran for the significant support for both the path extension and e-Bike Hub projects.”
Jim Grieve, SEStran Interim Partnership Director, added: “SEStran through its promotion of active travel as a key component of our Regional Transport Strategy, is helping to work towards the Scottish Government’s ambition in its Programme for Government.
“GO e-Bike is a great way to build on our other active travel work, introducing more people to cycling as a viable, fun transport choice for work and leisure.”
David Hodson, Locality Manager at Tweeddale Youth Action added: “We are greatly looking forward to working in partnership with SEStran.
“Introducing Go e-Bike into our Bike Punks project will enable us to engage, teach and train young people across Tweeddale in bicycle repair and maintenance skills.
“Supporting an ever-growing industry of cycling and tourism within the Tweed Valley and creating much-needed training and employment opportunities for young people. We look forward to exciting times ahead.”
Cllr Shona Haslam opens the Tweeddale GO e-Bike hub (photo thanks to Ian Linton)
Notes: The GO e-Bike project was awarded funding as part of the Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund established by Transport Scotland from funds awarded under the European Regional Development Fund 2014- 2020 programme and Transport Scotland funding, where relevant, to enable everyday functional journeys to be taken by walking, cycling, and public transport and to support an increased proportion on ultra-low emission vehicles on Scotland’s roads.
