£20k sought for popular path repairs

A COMMUNITY group is seeking funding to repair and upgrade a popular walking route for Kirkcudbright residents. The Core Path 13 Group has already been promised National Lottery funding of £20,000 – if members can secure additional funding elsewhere for their ambitions to restore Tongland Circular Path. The route they are focusing on is Core Path 13, starting at the gate at Tongland Bridge, leading towards Kirkcudbright. Major repairs are needed on a 337m-stretch of the path, while minor works are needed for 804m. The total bill is £36,427, so they have been seeking grant funding elsewhere. A bid to Robin Rigg Community Fund failed, and now they have applied to Stewartry area committee for a grant of £20,000. A Dumfries and Galloway Council report reads: “Core Path 13 Group wish to repair and upgrade a 1.1 kilometre section of Core Path 13 to make it fully accessible and safe to Kirkcudbright residents and visitors to the area, of all ages, including those with restricted mobility. “They also wish to encourage ongoing support from local people, including the development of an active ‘Friends Group’ which will be open to all and encourage diversity and engagement.” The report acknowledges a section of the path has “fallen into serious disrepair” and become “virtually impassable”, due to lying water and mud over the winter. It is also difficult the rest of the year due to overgrown vegetation. The work involves preparing the route by scraping and re-shaping the surface and laying stone and a surface dressing to produce an even, dry, durable and safe walking route 1.2 metres wide. Kirkcudbright Community Council fully support the application but are seeking clarity on the figures because a grant of £16,427 could meet the highest quote for the work, rather than the £20,000 applied for.

• Library pic used