REPORT NO 648/00

ANGUS COUNCIL

ROADS COMMITTEE

8 JUNE 2000

SUSTRANS NATIONAL CYCLE ROUTE – GRAND OPENING 21 JUNE 2000

REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF ROADS

ABSTRACT This report discusses the opening of the National Cycle Route and requests authority to arrange two functions to mark the opening of the 5000-mile .

1 RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Committee agree:-

(i) to note the arrangements which are being made nationally, regionally and locally for the official opening of the National Cycle Network on 21 June 2000;

(ii) to note that the unveiling of a milestone will be carried out at the Seven Arches Viaduct, Monifieth;

(iii) to note that a refreshment stop will be provided in Carnoustie at 17.45hrs on Wednesday 21 June 2000 to welcome riders who are travelling the route and guests and that a milestone will be unveiled at this point;

(iv) to note that the unveiling of a milestone will be carried out at the Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath;

(v) that a reception be held in Montrose at 20.30hrs on the same day to which various dignitaries, guests and riders will be invited, and that a milestone will be unveiled at this event.

2 INTRODUCTION

Report No. 98/00 by the Director of Roads and approved by the Roads Committee 27 January 2000 gave the latest situation regarding the Sustrans National Cycle Route 1 and the North Sea Cycle Route, both of which run through Angus, and an indication that some form of event to mark the opening was being considered.

3 DETAILS 2

As stated above, both the Sustrans National Cycle Route 1 and the North Sea Cycle Route form part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) and follow the same route through Angus, this is shown in Appendix A. The route through Angus forms part of National Route 1 to and the appropriate signing and lining has been provided. The official plan of the route was launched on 2 May 2000 and copies of the plan have been placed in the Members Lounge.

The official opening will be on Wednesday 21 June 2000 and the opening will be celebrated by a national event called the “Longest Ride”. This will take place across the land from to Lands End when all 9000 miles of the planned NCN will be ridden in 260 separate “Longest Rides”. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, will formally declare the NCN open in Birmingham.

The aim of the arrangemens will be to formally open the first 5000 miles of the NCN and to provide local events specifically for those who have been or will be involved in this project. It will also draw to the public’s attention the fact that the Network is now open and can be explored. It will be a highly organised affair to achieve maximum media coverage at national, regional and local level, and as part of the local arrangements to celebrate the opening of the Network it is proposed to have schoolchildren from Montrose schools cycle a section of the route.

The regional plan for this area is to have a cycle ride from Perth to Montrose. The ride is to have “Hub” towns (Perth for this area) where the rides will start and “Host” towns where the ride will finish (Montrose for this area). During the ride there will also be refreshment stops (Carnoustie in Angus).

It is proposed to provide the refreshment stop in Carnoustie at the Links Avenue car park. Drinks and a basic buffet such as sandwiches and a piece of fruit will be available to cyclists on the “Longest Ride” and to invited guests, (approximately 20 in all) School children from Kinloch Primary School will also take part in the ceremony. A representative of Sustrans will be on the ride and will give a speech to outline the nature of the network locally. Then, following a short speech by an Elected Member, this section of the Network will be officially declared open, and a milestone will be unveiled.

It is also proposed to hold unveiling ceremonies of Sustrans NCN Milestones at the Seven Arches Viaduct, Monifieth and the Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath. These will be carried out by children from Grange Primary School, Monifieth and Ladyloan Primary School, Arbroath. The children will take part in a school competition to find eight children each to take part in the two ceremonies.

At each of these events there will be an opportunity for Angus Council Elected Members and staff or any member of the public to join the “Longest Ride”and cycle section(s) of the route.

The “Longest Ride” will finish in this area with a simple reception with a finger buffet, wine/soft drinks for approximately 35 people in Montrose at the Leisure Centre. Riders on the “Longest Ride” from both the south and the north will arrive in Montrose for the event. Following a short speech by an Elected Member, this section 3 of the Network will be officially declared open. A representative of Sustrans will be in attendance to reply, and a milestone will be unveiled. 4

4 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost of this launch and the two receptions is £1,000 and this has been provided for in the Roads Department Revenue budget.

5 CONSULTATION

The Chief Executive, the Director of Law and Administration, the Director of Finance, the Director of Recreation Services, the Director of Education and the Chief Constable have been consulted in the preparation of this Report.

6 CONCLUSION

The Sustrans National Cycle Route will be officially opened on the 21 June 2000 and it is appropriate that Angus Council participate in its launch.

Dr Bob McLellan DIRECTOR OF ROADS

NOTE

The following background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above Report:-

Report No. 215/96 – The National Cycle Network – The Angus Leg - approved by Angus Council Roads Committee – 25 April 1996.

Report No. 465/96 – Provision for Cyclists in Angus - approved by Angus Council Roads Committee – 6 June 1996.

Report No. 658/98 – North Sea Cycle Route - approved by Angus Council Roads Committee – 11 June 1998.

Report No. 102/99 – Sustrans National Cycle Route/North Sea Cycle Route - approved by Angus Council Roads Committee – 28 January 1999.

Report No. 98/00 – Sustrans National Cycle Route/North Sea Cycle Route - approved by Angus Council Roads Committee – 27 January 2000.

BAC/JSG 10 May 2000 REPORTS/sustrans.open