Identifying opportunities

When you try and prioritise different options for paths in your area, a lot of the factors that affect those priorities will be specific to the local area. But there are some external influences which you might want to consider as well – these can provide extra opportunities and are well worth considering.

Core path plans

We've already talked about finding out what's in the core paths plan and wider network for your area.  When prioritising projects, bear in mind that you're more likely to get funding and support for improving or upgrading a core path than for a path that very few people use.

Development Plans

All areas in Scotland have development plans.  These are documents which set out how places should change and what they might be like in the future - including housing, roads and other developments that might take place .  Councils and national park authorities must prepare a development plan for their area every five years.  Each council area in Scotland is covered by a local development plan whilst the main urban areas (which often include more than one Council area) are also covered by strategic development plans.  These plans set out  where new developments are proposed and the policies that will guide decision making on future planning applications.  Both local and strategic plans should also show where outdoor access fits in the broad scheme of things.

The Planning Aid for Scotland website has a map which will take you to the most recent development plans for your area (and they also offer free training in planning).  Not all of these plans will mention access and paths, but it's worth having a look to see what's proposed for your area - you may find the information is contained in an appendix rather than the main plan.  For example, you might have an idea for a new path in a particular location, but when you look at the development plan, you see that that location has been zoned for housing. There's no point investing your efforts in developing a path that will be built over, but maybe talking to the planners and potential developers early on will help you to make sure that a path is included in the planning application. So check what's planned for your area and see how you might be able to use it to your benefit when you're prioritising potential actions.

You might also want to consider lobbying for the inclusion of additional outdoor access opportunities when the development plans are reviewed every five years.  This factsheet provides more information on how to lobby for path networks.

Health and well-being

Promoting healthier lifestyles is an important target for most Government organisations. Providing people with opportunities to get out for a walk or ride is a good way to help develop those healthier lifestyles. So when you're prioritising your actions, it's worth considering whether or not those actions will help more people to get out and about. For example, creating a new path that children can use to get to school will help a lot of people develop a healthier lifestyle and be safer in their community. That means you'll have a better chance of getting organisations to support it, as well as knowing that you're making a real difference to Scotland's future.

Paths for All through our Walking for Health work is involved in delivering Scotland's Physical Activity Strategy. Visit the 'get walking ' section of our website to find out more about local health walking schemes in your area, and the possible links that could be made with your paths group and any local health walk volunteers.

Green Networks

Green networks are becoming a hot topic in planning circles.  A green network is made up of the greenspaces that are found within and around villages and towns, which link out to the wider countryside.  Green networks will benefit plants and animals by enabling them to survive and move through built up areas, but they are also designed to benefit people as well.  A good green network should incorporate paths and other travel routes so that more people can get around without having to use their cars.  Some councils are now producing supplementary planning guidance on green networks (for example, this is what Highland Council has produced) and may have mapped out potential green networks in their areas. Within the central belt, the Central Scotland Green Network covers 19 access authorities and has a grant fund for local projects.

When you prioritise your actions, it's worth finding out what's going on with green networks in your area.  If you can create a new path which links areas of green space together, or if you can create a path that provides additional wildlife habitat as well, you may well find you're contributing to a green network without even realising it!  And again, because green networks are important to the government, you've got a better chance of getting funding and support if you can link your work to a wider green network project.