THE development of new cycling and walking routes across South Ayrshire is facing delays after the Scottish Government made changes to the way it funds programmes.

Until now, councils have made bids for traffic, transportation and active travel projects to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Transport Scotland and Sustrans.

South Ayrshire Council has submitted bids worth £6.7 million for 2024/25.

The Scottish Government also provided additional funding for cycling and walking routes as a direct grant.

But following a review by Transport Scotland, that approach has now been changed – and local authority officials have warned that it may cause “significant ramifications to council funding in future years”.

The council’s cabinet heard that a number of individual grant schemes are now being closed, with the funding to be included in a new direct block grant for active travel delivery.

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