Rural development funding for access and paths
Funding for improving public access is available under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. Ramblers Scotland generally supports this funding as it should support the implementation of the Land Reform Act.
There are some concerns over whether funding is delivering value for money improvements to access that the public know about and can use easily. We will be keeping an eye of the latest funding round to ensure that this issue is addressed in the future.
The main funding opportunities are:
Rural Development Contracts: Land Managers Options
Support is available for enhancing and marking paths and routes which link to local networks, give access to attractive places, or meet a local need.
Improving access
Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities: this is a competitive scheme which includes access options - though the priorities vary by region.
Rural priorities
The "Woodlands In and Around Towns" and "Forestry for People" Challenge Funds aim to improve the condition of existing woodlands for the benefit of local people. Both funds are administered by Forestry Commission Scotland under the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
Challenge funds
LEADER is part of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, promoting economic and community development within rural areas. It is aimed at community and business networks and could support access and path development around communities.
LEADER
Beyond the CAP
Ramblers Scotland recently contributed to a Scottish Environment LINK report on the future of European land use policies. This recommends a radical shift in CAP funding into policies that deliver more public goods – including supporting better access to the countryside.
Beyond the CAP
