Lochaber News: Path linking communities is a triumph

The new cycleway and footpath linking Fort William and Torlundy finished on schedule and has been warmly welcomed in the community. Transport Scotland invested £1.5million to create the new link, which serves a safe route off the A82 for cyclists and pedestrians, not only to the Nevis Range venue for this week’s championships, but to a community link between the village of Torlundy and neighbouring Fort William.

Contractors battled against the weather and a tight timeline to meet the deadline – the start of the world championships. Enhancements have also been made to link the path to the Great Glen Way, via the BA Park, offering a secure route direct to Fort William town centre. Despite initial concern and anger over the delay in the project coming to fruition, the path’s opening has been celebrated by community leaders this week.

Inverlochy and Torlundy community councillor James Weir, who played a key role in ensuring the path project went ahead, said: “The community council have been pursuing the construction of the path since the beginning of 2002 and although it has taken the Mountain Bike World Championships to get it in place, the community council is very grateful it is there. We see it as an excellent facility, not only for the benefit of visitors but also for the convenience and safety of local pedestrians and cyclists.”

Local Highland councillor Brian Murphy said: “I’m delighted to see the path finished in time and the contractors RJ MacLeod should be congratulated for this. On the track (from left) Anna Trafford OCUK, Jim Weir, Torlundy and Inverlochy Community Council, Cllr Brian Murphy, and cyclist Dougie Bryce formerly of Off Beat bikes, who is about to set off across the world. “It will certainly make a difference to the people of Torlundy, who have been calling for this for years – long before the mountain bike events came to Lochaber.

It will also make a big difference to the people of Fort William who want to get out and about in the fresh air and opens up a safe route to the Leanachan Forest and Nevis Range.” Anna Trafford, project director of the Outdoor Capital of the UK Ltd, added: “This is a great facility and one more piece in the puzzle as part of our continued growth as the Outdoor Capital of the UK.

It is already being well used and I would urge everyone to get out and enjoy it.” Meanwhile, the consensus view in and around Fort William is that the restructuring of the Lochybridge junction to incorporate a new mini-roundabout has made a real difference to traffic flows at the notorious bottleneck. And organisers of the world championships have again urged spectators to take advantage of the park and ride facilities and avoid attempting to drive up to the Nevis Range venue where vehicular entrance is strictly monitored and controlled.