A £200,000 plan for a new cycle path linking two Aberdeenshire towns was backed by councillors yesterday.
The Garioch area committee approved plans for the first phase of the route connecting Kintore to Inverurie at Thainstone along the A96 Aberdeen to Huntly road.
The move came despite frustrations that the project will not be delivered by the original completion date of March this year.
The path will be created to encourage people to start walking, jogging or cycling between the two expanding towns.
Councillors have approved two recommendations for the pathway – one, putting the contract for the work out to tender, and secondly that the cost will be no more than £250,000.
East Garioch councillor, Martin Ford, said it was time to get moving.
He said: “I am quite happy to agree the recommendations, but we need to get on with this.
“We clearly hoped to have it finished in March. I understand that there are still discussions between the council and Transport Scotland.
“We had expected completion by two months time, which we are not going to get.”
Chairman of the Garioch area committee and fellow East Garioch councillor, Fergus Hood, welcomed the step forward.
He said: “The council has got quite an extensive core paths plan and that path was one of that came up through community consultation.
“Many people are taking up physical activities and going out for evening walks and morning walks and people are becoming more conscious about their health.
“This is a great way of promoting links between Inverurie and Kintore.”
The first construction phase would connect Kintore at the town’s business park to half a mile north towards Thainstone.
Construction is expected to start in mid-February and will take three to four months to complete.
The project is being funded by Nestrans – £50,000 – and Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links Programme, which is providing £190,000.
The rest will be funded by Aberdeenshire Council .