Part of Hawick’s Flood Protection Scheme, the Borders town has gained a new Active Travel Network, giving locals healthy and sustainable choices for their everyday journeys.
Communities in the north-east of Hawick are now better connected than ever before, thanks to the new Weensland Bridge - part of the Active Travel Network. Credit: Michael Kelly/Sustrans.
Through 7km of widened shared-use paths, accessible ramps, and strategic footbridges, Hawick’s new Active Travel Network opens up opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling.
Sustrans joined Scottish Borders Council, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop, and members of the local community to celebrate the network’s launch on Tuesday 26 August.
Building stronger community connections
Hawick's Active Travel Network makes getting around town easier, healthier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
New and improved paths and bridges now connect many areas of the town, from Weensland in the north-east all the way to Volunteer Park in the south-west.
This has significantly improved links between schools, businesses and local amenities, making journeys by walking, wheeling and cycling much more direct.
Heather is a member of the Hawick Belles, a local women’s cycling group, and uses the new network to meet up for bike rides further afield:
“For me it’s made a huge difference, because living outside the town, previously I would have to weave my way around through all the traffic.
"Whereas now, once I get into the edge of town, I come onto the Active Travel Network and I’m across town in 5 minutes, 10 minutes. It takes me no time at all. And I avoid all the traffic. So, from that point of view, it’s a godsend for me.”
Coffee and cake are top of the priority list for Hawick Belles women's cycling club - a group focused as much on social connection as they are bikes. Credit: Brian Sutherland/Scottish Borders Council.
A particular success of the project has been the installation of new footbridges.
With the town built around the river Teviot, crossing the river is a part of daily life in Hawick.
Three narrow crossings have been replaced with new 4m wide bridges, enabling walking, wheeling and cycling in both directions.
Alongside this, the project has also delivered a new additional footbridge at Weensland.
This new bridge shortens journey times between eastern residential areas of the town – benefitting communities like Burnfoot who previously lacked a nearby river crossing.
Holly is in Primary 7 at Trinity Primary School in Hawick, and uses the new path network for both walking and cycling:
“The bridges help us because before you had to walk around half the town to get somewhere. But now you can just go across the bridges and it’s there.
"It used to take me like 20 minutes to get somewhere, but with the bridges it takes me about 5 minutes now. It’s just easier to get places and I’m not as tired when I get there!”
The newly improved Lawson Footbridge is now 4m wide, enabling people to walk, wheel and cycle safely in both directions across the river. Credit: Michael Kelly/Sustrans.
Active travel changes everything – our health, our wellbeing, our world
Thanks to these improved connections, more people will feel confident to get across town by walking, wheeling or cycling.
Whether it’s the commute to work, the journey to school, or a trip to the shops, having these accessible ways to enjoy daily exercise whilst on the go helps people live healthier lives.
The new network also provides safer places for young people to cycle, without needing to mix with traffic.
Another P7 pupil from Trinity Primary, Daisy, has been spurred on by the improvements:
“Me and my sisters have started to cycle more. Because we’ve all had bikes that have just been sitting in the shed for quite a while.
"But now since the new paths are here, we have a reason to use them, and it’s made us much more active.”
And with realistic options to switch out local car journeys for a walk or cycle, Hawick’s roads will be quieter and safer for all users.
Daisy added:
“I walk to school. When I walk, it’s better for the environment as well because you’re not emitting as much gas into the air.
"And it also makes the road less busy in the morning for other kids walking to school, so that’s good.”
The new Active Travel Network is making school journeys easier for many pupils across Hawick - and provides more traffic-free places to cycle and walk with friends. Credit: Brian Sutherland/Scottish Borders Council.
As Daisy notes, less cars on the roads means better air quality – and the Active Travel Network has also created new green spaces across the town for locals to enjoy the outdoors.
Common Haugh and Wee Haugh have been revitalised, alongside the creation of a new Biodiversity Park at Weensland.
With benches and landscaping features, these new parks are welcoming places for people to spend time together.
As well as boosting wellbeing, wildflower planting and over 2,500 new trees are helping nature to thrive.
Planning for the future – Hawick's Flood Protection Scheme
Alongside helping to reduce transport emissions and making the town greener, the project has a broader environmental significance as part of the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme.
Hawick has a history of flooding due to its location at the confluence of the River Teviot and the Slitrig Water, and the town has suffered significant damage in recent years.
With the impacts of climate change ever closer to home, the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme is a major investment and undertaking, setting out to be one of the most comprehensive flood protection schemes ever built in the UK.
By incorporating active travel from the outset, the scheme has put walking, wheeling and cycling at the heart of Hawick’s future – ensuring a lasting, positive impact for the whole town, for many years to come.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Honorary Provost Councillor Rammage cut the ribbon to celebrate Hawick's new Active Travel Network - part of the Flood Protection Scheme. Credit: Brian Sutherland/Scottish Borders Council.
The Hawick Active Travel Network is a Sustrans Places for Everyone project, made possible by £12.6 million Scottish Government funding via Transport Scotland.
The project was delivered in partnership with Scottish Borders Council, as part of the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme.
Find out more about Places for Everyone.
Learn more about Hawick’s Flood Protection Scheme on the scheme website.
