Slighe an Iochdar Grand Opening
A transformational new active travel route in South Uist had its official Grand Opening on Friday 4th September, celebrating the end of a seven-year project led by the local community to create safer walking and cycling connections for local residents.
The new “Slighe an Iochdair” pathway in Iochdar provides a fully accessible route linking Sgoil an Iochdair, local homes, community facilities and sections of the Hebridean Way. It will help residents to walk, wheel or cycle safely through the village for the first time.
The project has been driven by Iochdar Community Council in partnership with HITRANS, Transport Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, HAHN Plastics UK, Pell Frischmann, Kacey Recycled Plastic and the residents of South Uist, following longstanding concerns about road safety on the single track road through the settlement.
Anne Bird, Secretary of Iochdar Community Council, said:
“This project started with local families simply wanting a safer place for children and older residents to walk. Over the years it has grown into something much bigger for the whole community through a lot of campaigning and fundraising.
“We wanted the pathway to be built to a high standard that would genuinely last, and the materials and design choices have been a very important part of that.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see years of work finally becoming a reality and huge credit to all our partners – and our community – for rallying behind each other.”
The project was initially developed following a community consultation which identified major concerns around pedestrian safety, particularly for schoolchildren and families travelling on foot between the school, community hall and village amenities.
The completed route provides safer access to the primary school, Talla an Iochdair, and the local shop and Post Office. It links to the Hebridean Way and is already encouraging more active travel across the community.
Joan MacDonald, Head Teacher at Sgoil an Iochdair, said:
“Slighe an Iochdair has made a huge difference already to the lives of pupils and families. Now the pathway is complete, pupils are keen to walk or cycle to school, often with other family members too. During the school day it’s now much more feasible for teachers to take pupils out and about as part of their learning and physical activities. Our nursery, Sgoil Araich, is also making great use of the pathway for their activities, picnicking, dancing and exploring the community and wildlife around us.”
Councillor Uisdean Robertson, Chair of HITRANS and Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said:
“This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when communities, public agencies and delivery partners work together over the long term in a spirit of unity and focused on a single goal.
There is no doubt that this pathway will deliver lasting benefits for local residents, visitors and future generations, while supporting healthier lifestyles, sustainable transport and stronger community connections. That’s the magic that infrastructure projects like this can create.”
A key element of the project has been the innovative use of recycled and low-maintenance plastic, a sustainable material capable of withstanding the challenging coastal conditions of the Outer Hebrides. This has saved more than 20,000kg of Co2 emissions versus traditional building products – the equivalent of driving more than 100,000 miles in an average UK car.
Mathew Baxendale, Head of Sales & Marketing at HAHN Plastics UK, said:
“We are proud to have supported this project with such strong community roots and long-term environmental ambitions.
Remote and coastal infrastructure projects demand materials that are both sustainable and exceptionally durable, and we know that our recycled plastic has the longevity to make such a large carbon saving compared to traditional materials.
It’s particularly rewarding to see our products contributing to a project that will make such a positive difference to everyday life in Iochdar.”
Scott McGarva of designers Pell Frischmann, who were involved from feasibility study and design through to management of the construction phase, said:
“Pell Frischmann is delighted to have been involved in such an important and exciting project, having worked with the Local Community Council, SusTrans and HiTrans from inception stage, securing planning permission, undertaking detailed design, all the way through to the delivery of the first phase of the project on site with local contractor, MacAulay Askernish.
This has been an interesting and enjoyable project to be part of and we hope to be able to support in the future phases as they come forward.”
James Wanless, Owner, Kacey Recycled Plastic, said:
“This project demonstrates what can be achieved when communities, public bodies and industry partners work together with a shared long-term vision.
We have been proud to support the pathway’s development over a number of years and to work alongside local stakeholders to help bring the scheme to life.
The completed route will deliver lasting benefits for residents while showcasing how recycled materials can play an important role in creating resilient, sustainable infrastructure in even the most challenging environments.”
The route has been supported by funding from Transport Scotland, including more than £955,000 through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund via HITRANS, alongside Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, and a range of community and regional partners.