THE development of “innovative transport solutions” for the Wee County’s planned Wellbeing Hub could improve public transport in the wider area.

That is according to a transport assessment for the proposed Wellbeing Hub and Lochies School project, full plans for which have been lodged with the local authority this July.

The assessment for the project, completed in June by consultants ECS Transport Planning, concluded that the site will be accessible by sustainable modes of travel as well as private vehicles with the proposals satisfying transport policy requirements.

Exploring likely travel demand, the assessment looked at walking, cycling and wheeling, public transport, private vehicles and multi-modal transport opportunities.

While the site is easily accessible on foot, it is a slightly more than 20 minute walk from the very heart of the town centre.

There is a bus stop some 130m from the entrance to the site, but this is only served by the C1 bus, which operates six times a day on an hourly basis from 9.48am to 3.48pm.

The assessment said it is expected that there will be a regular demand for travel by public transport.

It read: “Although bus stops are well within the recommended walk distance it is accepted that the wider area would benefit from a more frequent bus service and includes services in to the early evening.

“The C1 service provides good coverage of the western side of the town and provides a link to the town centre and train station which is considered ideal.

“It is understood that [Clackmannanshire Council] have appointed consultants to undertake a review of the current transport gaps with a view to developing innovative transport solutions.

“As a result, it may be that this scheme could contribute toward developing a public transport scheme which improves the service in the wider area in conjunction with [the council].”

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On foot, the site is easily accessible to large residential areas and it is expected that the inclusion of footway connections with Smithfield Loan and nearby core paths will promote walking to and from the site.

However, a speed survey was undertaken on Smithfield Loan near the site entrance found that 85 per cent of vehicles travelled within speeds of 35.5mph and 36.4mph in the eastbound and westbound direction respectively.

This reflected a general concern from Clackmannanshire Council’s Transportation Team that vehicle speeds are high on Smithfield Loan, which has 20mph and 30mph limits, something that has been raised by nearby New Struan School.

Indeed, the Advertiser in March reported how the Scottish Autism school sought to deter speeding by recruiting a makeshift police officer.

To reduce vehicle speeds, proposals are to introduce traffic calming measures either side of the entrance to the hub and school, which could take the shape of pedestrian refuge islands.

By bicycle, the hub will be accessible from numerous settlements within 30-40 minutes and cycle parking will be provided.

The current road network will be able to accommodate expected vehicular traffic safely.

There will be around 40 parking spaces for Lochies School, which can be used as overflow out with school hours, and about 160 spaces for the Wellbeing Hub.