One of a number of projects to be undertaken through the local authority's Cycling, Walker & Safer Streets Fund in the current financial year, the existing pathway will be upgraded and formalised with the provision of new steps and handrails.

The news has delighted members of Forfar Community Council, who, on a number of occasions, have questioned ownership and expressed concern with regard to the footpath's deteriorating condition.

Chairman Isobel Ross said:"This is an excellent piece of news. The route is well used by children and adults and if there is a safer path - which this project will provide - then hopefully more parents will stop using their cars and encourage their children to walk to school.

"An upgraded footpath will be of great benefit to the people who walk the route regularly, especially when the weather is bad."

Forfar Councillor Colin Brown said he was delighted that what is currently an eyesore is going to be made presentable and safer.

"The path has always been well used but more so now with the opening of the new primary school a Whitehills," he commented.

A spokesperson for Angus Council explained that the scheme has been designed and will go out for pricing within the next few days.

"The work will be carried out during the school summer holidays," she concluded.

In total, £191,000 is available annually for such projects throughout Angus under the Cycling, Walker & Safer Streets Fund, established in 2001.

Last year (2007/2008) was to have been the final year of operation of the fund, but last week's infrastructure services committee heard that the Scottish Government has now confirmed that it will continue for a further three years, with ring-fenced funding of £191,000 available each year.

In the last financial year, the fund helped meet the cost of the upgrading, widening and lighting of the exiting worn path alongside the A94 from Don & Low to Orchardbank, and the link through to Silvie Way to provide a complete pedestrian/cycle route to the business park.

In addition, footway improvements were carried out in John Street, Forfar, with funding also provided for the provision of additional cycle storage facilities for primary school pupils, together with the purchase of reflective jackets and trolleys for schools to use when setting up formal "Walking Buses".

In addition to the £10,000 improvement to the footpath between Roberts Street North and Service Road, other Forfar-Kirriemuir projects have been programmed in for the coming year.

In Forfar, the existing concrete steps and footpath links in Bankhead, will be refurbished at a cost of £11,500, with £2,000 earmarked to cover land ownership investigation and purchase if necessary of the route between Carseburn Road and Victoria Street, and a further £2,000 set available to cover preparation of preliminary designs and costs of upgrading existing paths through Orchard Business Park.

The sum of £20,000 has been made available through the fund to contribute towards the provision of a "Park and Stride" facility at the rear of Airlie Primary School, the works to be completed to coincide with the re-opening of the school in February 2009.

In Kirriemuir, over £7,000 is to be spent on the reconstruction of the existing footpath between Bellies Brae car park and the foot of the zig-zag path leading up to Webster's High School, while £16,000-plus will be spent on the reconstruction of the footpath from Slade Gardens to the bus stop