People who use the Maxwelltown Path are urged to join a regular work party to keep it clear of encroaching vegetation. After more than a dozen volunteers turned out in the beginning of December to make a start on the worst section, local residents hope that a regular work group can be formed to keep the path tidy year round.
Local resident Richard Toulson was delighted by the reaction to his first call for volunteers when he joined forces with local campaign group Cycling Dumfries to stop the path from narrowing over the years. Despite it being a bitterly cold day, people came from around the town to help out on the first Sunday of the month and in a couple of hours had cleaned and trimmed a substantial section of the path, which forms part of the UK-wide National Cycle Network.
Mr Toulson said, “I was blown away by the response to our plea for help last time and it just shows what can be done in a couple of hours. After the group had finished the cycle path was two foot wider at the entrance and it felt like the whole community came together. Now I’d like to see a regular group form so we can take care of the path, which is such an important route for locals and cycle commuters alike.”
Sally Hinchcliffe, Convenor of Cycling Dumfries, said “We’re delighted to be involved in keeping this path usable by everyone. Whether it’s our own members or just people who live on or use the path, we’d encourage them to come along and help. We’ll be aiming to meet on the first Sunday of every month just for a couple of hours, and we’ll see how much of a difference we can make.
Dumfries and Galloway council are supporting this initiative. The next work party will be convening at 11 am on Sunday 5th January at the Terregles Road entrance to the path to continue the work started before Christmas and volunteers are urged to bring gardening tools and gloves to help out.
