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The Kier, Penpont, and Tynron Development Trust says some motorists have driven on the Penpont-to-Thornhill active travel path to avoid a diversion during A702 roadworks. The trust says the route is for walking, cycling and wheeling, and that extra safety precautions have since been installed. The number of incidents and whether police have been involved are not stated.
The Kier, Penpont, and Tynron Development Trust has warned drivers to stop using the Penpont-to-Thornhill active travel path to bypass a diversion during roadworks on the A702 in Dumfriesshire, saying motor vehicles put pedestrians, children and cyclists at risk. The trust says the route is not a road and is reserved for walking, cycling and wheeling, with only emergency services on duty and authorised maintenance vehicles exempt.
A section of the A702 at Penpont, west of Thornhill, is closed while essential road reconstruction and drainage improvements are carried out. Signed diversions direct traffic via the B729 and A76. The development trust said a small minority of drivers had instead tried to use the nearby active travel path to avoid the detour.
In its first public warning, the trust acknowledged that the works and diversion add time to journeys, but said the path is designed for people travelling on foot, by bicycle or using mobility aids such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters. It also includes prams in its description of permitted users. The trust said unauthorised motorised vehicles are prohibited, apart from emergency services responding to an incident and authorised maintenance vehicles.
The trust issued a further reminder a few days later, repeating that the route is strictly for active travel. Development officer Michelle Johnston told the BBC that driving an unauthorised motor vehicle along it is prohibited by law. Johnston said civil engineers had since put extra safety precautions in place to deter drivers from using it as a rat run. The trust did not specify what those measures involve.
Protecting Path Users During the Closure
The warning concerns a route intended to separate people walking and cycling from motor traffic. Drivers using it as a shortcut could expose children, families, cyclists and other pedestrians to vehicles on infrastructure not intended for ordinary traffic. The trust says the path’s separation from the road is there to protect users.
The issue also highlights a practical risk during road closures: drivers seeking to avoid a longer signed diversion may use routes that are not designed or authorised for motor vehicles. The trust has asked motorists to follow the official diversion and says community members have challenged drivers attempting to enter the path. It has not reported any injuries or provided a count of the incidents.
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A Two-and-a-Half-Mile Local Route
The path runs beside the A702 between Penpont and Thornhill and provides a traffic-free connection of about 2.5 miles. It opened in March 2024 after a reported investment of £2.3 million. According to the source report, the route is separated from road traffic by a grass verge, fencing and hedges, although it can be accessed from the road through a small entrance.
The present road closure is for reconstruction and drainage work, with the B729 and A76 serving as the signed alternative. The trust has described the diversion as frustrating for local drivers while stressing that this does not make the active travel path an alternative road. Its statements focus on keeping the route available and safe for the people it was built to serve.
“The Active Travel Path is NOT a road.”
— Kier, Penpont, and Tynron Development Trust
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Incident Numbers and Measures Unreported
The trust has not said how many drivers attempted to use the path, how often it happened, or whether any vehicle reached or injured a path user. No police action or enforcement outcome is reported in the source material. The trust describes the drivers involved as a small minority, but has not provided a figure.
It is also unclear what the additional safety precautions installed by civil engineers consist of, whether further measures are planned, or how long the A702 closure and diversion will remain in place. The available information does not give a completion date for the roadworks.
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Diversion Remains the Signed Route
While the A702 works continue, motorists are being asked to use the signed diversion via the B729 and A76, rather than the active travel path. The trust says extra precautions have been put in place, but has not described them or announced a further timetable for changes.
The next relevant developments are the progress and completion of the road reconstruction and drainage work, along with any further information from the trust or local authorities about safety measures. Until the road reopens, the trust’s stated instruction is that the Penpont-to-Thornhill route remains for walking, cycling and wheeling, with only the specified authorised vehicle exceptions.
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Key Questions
Where are motorists being told not to drive?
On the Penpont-to-Thornhill active travel path in Dumfriesshire, beside the A702. The trust says the path is not an authorised route for ordinary motor vehicles.
Why is the A702 closed?
A section at Penpont is closed for road reconstruction and drainage improvements. The signed diversion runs via the B729 and A76.
Who is allowed to use the active travel path?
The trust says it is for people walking, cycling or wheeling, including wheelchair and mobility-scooter users. It says the exceptions for motor vehicles are emergency services on duty and authorised maintenance vehicles.
Have any injuries or police action been reported?
The source report does not identify any injuries or say that police have taken action. The trust has not provided an incident count.
What safety measures have been added?
Development officer Michelle Johnston told the BBC that civil engineers had installed extra safety precautions to prevent the path being used as a rat run. The trust has not specified what the measures are.
Source: rss
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