COUNCIL chiefs hope to create temporary cycle lanes and walkways in East Renfrewshire to encourage people to exercise as the coronavirus crisis leaves them facing a ‘new normal.’

The Scottish Government has launched a new £10million Spaces for People fund to help residents maintain social distancing while out and about.

And East Renfrewshire Council has confirmed it has registered with the scheme in a bid to secure a share of the cash.

A council spokeswoman told the Barrhead News: “We have registered interest in the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People initiative and, in line with government guidance, will be assessing measures across the authority to help residents social distance safely while undertaking essential trips and exercise.

“Once measures have been agreed, they will be implemented over the coming weeks to help mitigate virus transmission.”

The new fund has been launched in response to a large increase in walking and cycling since the coronavirus lockdown began, with latest figures showing journeys by bicycle are up by 35 per cent on the weekly average, while walking has also increased significantly.

Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson has stressed that capacity on public transport will have to be reduced as long as social distancing measures are in place, at between 10 and 25 per cent of previous levels.

The Spaces for People fund will be used to reallocate road space for active travel such as cycling and walking, while some routes may be reclassified.

Mr Matheson has written to all Scottish councils to give details of how the Spaces for People initiative will work.

He said: “I’m pleased we are able to put forward a package of support for our local authorities to implement temporary active travel measures, helping to ensure that people can walk, cycle and wheel during this public health emergency whilst physically distancing and keeping safe from traffic.

“Our communities need this support quickly, especially with the welcome increases in cycling we are seeing across the country.

“At the same time, almost every journey starts and ends on our pavements in some way, so it is vitally important that people can physically distance for those essential trips or for exercise.”