Stonehaven, Mearns and North Angus Connectivity Study

What you told us

The survey for the Stonehaven, Mearns and North Angus Connectivity Study ran from 13 July to 16 August 2026 and received 242 responses, mostly from people living in the study area. It asked how people travel for work, school and leisure, and what makes sustainable travel difficult. The findings will help identify ways to improve access to services and opportunities by sustainable transport.

The survey highlighted a strong reliance on the car, particularly for work and leisure journeys. Respondents consistently identified a lack of alternatives, journey times and reliability as key factors influencing how they travel for work, school and leisure. Almost half of respondents said they would like to travel to places more often but are currently unable to do so, indicating a desire for better connectivity both within the study area and to destinations further afield.

There was also a clear level of recognition of the different travel experiences represented through the study's personas, with the majority of respondents agreeing that these reflected people living in the area.

The study is progressing, and the findings and feedback received through the survey, including written comments, are helping to inform the next stages of the work and the development of potential interventions. A further update will be provided when the study is published.

What we're doing

The feedback received through the public consultation and wider stakeholder engagement is being used to inform the next stages of the Laurencekirk and Mearns Area Wider Connectivity Measures study.

The study is looking at how connectivity across the area could be improved, with a particular focus on opportunities that do not rely on car-based travel. A range of potential transport, access and service delivery interventions has been developed, drawing on the evidence gathered through the study as well as feedback from communities and stakeholders.

The suggested improvements are now being assessed against the study objectives, different user needs and practical considerations. This will help identify which measures could have the greatest impact on connectivity across the area.

The next stage will use this assessment to develop a prioritised Action Plan and Delivery Roadmap. These will provide an evidence base to help guide future investment decisions, business cases and funding applications for connectivity improvements across the study area.