CLACKMANNANSHIRE has been chosen as one of the destinations for an exciting trial initiative for new electric bikes.

The scheme will bring bikes to a number of key location across Clacks, Falkirk and Stirling, and although the locations are yet to be confirmed, it is thought Alloa will be the main hub in the Wee County.

It is understood that there will be around 100 bikes split between the three areas with Clacks officials hoping to receive around 30 of them.

Those bikes will then be split among shelters in certain Wee County locations such as near Alloa train station. A number of community groups around the County have expressed an interest in housing a shelter.

Bewegen, a Canadian firm, is behind the project which is the first of its kind in Scotland as the UK aims to build up its cycling efforts to bring it up to speed with other European nations.

The Canadian firm will help Forth Environment Link deliver the UK’s first cross regional partnership electric bike share project, supported by Transport Scotland, NHS Forth Valley, Clackmannanshire Council, Stirling Council and Falkirk Council.

It is hoped that the first bikes will hit the Forth Valley streets by May 2019 as the £350,000 project gets underway.

Donald Balsillie, depute provost of Clackmannanshire Council, told the Advertiser what a huge boost it is for the local area.

He said: “I am delighted that Clackmannanshire has been selected for the bike project. It is only 100 bikes initially but we are looking at particular shelter locations at the moment to work with communities.

“The key thing from our point of view is that we have a fantastic cycling infrastructure which we still have long-term plans to improve, and hopefully with the city deal, we will get the final missing link between Clackmannanshire and Stirling.”

“We could have a lot of family events on the routes we have and we are hoping the community will come out and use the routes and the e-bikes.”

The councillor also revealed that they are looking for local companies to sponsor either the bikes or the shelters.

He said: “We are appealing to local businesses to think about sponsorship. We would be hopeful of getting more bikes if we got the sponsorship of local companies.”

The three Forth Valley councils have all contributed to the cost of the project with Stirling and Falkirk both putting around £70,000 in each.