Swinney listens to group’s road gripes
John Swinney, SDCC members Jill Belch, Donald McKerracher and Neil Myles, Councillor Fiona Sarwar Perthshire MSP John Swinney sees merit in a Scone group’s argument the starting point of a planned new route over the River Tay should be shifted away from the village.
Scone and District Community Council (SDCC) believes the local authority ought to reconsider where the proposed Cross Tay Link Road starts as its present preferred route passes through part of a planned housing development and a popular wood.
The group has already made its position clear to council bosses but claims they batted away their suggestions to shift the start of the route further north along the A94 so it misses the development and the wood.
PKC has previously said the road’s current route was picked following a“lengthy appraisal and selection process”and SDCC were“fully consulted on the proposals” but the group disputes that claim.
Now Mr Swinney has met with the members as well as Strathmore councillor Fiona Sarwar to go over the group’s suggestions and has said he is prepared to get involved in discussions to try and persuade local authority bosses to think again.
“Last week I met with representatives of SDCC to discuss their concerns,”he said. “I was highly impressed by the knowledge and understanding of the issues displayed.
“I can clearly see the merit in their proposal to shift the CTLR away from built-up areas in order to ensure better pedestrian safety and air quality. I look forward to engaging with the group in the months ahead and I am hopeful that a satisfactory solution can be reached.”