Councillors want detail on city impact

Councillors have called for further information to be set out by rail bosses planning to shut a main road.

The proposed Kerse Road bridge closure, and the impact it will have on Stirling, was discussed at a meeting of Stirling Council’s finance and economy committee last week.

The importance of minimising disruption to residents and businesses was stressed, and the committee heard that a special meeting will be held to reveal the impact of this weekend’s closure.

Council leader Johanna Boyd said it is important that the impact that the year-long closure will have on the city is studied.

She said:“I had asked officers for an oversight because this is not just about bridge works, there’s other works such as the rollout of the Gigabit City etc. It is important we are not considering this from an individual infrastructure point of view but impact point of view for residents, visitors and local businesses. We have to look at what disruption is going to look like because undoubtedly it is going to have an impact beyond the core of Stirling.”

Councillor Gerry McLaughlan repeated his calls for the works to be re-examined.

He said:“This can’t be allowed to be an off-the-peg solution for Stirling. All the traffic is going to be diverted down residential streets. That’s going to mean 25-30 extra car journeys a minute along Linden Avenue.

“How are our citizens going to be protected? It is not a good enough solution at present.”

And committee chairman Neil Benny added:“We need to communicate to Network Rail very clearly that they need to look at a solution that minimises disruption at Kerse Road and also the Dunblane bridge, albeit they are not at the same level. The proof will be what happens in the next couple of days. I avoided a car service this weekend at Kerse Road - so already this is seeing an impact!”

Head of planning Brian Roberts was quizzed on whether or not the council will pay a contribution towards the works, which will cost an estimated £3 million to £4 million.

He said that the council remained in negotiations with Network Rail, and was stressing the impact the bridge closure would have on the city.