Let’s hope local democracy plays biggest part in decisions on Dunblane streetscape works

I am writing regarding the proposals for streetscape works in the Cathedral area of Dunblane.

I am concerned that the views of residents, businesses and organisations with bases in this vicinity are not properly being taken into account.

I understand this was also the case with the streetscape proposals in the railway station area - a lot of consultation, but ignored.

There seems to be a feeling of fatalism amongst the locals, that this is a `fait accompli’ promoted by the desire for walking/cycling and the ready availability of funding, by those who do not live or work in these streets.

I totally understand the need to get people walking and cycling. However, the full picture of the area is only complete when account is taken both of the rapidly ageing population who use this area, and the existing traffic movements.

I live at the bottom of the Braeport. The narrow roadways are frequently congested with cars, commercial vans, delivery lorries, bin lorries and coaches.

The Cathedral has church services, weddings, funerals, visiting groups; the Braeport Centre, hotel and restaurant, pub and the museum all need traffic access.

The 50 or so properties in Haining and Buccleugh Court have their only access through this area, as do the 100 properties at the top of the Braeport.

In an ideal world, cutting road space would be attractive, but those of us who live, work or use the area regularly, know that this idea is just not practical.

The first consultation which we knew about, on April 5, was for neighbouring residents only but their views were not reflected in the proposals presented at the public consultation on April 29. The company undertaking the consultation seems to have very little knowledge of the area. No serious or effective survey work or usage analysis seems to have been undertaken. Therefore, there is no evidence provided of the balance of need for these proposals.

It all seems depressingly familiar. The local community is steamrollered yet again. And unfortunately, none of this gives the impression of local democracy. Let’s hope this time might be different, and that a serious feasibility study can be done and implemented.

Sue Harley, Braeport, Dunblane.