Safe route plans for Blackford
Community council’s bid
A bid to get people out of their cars to walk and cycle to transport links is being looked at by community councillors in Blackford.
The south-west Perthshire community is cut off from transport hubs such as Gleneagles Station for those looking to safely get there on foot or by bike, because of the railway and A9 dual carriageway.
Community figureheads now want to hear if something should be done to bolster alternative transport in the village and have started a survey seeking to gauge residents’ opinions.
The end result could be improved connections to Auchterarder and Gleneagles.
Funding for the feasibility study has been given to Blackford Community Council from regional transport group Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (Tactran) and the Climate Challenge Development Fund.
Janet Law, Blackford Community Council chair, commented: “Everybody nowadays is keen to encourage low carbon travel, walking and cycling.
“Blackford is cut off by the A9 to the south and the railway to the north, posing problems for walkers and cyclists. The path along the side of the A9 is very close to passing HGVs and traffic going at 70mph. Gleneagles Station has been improved dramatically, but there is currently no adequate safe and direct cycle route to the station.”
Katharine Huggett, community council paths officer added: “The community council would like to encourage everyone who is interested in cycling or walking in the Blackford area, to fill in the online survey and give us their views on the need for a well signed, safe and properly surfaced cycle route, which we hope will also be of help to walkers.
“Other communities in Perthshire, such as Auchterarder, have started to develop new cycle routes and we would like to find ways to link our paths to those in other areas.”
The survey and community consultation will kick off the three month long feasibility study.
Blackford Community Council is working with Crispin Hayes Associates from Fife on the survey.
The firm will also assess possible routes, conduct a technical survey and provide the detailed costings for work which needs to be undertaken.
The survey will be online from April 14 for around 10 days.
Paper copies of the survey will be distributed to households in Blackford from April 18.