The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Group demands trust explain its A9 silence
Killiecrankie: Battlefield campaign says lack of opinion is ‘mystifying’
A group fighting plans to dual the A9 over a historic battlefield has called on the National Trust for Scotland to join its campaign.
Members of Killiecrankie 1689 have written an open letter to Diarmid Hearns, head of policy at NTS.
They want him to speak out against Transport Scotland’s proposal to widen the trunk road across where the Battle of Killiecrankie took place.
Those opposed say although they agree the route should be dualled, the proposed route will destroy areas of significance to the Jacobite rebellion.
The work forms part of the Scottish Government’s £3 billion project to make the entire A9 dual carriageway by 2025.
The complaints sparked archaeological surveys which began last week and a public inquiry is to be held, although a date has not been set.
In its letter, Killiecrankie 1689 asks why NTS has not made a statement opposing the proposed route for the dual carriageway, pointing out the issue is similar to plans for a hotel in the boundaries of Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, which NTS objected to.
The letter says: “Although there are complex circumstances particular to Culloden, the statements made by NTS are also pertinent to the situation in Killiecrankie.
“It is mystifying why the NTS has made no public pronouncements on controversial plans that have generated 183 objections in an area where your presence is dominant.
“If your silence is due to acceptance of the proposals, surely your 360,000 members and the wider public are owed an explanation about the discrepancy in your views of two of the country’s most important Jacobite battle sites?”
NTS owns the visitor centre in Killiecrankie, including some small sections of the battlefield, but does not own any land affected by the proposed dual carriageway.
Mr Hearns responded: “Having now received the campaigners’ open letter, we want to reassure them that we take our responsibilities very seriously.
“Our policy, national estates, archaeology and property teams have all been studying the proposals for the A9 closely. The upgrading of this national corridor, while welcome, will affect both amenity and heritage.
“Despite the fact that, unlike Historic Environment Scotland, we are not a statutory consultee in the process, we have had ongoing engagement with Transport Scotland and the contractors over the very same issues raised by the campaigners.
“At this stage we are hopeful that the evidence and suggestions we are making may result in a breakthrough over this particular section of the A9 project.
“Now that a public inquiry has been announced, we will be contributing fully to this and expect that a solution can be found that minimises adverse impacts.
“In particular, we believe further survey work is needed to better understand potential impacts.”
ecrichton@thecourier.co.uk
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If your silence is due to acceptance of the proposals, surely your 360,000 members and the wider public are owed an explanation. KILLIECRANKIE 1689 TO NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND