New Killiecrankie battle over A9 dualling threat

Campaign group urges Government to rethink and prevent damage to historic site

The giant A9 dualling project is facing a challenge from campaigners horrified that it threatens one of Scotland’s most famous battlefields.

A stretch of the new road proposed by Transport Scotland will encroach upon the fields of Killiecrankie, where the Jacobite rebellions began.

A new campaign group, KilliecrAnkie1689, has been established to prevent irreparable damage to what is one of Scotland’s most important historic sites. Its members are urging the Scottish Government to revise its plans.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, meanwhile, has called for an urgent Holyrood debate on the issue.

He said :“The project to dual the A 9 is long over due but in sensitive areas the Scottish Government must be prepared to listen to local concerns and promote route options that do not have a negative impact on communities and historic sites.”

A historic Perthshire battlefield is being readied for fresh conflict and may halt the advance of the giant A9 dualling project.

A campaign group has been set up to oppose a controversial section of new road between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry that would encroach upon the site of the fight.

The first shots of the 1689 Jacobite Rebellion were fired in Killiecrankie Pass and the modern-day visitor centre is the fifth-largest visitor attraction in Perthshire and considered as important as Culloden.

The battlefield Historic Environment Scotland protection and KilliecrAnkie1689 has been set up to stop a mile of the road going over the most sensitive part of the battlefield.

Its members have launched a website, started a petition, lodged an objection and started a crowd-funding initiative to support their campaign.

Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has, separately, lodged a motion in Parliament for a Holyrood debate on the matter.

He backs the overall A9 project but said: “The Battle of Killiecrankie is one of the most important moments in Scottish History and the site remains relatively undisturbed, possessing huge archaeological potential.”

A KilliecrAnkie1689 spokesperson said: “We are in favour of the project to upgrade the A9 in the interests of safety, but want the best route for the local community and for the historic battle site.”

It is understood that statutory consultees such as Perth and Kinross Council, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust and Historic Environment Scotland have yet to submit opinions. The Cairngorms National Park Authority has no objection.

Highland SNP councillor Mike Williamson said: “Encroaching upon the battlefield in this fashion could harm the site and could damage any future possibility of building upon its tourism value.”

Property consultants Bidwells are acting for a number of landowners who are having land acquired for this section of the A9.

Andrew Wood, a partner with the firm, said: “At this stage, we believe minor changes to the route could mitigate further the damage and loss to this historic site without prejudicing the overall project.”

Transport Scotland said it would consider all views submitted before the January 23 deadline.

A spokesman said the plans had been carefully designed to minimise impact on the “important historical site”.

The agency noted that the existing A9 already runs through the battlefield.

Battle re-enactors the Soldiers of Killiecrankie in full cry on the battlefield at a recent event.