The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Inquiry to settle Cross Tay Link land grab row
Scottish ministers have called an inquiry to settle disputes over swathes of land earmarked for the Cross Tay Link Road.
The £118 million project, which aims to reduce Perth city centre congestion with a new bridge and road between the A9 and A94 north of Scone, secured planning permission last month.
Perth and Kinross Council is using compulsory purchase powers to buy up land needed for the development.
However, the local authority faces opposition from some landowners, including construction firms A& J Stephen and I&H Brown.
There are disagreements over the council’s bid to acquire “temporary occupation” rights at certain plots, and all objections have now been delivered to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division.
Scottish ministers hope to resolve the matter with an inquiry before mid-June next year.
Transport Scotland also received letters of objection from Scottish Gas and a representative of the Mansfield estate in Scone. However, those objections have since been withdrawn.
Planning consent was granted for the controversial project at a virtual council meeting in October.
It was agreed by councillors, despite a last gasp attempt by objectors who called for the road to be re-routed.
There were concerns building the road through a new 700-home estate north of Scone could put residents at risk of harmful levels of air pollution.
The council was warned the development could lead to a sharp rise in traffic on surrounding country roads.
The Cross Tay Link Road, which will get £40m of Scottish Government funding, was one of five big capital projects thrown into jeopardy by the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillors agreed to push ahead with the scheme, despite increased pressure on budgets and resources.
As well as alleviating city centre congestion, local authority chiefs say the project will also help allow access to thousands of homes being built at Bertha Park.
It is expected the bridge and connecting roads will take around two-and-a-half years to construct.