Politicians say there is support for route
Perthshire politicians have claimed there is “widespread support”for a new footpath and cycleway to be built between Bridge of Earn and Aberargie despite doubts being raised at a public meeting last month.
Almond and Earn councillor Kathleen Baird said this week she was “very much in favour” of the £1.6 million project going ahead as planned by the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) and pointed to a survey carried out by the charity as proof the scheme enjoys “a great deal of support”.
According to details of the survey published online, 122 people told the trust last year they would be “more likely” to walk or cycle between the two locations if the new path ends up being built along the A912.
Another Almond and Earn councillor David Illingworth also said this week he considers the proposed active travel route to be “a much-needed improvement” considering a cyclist died in an incident on the road last February.
And a third councillor, Carse of Gowrie representative Angus Forbes, said the project “completely fits in with the council’s strategy for improving infrastructure for active travel”.
The politicians also pointed to support the project has picked up from pressure group Perth Area Living Streets, whose co-convener Roger Humphrey remarked: “The only reason why this active travel route shouldn’t be built would be if there were better options.
“This option isn’t just the best option available – land ownership and future maintenance mean this is the only option.”
However, Earn Community Council (ECC) chairman John Bruce said this week he is still unconvinced the survey carried out by PKCT last year counts as a “proper” public consultation and again questioned precisely where the demand for the path was coming from and its projected cost.
During the most recent meeting of ECC, Mr Bruce raised concerns about the A912 being narrowed by three-anda-half metres to accommodate the new route and said professional drivers he had talked to about the planned reduction found the idea “deeply disturbing”.
He said at the time: “The concern is any diminution of the width of the carriageway is going to encourage [drivers] to swerve to the centre [and] put them in near collision [course] with another HGV.”
Speaking to the PA again on Tuesday, Mr Bruce drew attention to a survey ECC carried out two years ago asking people what kinds of projects they wanted to see progressed in the local area during which he says no-one suggested creating a path between Bridge of Earn and Aberargie.
Mr Bruce said people did suggest creating a better pathway for people who like to walk around Kilgraston and that he would much prefer it if that project could be pursued.
“We asked everybody about what they think the community needs and not one person even mentioned this path,” he said.
“They did, however, mention another path which people use already and that is the path around Kilgraston. That would satisfy lots of people and would only cost £400,000.
“I can’t believe we’re talking about spending £1.6m on this path. I just don’t get it.”