Road upgrade is a step closer

Blackford residents to benefit from improvements

A drive for improvements to a key road in Blackford is moving up a gear.

Progress has been made during ongoing discussions between the village’s community council, Perth and Kinross Council and Highland Spring.

Blackford Community Council has been pushing for the past year for major changes at a single- lane slip road on the east side of the village accessing the A9 northbound, so that traffic can use the route to get both in and out of the village, instead of just out as is currently the case.

The idea is that once this additional proposed access is put in place fewer HGVs arriving at Blackford along the A9 from the south will choose to enter the village using the slip road at its west side and drive through Moray Street to get to and from Highland Spring’s bottling plant.

The current constant flow of HGVs along the residential street is known to be the most common complaint raised by villagers at the group’s monthly meetings, with residents fearful the flow will only increase as the plant continues to expand.

This week the group announced that through discussions with both the local authority and Highland Spring progress has been made on agreeing the proposed changes and that, in addition, work will soon commence on other improvements it has recommended on local roads to address other concerns raised by residents.

The group’s chair Janet Law explained: “Over the last year, Blackford Community Council and Highland Spring have been

pushing for changes to the slip road to the north bound A9 at the east end of the village, to make it two way.

“This would ensure that most of the HGV traffic visiting the Highland Spring site would not have to pass along Moray Street, the main street through the village, which is almost entirely residential properties.

“When we first heard that discussions about the road were taking place between PKC and Highland Spring, we asked Councillor Tom Gray to request that PKC hold a consultation with the community on any detailed plans for the road. PKC have the responsibility for building this road and responding to the offer from Highland Spring.

“The community council also asked Councillor Gray to request that the existing pavement should become a shared use path, for walkers and cyclists, along the whole stretch from the Blackford level crossing to the A9, and that this should be included as part of the work to be undertaken on this road.

“Since then, PKC have told us that some maintenance work is happening soon on the section of the path at the salt depot.

“This is much needed, and the community council is pleased that this is going ahead in the meantime until further plans for the road can be implemented.”

A PKC spokesperson this week confirmed the work would be done but did not say when.

“PKC has agreed to improve the walking surface at this location,” the spokesperson said.

“Wo rk s c rews are currently committed to pre-programmed work and as yet have been unable to attend to the path however an order to improve it has been issued.”

Highland Spring were asked to comment on the discussions too but the Strathearn Herald had not received a response before going to press yesterday.