The people of a Perthshire community are being urged to turn out in force and make their feelings known on the design of one of Scotland’s biggest infrastructure projects in a generation.
The Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group has been working closely with Transport Scotland on the design of the dualling of the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 – probably the most challenging section anywhere from Perth to Inverness.
The group say that through a partnership approach they have developed a process to ensure the community gets to have its say in a way that can make a real difference.
Over the last 18 months, the community group has been gathering ideas and opinions from a survey, in workshops, at events and other community led sessions, on what people want to see – or don’t want to see – from the dualling of the A9.
The community and Transport Scotland will be working together to develop a preferred option and the group’s task is to set down in clear terms what the community sees as priorities for the project.
Coordinator of the A9 Community Group, Alasdair Wylie said: “This is a huge infrastructure project that will impact the people, environment and cultural heritage of a very special area.
“We want to ensure we can have a say in how it is done, and ensure the community has its voice heard throughout the process.
“This partnership co-creative approach has never been done before, and it is a very exciting opportunity for the community – children included – to be involved and have their say. It’s a one off opportunity for us, so we need to get as many people involved as possible.”
The “Big Community Ask” – an opportunity for people to make their preferences known – will take place on Saturday November 11 from 10.45am to 2pm in the Duchess Anne Hall, Dunkeld.
Elsewhere on the A9, work is under way on the southbound carriageway at Ballinluig with a £420,000 programme of resurfacing work.
The project will take place between 7am and 7pm Mondays to Thursdays and 7am to 1pm on Fridays, with the programme expected to be completed by November 22.
