A Perth councillor is urging the council to take action to safeguard pedestrians using a city woodland walk.
A refusal by the council to construct a gate or barrier where the walk emerges onto a busy road has angered Councillor Willie Wilson who says he is on the “warpath” over the issue.
As part of the planning conditions for Stewart Milne Homes receiving consent to build houses in the former caravan park at Cleeve in Perth, the council insisted that a new woodland walk was completed and commissioned through the area of mature woodland between the new houses and Glasgow Road.
This walkway, along with the steps and landscaping and contouring, has now been completed and forms an extension to the pedestrian way that goes all the way from Oakbank, alongside the Scouring Burn, down through the Dry Pond to Cleeve and Glasgow Road.
Eventually the intention is that this walkway will link across Glasgow Road with another path that will go through a corridor from the former Bell’s office site right up to Broxden.
The provision of the path has been welcomed by local residents but they are unhappy about the lack of a gate or fencing at the exit from the pathway to Glasgow Road.
Councillor Wilson said: “It is essential that some form of gate or barrier is provided at this location. The pathway is already being used regularly by dog walkers and those taking their children for a walk.
“The issue is, however, that the pathway emerges quite quickly on to the pavement beside the Glasgow Road where traffic can be officially travelling at 40mph and, sadly, occasionally at higher speeds.
“Whilst the pavement in Glasgow Road is of a reasonable width, the amount of time it would take a dog or a child to cross this pavement by accident on to the roadway would be a matter of seconds.
“I have asked the environment service of the council if they would provide a gate or barrier at this location and so far this request has been refused,” he added.
“My response to that, however, is to say that I will be on the warpath about the issue and intend to press for it to be provided in the future. Local residents support me in this request.”