Road cash falls short

Nov 25 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH and Kinross Council has received a promised £200,000 donation to help upgrade a strategic road in Kinross-shire.

But a further £1 million-plus is still needed to carry out necessary improvements on the A977 to cope with increased traffic following the opening of the £120 million Clackmannanshire Bridge.

And local Councillors Willie Robertson and Mike Barnacle vowed yesterday to continue lobbying the Scottish Government to provide the balance of the cash.

Lib/Dem Councillor Robertson yesterday welcomed the arrival of the six-figure sum pledged by former Scottish Government Transport Minister Tavish Scott for upgrading the A977, which connects the M90 to the new road bridge which spans the Forth.

Councillor Robertson said yesterday: “It will allow for some of the much-needed works to be begun to make the A977 safer.”

But the council have identified that the route requires a minimum of £1.25 million spent on it to address the effects of the increased traffic.

Local residents and councillors are currently lobbying Holyrood to provide the balance.

“I think that the Scottish Government are morally duty bound to provide the extra funding,” added Councillor Robertson. “The communities who live along the A977 deserve to be given as much protection as possible to alleviate the effects of the anticipated 40 per cent increase in traffic.”

Friday’s PA highlighted that Kinross-shire residents had sent a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for a pledge on road safety over the route which skirts close to local villages including Blairingone, Powmill and Crook of Devon.

Independent Councillor Mike Barnacle said: “The safety and welfare of the communities along the A977 is of paramount importance.”