Golfers still pressing for re-think on bridge route

Dec 3 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH and Kinross Council have been accused of corporate vandalism after approving controversial plans for a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Tay.

More than 1000 signatures were quickly gathered for a petition calling on councillors to re-think the proposed location for the bridge, which will impact on the historic North Inch Golf Course.

Plans for the Connect2 project were given the green light at last week’s enterprise and infrastructure meeting.

But yesterday Perth Merchants Golf Club captain and petition organiser Robin Valentine said: “Golfers found themselves the subject of an orchestrated barrage of attack by councillors for their objections to the project.

“The self-same councillors refuse to recognise that golfers are not against the bridge – even though it is a gross waste of £2.75 million of public money.

“All golfers ask is that the bridge be built where it was originally intended to connect with existing cycle paths and not damage Perth's 200-year-old golf course – one of the oldest golf courses in the world.

“It was obvious that councillors have been stung by the golfers vocal and continuous criticism of their plans for the Connect2 Bridge.

“But what did they expect? Councillors have consistently refused to meet the golfers to discuss the project – instead, simply coming out with the same old lame-duck excuse that the plan was passed by the full council in 2007.

Mr Valentine, Burnbank, Bridge of Earn, said: “The only way in which golfers have been able to complain has been through the columns of the Perthshire Advertiser.

“This has proved highly successful and over 1,000 local people signed a petition in one morning against the building of the bridge.

“Needless to say, not a single councillor, or council employee, was available to receive the petition. No doubt this is the council's interpretation of democracy in action.

“The comment by Councillor Lorraine Caddell that they were 'only moving a little flag' was the final straw for already irate and disgruntled golfers.

“It shows that councillors are totally out of touch with local opinion, know nothing about golf, and have failed to visit the site of their proposed vandalism of the golf course.

“Local golfers are now hoping that the public and other golfers throughout Perthshire will help by objecting in writing when the council seeks planning approval for their latest fiasco!

“The councillors concerned are hell-bent on building this bridge simply because there is public money available, despite the fact that it is only for use by a handful of cyclists and ramblers.

“This is simply a monument to their own vanity and the final cost of it is anybody's guess!”

Meanwhile, Ian Brown, a Perth Artisans Golf Club member, has called for the bridge to be relocated to open up Moncreiffe Island.