Letter dated 24 August 2015

Dear Sir

A977 Signage and Mitigation Measures

I feel I must respond to the letter of 24/4/15 you wrote to Jim Valentine at Perth and Kinross Council, copied to me by your colleague Gemma Montrose on 31/7/15.

As the local ward Councillor who attended the Public Inquiry in November 2004 into the new Clackmannanshire Bridge when the above issues were raised, I am dismayed that both PKC & Transport Scotland appear to have changed their position on these matters.

Local concerns about the speed and volume of HGV’s on the A977 are well documented and relate to Blairgingone, Powmill and Balado, as well as Crook of Devon; we are well aware of the attractiveness of this route to HGV’s as being a shorter link between the central belt and M90 – hence the demand for alternative signage and mitigation measures.

The request for a review of signage at Gartarry roundabout failed to mention the need for earlier signage on the motorway network at junction 5 (where the M80 leaves the M876) where only Perth is signed for the M9 (when clearly it should also mention Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness).

The A907 has never been suggested, only the A985 and A9 as per Transport Scotland’s previous position. I realise that use of satellite navigation devices by HGV drivers complicates the effectiveness of signage, often negating it and causing significant problems on inappropriate routes; I have raised this matter at the regional transport partnership without success.

It is also clear that you regard the views of Clackmannan and Fife Council’s as paramount over PKC in the protection afforded to their residential amenity. PKC regrettably have changed their position recently on major mitigation measures for the A977 (supported by the Reporter’s Unit and included in our Local Development Plan) rejecting the need for large roundabouts they had argued for at the afore-mentioned public inquiry. Neither the Scottish Government nor PKC appear to have any sympathy or preparedness to address these matters despite numerous representations over the years from the community, including a petition to Parliament. I enclose background correspondence that shows in full light the change in their positions.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Michael Barnacle

Independent Member for Kinross-shire

 

cc        Jim Valentine, PKC

Gemma Montrose, Network Manager, Transport Scotland

Roseanna Cunningham MSP

Councillors Dave Cuthbert, Joe Giacopazzi, Willie Robertson

Kevin Borthwick, Fossoway Community Council

Note for Editor re A977 Mitigation Measures

These communications elicited a disappointing and negative response from both PKC and Transport Scotland.  I had written in July 2014 giving a full history of the situation since 1996 and got nowhere with my request for an outline business case to fund mitigation measures, stated as required in our Local Development Plan.  There is clearly no political will from the SNP administration at Perth to address this issue and I am reluctantly forced to conclude that local members should now lobby for the road to be re-trunked as part of a current review of the strategic road network; I had previously thought that such a course would send the ‘wrong message’ about the suitability of HGV’s increased usage of the road but I now conclude, after consultation with Fossoway and Kinross Community Councils, it is the more likely option to secure funding for the measures needed.  I remain sceptical, however, that the Government will re-trunk the road, preferring to pass the buck to PKC who won’t fund the measures needed either.

Sent on behalf of Councillor Mike Barnacle

Dear John and Jim

I refer to my meeting of 15^th inst. With John and Councillor Giacopazzi, during which we discussed my letter of 18/7/14 and 16/3/15 to Jim and his reply of 8/4/15 re the above.  I was tasked to investigate previous requests for measures, ascertain what might be considered and supported with local ward members, before responding with details for further discussion.

I have examined PKC’s Statement of Case at the Public Local Inquiry (PLI) of November 2004 into the new Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine and the Summary of Proposed Mitigation Measures for the A977 produced, if funding could be secured viz:-

Of the measures proposed and still not implemented by PKC, I would highlight:-

• Large Roundabout at junction of A977/B913 in Blairingone
• Large Roundabout at junction of A977/B9097 in Drum

Both of these above locuses would break up a stretch of road with speeding vehicles, unless other measures can be suggested.  Both could possibly be delivered through development proposals to our LDP review (MIR).

• Large roundabout at MOTO Service Station/Turfhills Roads Depot junctions with A977 – to be delivered through a planning permission of 22/6/11?

NB  At the last LDP preparation, a large roundabout in Powmill at junction of A977/A823 was suggested as part of a Masterplan for the village, rejected by the Reporter (who did support mitigation, however).

• Improved access for cyclists and pedestrians across M90 interchange – I endorsed a proposal that this area should be subject of special study by Scottish Executive and PKC.

I personally proposed at the PLI the following, still not provided viz:-

• Speed Cameras between Blairingone and Kinross (we await a timescale from Chic Haggart for variable message signing).
• Crossing Point (signs/studs) for millennium footpath at western end of Crook of Devon.
• Enhanced measures at bend opposite village hall in Crook of Devon (currently with Daryl McKeown).
• Improve anti-skid surfacing on A977.
• At Balado, improve signage for Balado/Crossroads, provide safe crossing facilities for cyclists/pedestrians, introduce a 50mph speed limit from west of crossroads to new 40mph limit at Turfhills (still not implemented despite PKC agreement).

I would be obliged for road officer comment/research into funding of the above, prior to a further meeting.

Kind regards

Councillor Mike Barnacle

Independent Member for Kinross-shire

The following letter was written by Councillor Mike Barnacle to Jim Valentine at PKC on 16 March 2015.

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Dear Jim

Need for ‘Major’ Mitigation Measures and Lack of PKC Funding for A977 (The Forgotten Road)

I refer to my letter of 18 July 2014 regarding the above enclosed, which remains my definitive position on this matter.  I note that I never received a formal response to the points in my letter and my request for a meeting of all those circulated was not actioned.  The lack of a response from the Leader of the minority SNP administration and the Convener of Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee reinforces my view that there is no political will to address this matter, which remains a priority for the people of the villages in West Kinross-shire that I represent.

I also enclose my email of 13 November 2014 on this matter, asking you to note that Peter Marshall has confirmed to me that the level of housing development in the countryside around Crook of Devon and Powmill to justify the major engineering undertaking of by-passes would be contrary to Tayplan.  He also informs me that the cost of proper engineering/surveying for appropriate by-pass lines is significant.

The A977 Route Study, provided at the hugely disappointing meeting with local ward members on 27 February 2015 and discussed then, invites further comment viz:

The study makes no mention of PKC’s Statement of Case at the Public Inquiry in November 2004 into the new Clackmannanshire Bridge or the 2009 petition to the Scottish Government signed by over 1100 residents and now reinforced by Paragraph 7.1.18 of our adopted Local Development Plan (LDP) of 3 February 2014, likewise the Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee Report of 18 October 2006 is ignored; all of which supported the case for the large roundabouts I made the continuing case for in my letter.  The study also omits reference to the preferred routes stated by Transport Scotland of the A9 or A985 for HGV’s or the status of the A977 as strategic at times of Forth Road Bridge closure to HGV’s in bad weather.  No reference is made to the number of fuel tankers using the road from Grangemouth refinery to access the M90 when there is only on filling station between Gartarry Roundabout and the Turfhills Service Station.  There have been two major accidents involving tankers in Drum that had major repercussions for residents referred to in my letter and you have been made aware of the tanker crash in Powmill of 4 March 2015 since our meeting.

Has the author of the study seen my letter of 18 July 2014?

I have noted that Councillor Cuthbert had produced a table from figures supplied by the Roads Department which clearly shows that the A977 carries the highest number of HGV’s than any other ‘A’ road for which PKC are responsible and I enclose this.

This ‘incomplete’ A977 Route study fails to acknowledge local perception on HGV traffic and seeks to justify the conclusion that the hitherto agreed major mitigation measures cannot be considered for priority capital funding at this time, in my view it, mistakenly, firmly places residential amenity for the villages that straddle this road as secondary in importance to the demands of the freight industry.

Whilst I accept that by-passes would obviously reduce the impact of HGV’s on the villages and are justifiable in the longer term per Charles Haggart’s email of 3 March 2015 enclosed; if PKC are unwilling to budget for the roundabouts they have previously agreed are required (estimated at £1.5 million in 2009), would they please explain to me how they are proposing to fund by-passes?  What local members are being offered is a ‘do-minimus option’ of belatedly approaching Transport Scotland on signage (long requested), the provision of side-entry gullies in the villages in 2015/16, as previously requested by me and vehicle activated speed signage (proposed by the Independent Group in failed discourse with other political groups during the recent budget process).

In the Composite Capital Budget 2015-2023 (the time period that guides development for Perth and Kinross in our LDP), it states that the Prudential Code requires PKC to set a budget ‘to meet local needs and priorities’ in the most cost effective manner (Para 1.2 of 12 February 2015 Report), it further proposes that each Service is invited to submit outline business cases (OBC’s) up to the value of £10 million per annum for 2020/23 by February 2016 and to fully review and update the criteria (Paras 3.8 and 3.9).

I therefore re-state the case for an OBC for the A977 to be re-commenced now, focussing on short and longer term solutions for this forgotten road, hoping my fellow ward councillors will support same.

Yours sincerely

 

Cllr Michael Barnacle

Independent Member for Kinross-shire

Enc

cc        Charles Haggart (Traffic and Network Manager)

Peter Marshall, Strategy and Policy Manager

Daryl McKeown, Traffic and Network

John Symon, Head of Finance

PKC Ward Councillors (Kinross-shire) Dave Cuthbert, Joe Giacopazzi, Willie Robertson

Fossoway and Kinross Community Councils