Transport Scotland has revealed more detail about a planned active travel route as part of the A9 Dualling programme, confirming that its preferred option is to keep the route broadly alongside the existing alignment rather than diverting users onto alternative routes.
The information, released in response to an Environmental Information Regulations request, explains how five different alignments were assessed before engineers settled on the preferred option for the walking, wheeling and cycling section between Birnam Junction and Dunkeld & Birnam Station north of Perth
In response to a question about the provision of walking, cycling and horse-riding facilities along the A9, Transport Scotland said:
“Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held), the Scottish Government is not required to provide information which it does not have. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested because we do not hold a separate or stand alone capital cost estimate for the proposed WCH provision between the B867 and Dunkeld & Birnam Station.
“This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about the estimated cost of the proposed WCH provision, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.
“The design of the WCH provision between the B867 and Dunkeld & Birnam Station has predominately been accommodated within the verge of the dualled A9 carriageway. As such, the verge width required to accommodate the WCH provision would be necessary regardless of whether dedicated WCH facilities were included or not. Consequently, the cost estimate for the WCH provision at this location is included within the overall scheme cost estimate for the dual carriageway and a separated cost breakdown is not available for all items.”
The full text of the FOI request and the Transport Scotland response can be viewed HERE.
(Picture: Transport Scotland)
