Residents of two Perthshire villages have received word that work to clear land and fell trees along the route of the planned Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) is set to get under way this week.
Perth and Kinross Council’s principle contractor for the £118 million pound project BAM Nuttall posted notes through doors in Luncarty and Scone informing householders of the upcoming work last week.
The notes say sub-contractor MW Groundworks will be felling trees in areas like Bertha Woods, the Highfield Plantation and the west and east banks of the River Tay, where the new crossing is planned to be built, until the end of February.
“This work will be carried out in localised areas throughout the proposed route of the new link road,” the notes say. “Every effort will be made to minimise disturbance, however the works will involve the use of heavy plant and equipment.
“Safety and control measures will be put in place using signage, exclusion zones and supervision.”
The notes also advise residents another BAM Nuttall sub-contractor, GUARD Archaeology, will be carrying out archaeological investigations in a number of locations along the new road’s route between the A9 south of Luncarty and the A94 north of Scone over the next six months.
PKC said last week its “significant investment” in building the CTLR “will unlock key development land” to the north of Perth “as well as redirect unnecessary traffic from the city centre”.
BAM Nuttall’s project director William Diver said of the upcoming preparatory works: “This first stage of preparation marks the start of a major project to deliver infrastructure that will significantly improve traffic flows in Perthshire.”
And PKC leader councillor Murray Lyle remarked: “The CTLR is an important part of delivering on our ambitions for Perth city and the wider region.
“On completion it will deliver major benefits for residents through reduced pollution and carbon output and will allow us to make active travel and environmental improvements to the city centre to support residents and visitors alike.”
However, residents in Scone have reacted with dismay to the planned works with some hastily arranging a public procession through the woods north of the village last weekend where trees are going to be felled to mark how much the area means to them.
The same group asked their local minister to bless the land before BAM Nuttall’s sub-contractors started their operations in the area.
Scone and District Community Council chair Vanessa Shand told the PA: “We recognise that in the main this is a plantation and a working woodland.
“Unfortunately no one told the red squirrels, buzzards, fox, dear, pine martens frogs, rabbits, numerous species of birds etc that live in the
woods.”
Ms Shand added the community council was “disappointed” local residents were only notified of the preparatory works the week before they were due to commence.
She noted: “Residents were not notified of these works commencing until January 20 via a hand-delivered note through their doors, when it was far too late to do
anything.”
