MURDO & IAN DEMAND PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL APOLOGY OVER ROAD CLOSURES FOR CYCLE EVENT

23/04/2007

Scottish Conservative Candidate for North Tayside Murdo Fraser and Council Candidate for Highland Perthshire Ian Campbell have hit out at SNP/Liberal Democrat-controlled Perth & Kinross Council for not consulting with the local community before announcing road closures for the Etape Caledonia Cycle Event which will take place on 24 June.  Murdo and Ian are calling on Perth & Kinross Council to apologise to the local communities that will be affected by the road closures for not consulting with them.

Murdo has received a number of written complaints from residents and local groups on the issue.  Furthermore, while out canvassing in Aberfeldy and Pitlochry, many local residents raised the issue with Murdo and Ian and they are angry at the lack of public consultation before the Council announced road closures for the cycle event.

Commenting, Murdo said:

“I find it extremely disappointing that Perth & Kinross Council did not consult with local communities before going ahead and announcing road closures throughout Highland Perthshire for the Etape Caledonia Cycle Event, which will take place in June.

“Perth & Kinross Council has effectively decided to put up a number of road blocks throughout Highland Perthshire.  These road closures will cause major disruption in Highland Perthshire, to the extent that many people will be virtual prisoners in their own homes for a large part of the day and many local businesses will suffer financially.  Also, many local Churches will have their Sunday Service disrupted as members of their congregation will not be able to attend due to the road closures. Furthermore, this is one of the busiest times of the year for our local farmers yet they are faced with not being able to get to their fields and carry out their work.

“With so much disruption, I believe that when decisions such as road closures are to be taken by a Council, the council must first fully inform and consult with the local communities that will affected and then devise a plan that the local community can agree on.”

Ian Campbell commented:

“I believe that Perth & Kinross Council must fulfil their duty and fully consult with the local communities that will be affected by the road closures.  The vast majority of local residents want to have this cycle event take place in Highland Perthshire and I welcome the event to Highland Perthshire as it will be a boost to the local economy.  However, people are understandably annoyed with Perth & Kinross Council for not involving the local community on how best to plan for the Etape Caledonia.  I want Perth & Kinross Council to apologise to the local communities and work with local groups and residents to work out a strategy that will allow the Etape Caledonia Cycle Event to be a major success while causing as little disruption as possible to the communities that will be affected.”