Battle against plan to expand A9 on historic grounds
Campaigners are voicing their concerns at a local public inquiry on the suggested dualling of the road at Killiecrankie battlefield
A local public inquiry into an upgrade to A9 at the site of the Battle of Killicrankie will be heard today.
The Highland Perthshire battlefield is the site of a Jacobite uprising against government forces back in the 17th century.
An expansion to the road is part of a 3 billion-pound project to improve the route between Perth and Inverness.
Opponents to the expansion at the historic site will have their say later at the local public inquiry in Pitlochry.
James Rattray, Chairman of Soldiers of Killiecrankie, said "“We have received lots of messages of support from within and outside Scotland. Many people express their disappointment that Scotland does not look after its heritage.”
“We are not against the dualling of the A9. There are better choices available to Transport Scotland that will preserve the heart of Killiecrankie Battlefield for future generations.”
“It appears that Transport Scotland has chosen this route purely from an engineering and cost perspective, with little or no regard for battlefield preservation.”
The Battle of Killiecrankie was the bloodiest battle in the entire Jacobite saga, with at least 2,100 dead from 5,400 soldiers.
It was the first battle of the Jacobite wars, taking place in 1689, with the saga ending with the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
A spokesperson from Transport Scotland said: “We are aware of the sensitivities around what is an important battlefield, and site of historical and cultural significance, which is why we have been engaging extensively with the local community and key stakeholders since 2012.
“Having published draft Orders for the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry scheme in November 2017, we made a number of design refinements to reduce land take on the battlefield site following feedback from Historic Environment Scotland and the local community.
“Ultimately, following detailed consideration of all objections made but not withdrawn, the Reporter will provide recommendations to the Scottish Ministers for their determination.
“We are working hard to deliver our ambitious programme to dual the A9 which when complete will bring many benefits to local communities, businesses, visitors and road users living, travelling and working along the route. These include reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability and, crucially, improve road safety for all users.”
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