We have reached a landmark in the plan to dual the A9 road at Killiecrankie battlefield. All non-statutory objectors comprising many KilliecrAnkie1689 supporters have finally received official confirmation that a public local inquiry is to be held.

Only professionals with a knowledge of planning will know what this entails. Essentially, an investigator – in this case called a Reporter – has been appointed to deal with all the objections that still stand. Thanks in large part to KilliecrAnkie1689 supporters, there are possibly 150 of these.

KilliecrAnkie1689 is not withdrawing its objection and wishes to participate in the Inquiry. Those who wish to continue to support us have 3 options:

  • For those who do not want to withdraw objections but have nothing else to add, sit tight and do nothing.
  • For those who do not want to become involved with an Inquiry but have additional concerns since submitting an objection, they need to send a further letter to the case officer of the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA), detailing those concerns before 15 August 2019.
  • For those who wish to participate in an Inquiry, they must send a letter outlining the issues they wish to raise before 15 August 2019. This would be a very brief summary of the broad topics that they wish to be considered. It can include additional concerns that have emerged since submitting the original objection.

KilliecrAnkie1689 intends submitting an outline of the issues that we wish to raise at an Inquiry. The Reporter will consider these at a pre-Inquiry meeting. The date and venue are yet to be announced. After that the Reporter will decide what arrangements are to be made for an Inquiry including the topics that will be reviewed and who will be raising the topics.

KilliecrAnkie1689 is in favour of upgrading the A9 but continues to oppose the Refined Scheme that still lacks proof that it is the best plan for the battlefield. The latest scheme has also generated a host of new problems that the local community dare not ignore even though various statutory and non-statutory advisors have chosen to remain silent. 
Scotland once aspired to be seen as an international exemplar of how a small country can care for its historic environment. This scheme betrays that aspiration. No one relishes the prospect of an Inquiry. However, it is the only way we have to examine the opaque process and decisions that informed the choice of design and alignment of the proposed scheme.