Go to downloads

Meeting Cancelled - Thursday 26th March 
The A9 Community Group meeting on Thursday 26th March in the Duchess Anne Hall will not take place because of the Coronavirus situation.
If we are able to meet in April it will be on Thursday 30th April at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm.  All Welcome!  
And the May meeting, we hope, which will also be our AGM, on Thursday 28th May at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 26th March in the Duchess Anne Hall, 7.30pm.
All Welcome!
We hope very much that by then we will know from Transport Scotland the results of the DMRB Stage 2 Assessment of the Community Preferred Route and the related additional design options. We will of course issue email updates as and when necessary. If you would like to get these and are not yet on the Community Group mailing list, see below.
Further to the presentation of the results of the series of workshops at the January CG meeting (see also the report in the February “Bridge”), a summary presentation will be given at the next meeting of the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council on Monday 9th March.

There is a display with background information on the “Community Preferred Route” at Birnam Arts, on the wall in the Dance and Drama Studio upstairs.
More detailed information from TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/projectdetails/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator
01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 27th February at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm. All Welcome!
The series of workshops on Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing which Community Group representatives started on 31st October
with Transport Scotland/Jacobs (TS/J) concluded on 8th January, making six in total. A full report was made at the 30th January Community Group meeting and is available online and by email (see below if you want to be on the CG email list). The agreed purpose of the workshops was that – following on from discussions about our “Closing the Gap “ paper (see earlier Bridge and online) - we would together aim to:
• better understand and discuss TS/J concerns about the Community Preferred Route (CPR) and mitigation possibilities;
• examine the) TS/J additional design options (from their March and May 2019 exhibits, as well as the CPR, in relation to the Community Objectives;
• get a better understanding of the reasons/rationales for the additional proposals by TS/J
• discuss refinement of these and/or further design options, including the 450m cut and cover tunnel (not included in the 2019 exhibits but agreed later by TS/J to be assessed)
Process: three workshops dealt with specific locations: Birnam/Murthly Estate junctions (preceded by an overview of the CPR); Dunkeld junction; and D and B Station access/A9 road level. The others covered follow up to items from the first three (in particular, new design options proposed by the CG); Environmental Assessment process and issues for the whole route; recap summary of engineering issues; and review of the CPR and additional design options in light of the Community Objectives and TS objectives for the A9 dualling.
The first workshop was felt to be successful and the other ones followed the same format (participants around a big table with large scale maps on), each running for three hours or more, with arrangements including refreshments made by TS. The CG representatives (between 6 and 10 each time) were encouraged by the openness of the TS/Jacobs team, led by well prepared Jacobs engineers who had been involved in the Co- Creative Process, and the collaborative and productive discussions which ensued with unpressured time.
An early key learning point for the CG was that the reasoning behind the additional design options as comparators to the Community Preferred Route (put on, or back on, the table last year) appears clearer. As a matter of due process TS are required to show Ministers that proposed junctions/routes can be compared to something in order to be selected. This process appears now to be less threatening than it did at the time of the TS/J exhibits last spring. The presence of an additional option eg at Dunkeld junction does not automatically mean that is is thought to be better than the design voted for in the CPR.
Throughout the workshops the CG participants kept clear the views of the community, as identified by the Community Preferred Route (CPR) option: in particular dualling the section past Birnam through a tunnel which would lower the A9, allowing the  station to be reconnected to Birnam via Station road for access and parking and for pedestrians and cyclists; the lowered A9 continuing to a roundabout at the Dunkeld junction.
CG participants strongly maintained the position that the CPR represents the best option, with the maximum benefits and the minimum negative impacts. None of the additional options presented by TS/Jacobs meet the Community Objectives as fully as the CPR.
One of the alternatives presented last March is to replace the current A9 with an 'at grade' dual carriageway passing Birnam. This would remove the station car park and would likely require a grade separated Dunkeld junction. A lift and underpass would provide access from the station to Station Road. The CG participants were clear in pointing out that this would not meet the Community Objectives as expressed in the Co-Creative Process. TS/Jacobs are now tasked with presenting the CPR and alternatives in a DMRB Stage 2 Assessment Report and Recommendation to the Cabinet Secretary early in 2020.
While we wait for more clarity on the new timetable, and when we will have sight of the report and recommendation, the CG will continue to present and advocate for the clear advantages, in relation to the Community Objectives, of the Community Preferred Route and its components, and the disadvantages of additional options tables by TS/Jacobs.

There is a display with background information on the “Community Preferred Route” at Birnam Arts, on the wall in the Dance and Drama Studio upstairs. More detailed information from TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator
01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 30th January at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm. All Welcome!
Note: If an additional Community Group meeting is needed during December this will be notified by email and on facebook.
We had a useful series of workshops with Transport Scotland/Jacobs (TS/J) during November and will have reported on these at the end November Community Group meeting as well as by email to the group mailing list.
Overall, the intention was that during these – following on from discussions about our “Closing the Gap “ paper - we would together aim to:
- better understand and discuss TS/J concerns about the Community Preferred Route and mitigation
possibilities;
- examine the present (March and May 2019) TS/J additional design route/ options (as well as the CPR)
in relation to the Community Objectives;
- get a better understanding of the reasons/rationales for those additional proposals by TS/J
- discuss refinement of these and/or further design options (including the 450m cut and cover tunnel)
There is a display with background information on the “Community Preferred Route” at Birnam Arts, on the wall in the Dance and Drama Studio upstairs.
More detailed information from TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-ofbirnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email:  dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361
Dualling of A9: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig
There is to be a Public Local Enquiry about the dualling proposals for this section. All of the documents relating to this are on a laptop computer up on the mezzanine level at Birnam Arts and available at this link: https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?ID=120312

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 28th November at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm. All Welcome
Summary: On 1st October we met Transport Scotland/Jacobs to discuss our “Closing the Gap” paper. We agreed to have workshops to look together both at TS’s additional design/route ideas from March/May and possible variant improvements to them, starting end October.
The draft ‘Closing the Gap’ strategy which we shared with Transport Scotland at the end of August following the visit of the Cabinet Secretary was discussed at a meeting with them and Jacobs on 1st October. It was quite difficult as TS did not at first appear to understand the “gap” issue. We highlighted the poor consultation at the time of the March and May exhibits which did not compare well with the level of consultation/participation/feedback generated through the Co-Creative process last year.
We highlighted in particular the risk that the community will end up with a route design for Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing that was not the one voted for in June 2018, which people were not properly consulted on, which might not align well with the Community Objectives, and which might be the outcome of a DMRB2 process that was not completely transparent.
TS agreed to consider having some workshops, requested by the Community Group representatives and the result, after followup correspondence and a working group meeting on 21st Oct was an agreement to start a series of workshops at the end of October/early Nov. The intention is to look together both at TS’s additional design/route ideas from March/May, to understand better their reasons for proposing them (and their concerns about the Community Preferred Route); and to look together at possible variant improvements to them, with a view to agreeing better alternatives (if needed!).
We hope that the first of these workshops will have taken place on 31st October (and reported on at that evening’s Community Group meeting) and that the outcomes from them all – positive, we hope! – will be reported at the end November CG meeting.
We will continue to give updates by email and do hope to see as many of you as possible on the 28th.
There is a display with background information on the “Community Preferred Route” at Birnam Arts, on the wall in the Dance and Drama Studio upstairs.
More detailed information from TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-ofbirnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

Dualling of A9: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig
There is to be a Public Local Enquiry about the dualling proposals for this section. All of the documents relating to this are on a laptop computer up on the mezzanine level at Birnam Arts and available at this link: https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?ID=120312

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 31st October at Birnam Arts, 7.30pm.  All Welcome!  
Summary: Following a productive meeting which Community Group representatives had with Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson on 31st July, further meetings with Transport Scotland/Jacobs have taken place and were reported on and discussed at the August and September A9 Community Group meetings. We have drafted a “Closing the Gap” strategy for discussion, and a Local Economy Assessment has started.
After a somewhat quiet summer, things are starting to step up again with our work on the A9 Dualling Programme. So, we thought it would be a good time to give you all a run down of what’s been happening!
Transport Scotland’s Exhibitions in March and May this year, showed for the first time, other route design options that are now being assessed alongside the Community’s Preferred Route (as voted on in June 2018). The Community Group’s opinion survey at the March event showed a marked decline in confidence in the design process and a number of concerns within the community. With a good turnout at our AGM in June, we discussed the outcomes and feedback from the exhibitions, as well as the ongoing process and relations with Transport Scotland.
To act on the growing feeling of unease within the community, we met with Transport Scotland to explain our concerns about the process, communications and community engagement.
We also, after some rescheduling, met with Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, on 31st July to review events and process following the Co-Creative Process – see notes here. This was a really constructive meeting  (which included a walk together up to the station), in which the Cabinet Secretary acknowledged the concerns we had and explained that he too wanted to avoid a confrontational planning situation and would like to see a final route design that is mutually agreeable.
Mr Matheson suggested that Transport Scotland and the community work together to ‘close the gap’ and ‘create space’ for further dialogue and negotiation.
So, this is where we are at now. We have created a draft strategy which we have shared with Transport Scotland to establish steps to ‘close the gap’ between the current set of route options being assessed and the Community’s Objectives for a positive A9 Dualling outcome. This was discussed further at the August and September Community Group meetings and is the main agenda item for further meetings with Transport Scotland.
In the meantime, a Local Economy Assessment is under way, led by Jacobs and Professor John Lennon of the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development. Given the breadth of new information now out there on the route options begin assessed, the DMRB 2 process and the Local Economy Assessment we are working on producing some FAQs and “help sheets” to present all of this in more accessible chunks – keep an eye for these on email, Facebook and also at our display in Birnam Arts. (This is on the wall in the Dance and Drama Studio at the time of writing; we are grateful to Alex Kettles for preparing it.)
We will continue to give updates by email and do hope to see as many of you as possible on the 31st.
More detailed information from TS is available at:
https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and to have your details added (or removed from) our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie,  
Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 26th September at Birnam Arts, at 7.30pm. All Welcome!
Further to the productive meeting which Community Group representatives had with Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson on 31st July, further meetings with Transport Scotland/Jacobs took place during August and were reported on and discussed at the August A9 Community Group meeting.
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 25th July at Birnam Arts, at 7.30pm.
All Welcome!
And Thurs 29th August, same place, time and welcome!
The AGM of the Community Group was held on 13th June at Birnam Arts. Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator, gave a review of the year’s activities and thanked everyone from the Core Group and the wider CG  for their involvement and support over another very busy year of progress, achievement and also new issues and concerns. A summary of his report will be posted in Bridge online and also circulated to all on the CG email list (see below if you want to be on the list) along with the other AGM business.
Alasdair Wylie, Mike Wolfe and Ken Davis were re-elected to the positions of Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator and Treasurer respectively. The position of Secretary remains vacant and we’ll be very glad to hear from anyone interested in helping on that front.
The AGM was followed by an interesting and full discussion on a number of related topics arising from the year’s activities, particularly the March and May exhibits by Transport Scotland/Jacobs, and the present situation. The Core Group had had a meeting on 30th May with TS and Jacobs  representatives, the first since the end of the formal Co-Creative process last July and had put to them a number of questions and concerns including the basis for reintroducing design options rejected during the Co-Creative process; communications problems; issues with the TS consultation feedback report and the results of the CG opinion survey; feedback from stakeholder organizations; local business/economy matters; and the nature of the assessment process from now on.
It was agreed that there would be further meetings, the first of which took place on 18th June and a schedule agreed for at least three more in late July and August. These will focus on route appraisal/assessment issues (which will likely need more than one session), local business/economy issues, communication issues and others to be decided. If anyone is interested in participating in any of these, please do get in touch.
Unfortunately the Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson was not able to make his planned visit on 5th June because of urgent parliamentary business; we are working with his office on an alternative date after his July holiday.
We will continue to give updates by email and do hope to see as many of you as possible on the 25th.
More detailed information from TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/projectdetails/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting, and our AGM, will be on Thursday 13th June at Birnam Arts, at 7.30pm. All Welcome! Refreshments!
There’s been a lot happening in the last couple months, in particular the drop in exhibits by Transport Scotland/Jacobs in March and May which have generated much discussion. We’ll be reviewing all this together and reporting back on subsequent meetings with TS about the process and, we hope, reporting on a visit that we expect Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson will be making on 5th June to learn for himself about the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing dualling issues.
We do hope to see as many of you as possible on the 13th.
More detailed information om TS is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 25th April, Birnam Arts, 730pm. Please note change of venue. All welcome!
We now have a display of the Community Preferred Route at Birnam Arts, including information on the Community Objectives etc, on the wall upstairs in the quiet area. There are post-its there should folk want to make suggestions or ask questions.
We do hope that as many folk as possible were able to attended the Transport Scotland/Jacobs public consultation exhibition on 26th and Wed 27th March. For those who couldn’t manage or want to look again, all of the exhibition information is now on the TS A9 dualling website and will be open to comment until after the holiday period.
https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/
As well as the visualization and related information on the Community Preferred Route (CPR) voted for last June, certain information about an alternative or “comparator” route option may have been on display. As discussed in the Co-Creative Steering Group in late 2017, TS are required to show this to Ministers as well, particularly if there are aspects of the CPR which depart from the design standards which would normally be used on the A9 dualling, and that this would be done in a transparent way.
Two points are of importance just now:
1.We have made it clear to TS that this transparency has to involve an agreed process of community engagement for the consideration of a comparator alternative; the exhibition may have been a start to that process.
2. The exhibition, as well as providing feedback to the community on the assessment of the CPR, is part of a continuing consultation; following it TS/Jacobs are doing further assessment based on comments etc received at and after the exhibition. They may well come back to the community again before submitting anything to Ministers.
We will continue to give updates on this by email as well as on our facebook page and Bridge online (contact details below). If you are not yet on the A9 Community Group email list and would like to be, please contact us at dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.comor to have your details added to our mailing list; also, at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

Some notable developments!
We have now heard from Transport Scotland/Jacobs that their public consultation exhibition about the Community Preferred Route will take place at Birnam Arts on Tues 26th and Wed 27th March, from 11am to 9pm each day (see poster).  The exhibition information will also be on the Transport Scotland website from the Tuesday. 
Because the week before the holidays is a busy one for many folk we are working with them to ensure that the consultation/feedback period runs until after the holidays. The Core Group met with TS/Jacobs representatives yesterday, on Mon 11th, to discuss the exhibition and their presentation of the buildability of the Community Preferred Route.
A reminder that the next regular meeing of the A9 Community Group will be on Thursday 28th March, 730pm at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel.  This will provide an immediate opportunity to talk together about the consultation exhibition and we do hope for a big turnout.
We have also heard that the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson MSP, will make a visit to meet Community Group representatives to learn about the co-creative process and the Community Preferred Route, and to see this section of the A9 for himself. We are in discussion with his office about the date, hoping that it will be as soon as possible.
Further to the welcome news of a £500 microgrant from the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council, we are very happy to report our successful application to the Perth and Kinross Council Community Investment Fund for Strathtay Ward. Subject to formal approval by a Council committee, the award of £ 3440 for the period up to end September 2019 will enable us to continue to hold periodic community led engagement/drop in events and to have a part time Project Assistant to support the Community Group's administrative and communications activities.  A particular focus of this funding will be to strengthen our community engagement work and address "inequality of participation" especially with those who have not yet been able to participate fully because of social/transport isolation and mental health issues, while doing more to engage young people.

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 28th March,  Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.  All welcome!
At the time of writing we were still waiting for confirmation of the date of the Transport Scotland/Jacobs public exhibition of feedback on their assessment and consultation regarding the Community Preferred Route from the co-creative process.  Perhaps by the time you read this we’ll know.
For ease of reference, detailed information on the Community Preferred Route, as voted for last June , including the “fly-through” visualization is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/project-details/#50754
Funding:  We are grateful to the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council for a further microgrant to cover the Group’s routine meeting and other continuing costs.
Tay Crossing to Ballinluig:  Transport Scotland has replied to the Group’s formal objection to the proposed design of the new junction at Rotmell, which will not allow any traffic which goes up the old A9 to go north there; it will have to come through Dunkeld and across the Telford Bridge instead, adding to the traffic including HGVs - including environmental impact - which already does. Transport Scotland have said that they will not modify the new Rotmell junction design.
Luncarty to Pass of Birnam:  Work preparing for the dualling of this stretch is well under way. The main responsibility for keeping communities informed about the work including speed restrictions and diversions lies with Transport Scotland and the main contractor Balfour Beatty, but we and the Community Council will help to pass on new information as and when we can.   We hope to learn as much as we can from the dualling of this stretch, as well as Tay Crossing to Ballinluig in due course, to make our preparation and engagement for the construction phase of Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing as productive as possible.
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com to have your details added to our mailing list;
also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator  01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 28th February, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm. All welcome!
Thanks again to the 100 or so folk who came to the "Big Decide" event in November. Those dropping in were able to see and discuss details of the Community Preferred Route for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing – also shown on a big screen “fly-through” visualisation which was very popular. Since last August Jacobs have been meeting with those living closest to the line of the Route as well as doing further assessment of how to build it, preparatory to presenting to Scottish Ministers for consideration. We now expect that Transport Scotland and Jacobs will hold a public exhibition towards the end of February to give feedback on their assessment of the Route and consultation work. It’s a bit later than originally expected but will be a very important step towards getting Ministerial approval. Then, on with the more detailed planning of the Route including associated pathways, cycleways, green bridges etc with plenty of opportunities for everyone to continue to be involved.
More detailed information on the Community Preferred Route, including the “fly-through” visualization is available at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-tay-crossing/projectdetails/#50754 50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.comor to have your details added to our mailing list; also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361
Glen Garry to Crubenmore sections
Two adjoining sections of the A9 Dualling programme are the location for further ground investigations starting next Tuesday (15 January). The work will take place on the Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore stretches of the A9 and is expected to last around three months. Some traffic management measures will be required when necessary to allow work on or near the carriageway to be carried out safely. This will include alternate single file traffic sections controlled by temporary traffic signals. The Contractor will continue to monitor traffic and take steps when necessary to ensure delays are kept to a minimum.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The first dualling scheme between Kincraig and Dalraddy has now been operating for some time and construction of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section is due to start soon.
“At the same time, design work on the A9 Dualling programme continues at pace with eight of the nine remaining dualling schemes being designed now at draft Order stage.
“The latest ground investigations starting next Tuesday for two schemes totalling 13 miles along with other GI continuing on other sections after the holiday break is tangible evidence of the work going on to deliver this ambitious programme.
“We apologise for any inconvenience these works will cause and would thank road users and local communities in advance for their patience during the works. The contractor will closely monitor the operation of the traffic management measures to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.
“While we do not expect major disruption to traffic, we would ask drivers to plan their journeys in advance using the Traffic Scotland website, twitter feed or Traffic Scotland radio.”
Contact: Steven Carmichael
steven.carmichael@transport.gov.scot | Transport Scotland | 01412727196 | 07775853185

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 24th January, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
All welcome!
Thanks to everyone who came to the "Big Decide" event in November. We hope that by the time of our January meeting we'll have heard about the ministerial decision on the Community Preferred Route and can get on with planning what will surely be a very interesting 2019.
2018 has been just that, and more. It's been momentous and encouraging in so many ways for the A9 dualling project here and we thank everyone in the community who has taken part, in whatever way, and wish you all the best for Christmas and the coming year.
More detailed information is available at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-totay-crossing/project-details/#50754
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com
- and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at Facebook page:
Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361‘The Big Result’ Saturday 24th November 10-2, Duchess Anne Hall, Dunkeld.
Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals.
A number of local residents have asked for information about the result of the "Big Decide" vote in June. The A9 Community Group will host a drop-in event at the Duchess Anne Hall, Saturday 24th November 10am - 2pm for anyone who would like to attend. Plans of the community's preferred route and other material will be available for those of you who were not previously involved, or for those who would like a reminder of the outcome. There will also be opportunities to comment on the Community Objectives following the result and to contribute to non-spatial design ideas for the area around the road.
Next Steps Transport Scotland have recently updated their website with information about the community’s preferred route option and you can view the design factsheets and plans on there now too. https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/a9-pass-of-birnam-to-taycrossing/project-details/#50754
Transport Scotland is doing further assessment and detailed design work and continues to consult with stakeholders who may be directly affected by the community’s preferred route. We are glad to see that Jacobs are now having one-to-one meetings with residents /stakeholders along the route and if anyone along the route hasn’t heard from them, please do get in touch, we're happy to help.
This consultation and design work will be used to inform the Ministers’ decision and it is hoped that the Ministers' decision on the preferred option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing will be made by the end of 2018.
More detailed information is available on our page on "The Bridge" website at: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thurs 25th October at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel 7.30pm. All welcome!
Visit http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/32-communitynews/1022-a9-co-creative-news for the outcome of A9 Co-Creative Stage 5 vote.

Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 25th October, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm. All welcome!
The “Preferred Route Option” for Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Quite a few people are still asking about the result of the “Big Decide” vote. In brief, it was for Route A and Junction 1. Full details are available in the September “Bridge” and online, link
below. Thanks again to everyone who took part!
Next steps: Transport Scotland is doing further assessment on the route selected by the community – bringing this up to the level necessary to inform Ministers when deciding on the preferred option for this section. This includes further engagement with the community – in particular, meeting with landowners along the line of the preferred route and with key stakeholders. It is hoped that the Ministers' decision on the preferred option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing will be made by the end of
2018.
Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: The A9 Community Group has lodged an objection with Transport Scotland because the design of the proposed new junction at Rotmell will not permit traffic to go north from the C502 (old A9) onto the dualled A9 there, and would result in significant additional traffic, including HGVs, through Dunkeld, on the Telford Bridge and at Dunkeld junction, with associated impact on the environment and local economy.
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list,
also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it. or just phone me!
Hope you’ve all had a good summer.
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group - working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals.
Thanks to everyone who came along to the Big Decide on Sat 23rd June. We hope you found it a worthwhile morning.
It marked the culmination of great efforts from the community and the A9 Co-Creative to create a Preferred Route Option for the dualling of the A9 from Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing.
If you haven't already done so, there is still a bit of time left to cast your vote. Everyone's vote will count, and it is vital as many of you vote as possible.
To help you make your decision, visit http://www.a9co-creative.scot, or see the information at Birnam Arts. All votes must be received by midnight on 2nd July.
The "A9 Co-Creative" will officially come to an end in July, once the Preferred Route Option has been sent to Scottish Ministers, however the A9 Community Group is discussing how to continue work with Transport Scotland to get the best for the community during the further stages of the A9 dualling project here.
If you would like to keep up to date with this, please sign up to our email list at dunkelda9workinggroup@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.
We are still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the Community Group’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - also to have your details added to our mailing list if you wish; also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me! Best wishes for 2018! Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 28th June, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
There will be lots to discuss, not only what we’ve achieved so far with the A9 Co-Creative process for Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing but - of course - what follows? All welcome!
The “Big Decide” event on Sat 23rd June at Birnam Arts is the most important yet in this community’s work with Transport Scotland, Jacobs and PAS. We do hope that as many folk as possible can come and take part.
Further information is available on: https://a9co-creative.scot
You can contact us at: email:dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com
- also to have your details added to our mailing list if youwish; and also at facebook page:
Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it.

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 31st May, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
This will also be our AGM and everyone is welcome!
The “A9 Co-Creative” is a partnership process between our community and Transport Scotland, facilitated by PAS, to work together to create a preferred design for the dualling of the A9 between Pass of Birnam (where the present dual carriageway finishes at the bottom of the hill coming from Perth) and Tay Crossing (0.5 km beyond Jubilee Bridge).
Drop In Sessions in March
Thanks to the many people who came to the drop-in sessions in March to see all of the design ideas submitted for the different junctions and the station, and the ideas for possible “offline” routes. Its great that even at this stage new folk are getting involved. It’s not too late!
Stage 4 May Events - Creating the Shortlist Together
The next step in the process is for the community to create short lists of ideas that will be taken to Stage 5. The May events will focus on our Community Objectives and how design ideas for each location might affect our community in different ways, both positively and negatively.
At these, you’ll be given the opportunity to have more in-depth discussion of individual locations and to score your preferred ideas for each of the different junctions and the station. This will directly influence the “Whole Route Options” to be considered at Stage 5. It will also be possible for people to participate in this important stage of the process on the internet.
This is a crucial stage and its important that as many people as possible get involved - a unique opportunity for everyone in the community to contribute to this major infrastructure project that will influence Dunkeld and Birnam community for years to come.
Further information is available on www.A9co-creative.scot
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - also to have your details added to our mailing list if you wish; also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

Dates for your diary:
Birnam Institute Tuesday 1st May: Mainline On-line and Mainline Off-line ideas (4-6 pm and 7-9 pm).
Thursday 3rd May: Birnam Junction and Murthly Estate entrance (4-6 pm and 7-9 pm).
Saturday 5th May: Dalguise Junction (10 am-12 pm).
Saturday 5th May: Dunkeld Junction & The Hermitage (1 -3 pm).
Tuesday 8th May: Dunkeld & Birnam Station (4-6 pm and 7-9 pm).
Wednesday 9th May: Dunkeld Junction and The Hermitage entrance (4–6 pm).
Wednesday 9th May: Open Session (7-9pm) – all locations.

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 31st May, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
This will also be our AGM and everyone is welcome!

As ever, thank you for your continued support with the co-creative process, in particular all who came to the dropin events on 26th and 29th March and all those who came to last month’s outreach events in Amulree, Butterstone, Dalguise, Murthly and Inver. We have been overwhelmed with the response from the community, and the energy that continues to go into participating at all stages.

The “A9 Co-Creative” is a partnership process between our community and Transport Scotland (TS), facilitated by PAS, to work together to create a preferred design for the dualling of the A9 between Pass of Birnam (where the present dual carriageway finishes at the bottom of the hill coming from Perth) and Tay Crossing (0.5 km beyond Jubilee Bridge). The website is www.A9co-creative.scot; it includes a “Frequently asked Questions” section.
Community Group representatives on the project Steering Group have continued to work hard with TS, Jacobs and PAS to design an optimal process for gradually narrowing down the list of ideas in a way which is transparent, consistent with the objectives of the community and of TS, and responsive to community views.
In January, everyone in the community was invited to submit their ideas (over 160!) for the design of the road. Any ideas that weren't a dualling option or were unsafe were removed and duplicates merged. In late March, those remaining ideas – the long list - were on display at Birnam Arts for everyone to see and comment on.

All of the ideas that have been submitted can be tracked online at https://ideas.a9co-creative.scot/. This will be available throughout the process, so you can see which ideas are progressed for further consideration.
The next step is for the community to create a short list of ideas through detailed assessment against our community objectives. Be sure to keep an eye on www.A9Co-Creative.scot for details of forthcoming events where you can let us know which ideas you prefer. These events and chances to comment will also be advertised on local posters etc throughout the process which runs until June, so everyone still has a chance to shape the design of the road. Design ideas and options will be gradually explored, refined and filtered, with community involvement throughout, until we have 3-5 “whole route” options left for consideration in May. An agreed preferred option will be presented to the Cabinet Secretary in June.

We have sent a comprehensive briefing to all members of parliament and councillors for the area and will continue to keep them up to date on the co-creative activities, and have also provided a briefing to representatives of a community group interested in having a co-creative process for the dualling of a section of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.

We are still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the Community Group’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!

You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - also to have your details added to our mailing list if you wish; also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me!

Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

 The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 22nd March, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm. All welcome!
We hit the ground running in 2018 and are very glad that over 100 folk were able to attend the Community Council’s A9 Dualling meeting on the 8th January. Thanks to those who came to the Community Group’s meetings at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel in December and January, and to the CG’s representatives on the project Steering Group for their continued hard work with Transport Scotland, Jacobs and PAS to design the Co-Creative process.
Co-Creative Update
The “A9 Co-Creative” is a partnership process between our community and Transport Scotland, facilitated by PAS, to work together to create a preferred design for the dualling of the A9 between Pass of Birnam (where the present dual carriageway finishes at the bottom of the hill coming from Perth) and Tay Crossing ( 0.5 km beyond Jubilee Bridge).
The “A9 Co-Creative” now has its own website, www.A9Co-Creative.scot with background information and details of planned events.
The Co-Creative road design process started in January with drop in events (including creative workshops for children, facilitated by Children’s Parliament) and a workshop.
The process has five stages, in all of which the community will be involved, which are broadly:
• January: Collect ideas
• February: Build list of options (keeping in all options for dualling that can meet safety standards and pulling together any duplicates)
• March/April: Create a 'long list' of options
• April/May: Select a 'short list' of options
• June 2018: Agree preferred option
Thanks to everyone who came along to the events in January, which gave us the chance to find out more and discuss specific issues with specialist engineers. About 150 people attended three events.
Approximately 150 ideas were submitted at the first stage of the process, a great response, including ideas from children and young people in the area, who were able to take part in special workshops facilitated by the Children's Parliament, and at Breadalbane Academy.
Note: Don’t worry if you didn’t get to one of these. If you had previously given ideas for any part of the road design, for example at “Big Ask” day or earlier, all of these are being included and will be part of the process; and you can use the new website.
All ideas submitted are now being looked at. Any duplicates or unsafe options will be removed, but all others will be presented to the community to view and comment. If you didn't submit an idea, there is still plenty of opportunity to have your say and comment on any design suggestions throughout the process.
One of the most exciting features of the process is that if you have submitted a design idea, you will be able to track it online and find out whether or not it has been taken forward and the reasons for this. This will also be available on the new website (this feature still under development as we write in mid January), so keep an eye on it.
Upcoming ways to get involved are:
• Come along to Birnam Arts for an exhibition, or to drop in events on 26th and 29th March, where you'll be able to discuss all the ideas with specialists from the community, Jacobs and Transport Scotland, and feedback any thoughts you have on the ideas presented.
• Attend any of the outreach drop ins at Dalguise, Inver, Amulree, Murthly and Butterstone (details on www.A9co-creative.scot)
• Request an update for your group or meeting from a CG rep by emailing dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com
• Keep checking the website. All the design ideas are now available online for everyone to view
• Submit any comments to info@A9co-creative.scot
There will be events, activities and chances to comment throughout the process, which runs until June, so everyone still has a chance to shape the design of the road. Design ideas and options will be gradually explored, refined and filtered, with community involvement throughout, until we have 3-5 “whole route” options left for consideration in May.
A final preferred option will be presented to the Cabinet Secretary in June.
Future Community Group Meetings
As there will be many co-creative events and activities going on in the coming months, we will now have CG meetings every second month, planned dates being 22nd March and 31st May. We’ll keep everyone up to date by email of course as well as through our “Bridge” reports.
Further information is available on www.A9co-creative.scot as well as on the “Bridge” website.
We’ve also helped prepare a new version of “Frequently Asked Questions”, available on the new website and “Bridge” online,
We are still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the Community Group’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - also to have your details added to our mailing list if you wish; also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me! Best wishes for 2018!
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

We’ve hit the ground running in 2018 and are very glad that over 100 folk were able to attend the Community Council’s A9 Dualling meeting on the 8th January. Thanks to those who came to the Community Group’s meetings at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel in December and January, and to the CG’s representatives on the project Steering Group for their continued hard work with Transport Scotland, Jacobs and PAS to design the Co-Creative process.
At the December CG meeting we presented the Community Objectives, the results of the very well attended “Big Ask” day at the Duchess Anne on 11th November (thanks again to all who came!)  
Community Objectives
As a reminder, our final summary objectives for the dualling project are:
•    Health, Noise and Wellbeing: Reduce noise and pollution
•    Landscape and Environment: Protect and enhance the distinctive landscape and natural heritage of the area.
•    Safety: Provide safe access to and from the A9 and improve safety on village roads
•    Local Economy: Promote sustainable local economic growth
•    Active Travel and Recreation: Improve provision for cycling and walking
•    Public Transport: Bus services and train services are maintained and improved
•    Historic Environment: Preserve and enhance historical features, including the railway station.
These will be available at all community events, as they inform the whole process, alongside the Transport Scotland objectives. The detailed objectives were emailed to everyone on the CG list; please let us know if you’d like a copy sent.
Future Community Group Meetings
As there will be many co-creative events and activities going on in the coming months, we propose that we change to having CG meetings every second month, with planned dates being 22nd March and 31st May. We’ll keep everyone up to date by email of course as well as through our “Bridge” reports.
Community Engagement Facilitator
One condition of the appointment of PAS as facilitator for the Co-Creative process was that the Community Group would select a community engagement facilitator who would be included in the PAS team. Hazel Allen of Athena Solutions has being appointed to this role, working with her associates Fiona Chalmers and Richard Heggie.
Co-Creative Update
The “A9 Co-Creative” is a partnership process between our community and Transport Scotland to work together to create a preferred design for the dualling of the A9 between Pass of Birnam (where the present dual carriageway finishes at the bottom of the hill coming from Perth) and Tay Crossing (0.5 km beyond Jubilee Bridge).
The Co-Creative road design process started in January with drop in events (including creative workshops for children, facilitated by Children’s Parliament) and a workshop
The process has five stages, in all of which the community will be involved, which are broadly:
• January: Collect ideas
• February: Build list of options (keeping in all options for dualling that can meet safety standards and pulling together any duplicates)
• March/April: Create a 'long list' of options
• April/May: Select a 'short list' of options
• June 2018: Agree preferred option
Stage One - Community Ideas
Thanks to everyone who attended the January events and submitted ideas and/or came to ask questions about the process. (We’ve helped prepare a new version of “Frequently Asked Questions”, available on the new website (see below), “Bridge” online, and our own facebook page.)
Note: Don’t worry if you didn’t get to one of these. If you had previously given ideas for any part of the road design, for example at “Big Ask” day or earlier, all of these are being included and will be part of the process; and you can use the new website.
New Website
The “A9 Co-Creative” now has its own website. Check out www.A9Co-Creative.scot for lots of background information and details of planned events.  We shall continue to provide information by email as well, and on the A9 CG facebook page.
One of the most exciting features of the process is that if you have submitted a design idea, you will be able to track it through the process and find out whether or not it has been taken forward and the reasons for this. This will also be available on the website (this feature still under development as we write in mid January), so keep an eye on it.
Briefing of MSPs and Councillors
We have continued to have regular briefing meetings with John Swinney MSP and have done an updated written briefing for all MSPs and Councillors.
We are still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the Community Group’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com  - also to have your details added to our mailing list if you wish also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me!    Best wishes for 2018!   Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator   01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 25th January at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel. 7:30 pm. All welcome!
Big Community Ask
Thanks to everyone who supported the Big Ask on Saturday 11th November. Over 230 of you came along to comment and vote on what matters most to you for the A9 dualling process, through a set of draft community objectives. The Duchess Anne was buzzing with discussions, chats and questions about the community objectives, all helped along by live music and tasty food. The final objectives from the Big Ask will be used to underpin the co-creative process, which will inform the design of the road.
Children's voices are at the heart of this process. The Children's Parliament facilitated a creative project with the Royal School of Dunkeld, so local children could be heard and involved in the process. Stunning artwork brought colour to the hall, and was much admired.
Alasdair Wylie, Co-ordinator of the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community group said “It was fantastic to see so many people at the Big Ask – saying how they think a successful A9 dualling project could benefit the community, and how negative impacts could be avoided. This is a unique opportunity for the whole community to have its voice heard, and we hope this process will set an example for other major infrastructure developments elsewhere in Scotland and the rest of the UK.”
Julie Menzies, Acting Head of The Royal School of Dunkeld said; “The community supported us greatly last session as we celebrated our 450th birthday. This term, we were asked to support the community. Invited by the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group, our P7 pupils have had the opportunity to work with the Children’s Parliament this week on a creative project exploring the children’s ‘hopes and dreams for the future of their community’. The artwork they produced to be on display at ‘The Big Ask’ is absolutely stunning. Our project was a small part of a much bigger community project and we felt privileged that the children had the opportunity to have their voices heard in such a creative and unbiased way. “
John Swinney, the community’s constituency MSP said on the day of the event, “Today I’ve heard first-hand what the community wants to see from the A9 dualling project across a range of themes – from safety to health, natural heritage to the historic environment. I’ve been particularly impressed with the children of the Royal School of Dunkeld – whose vision for their community is an inspiration to us all. I’m sure what I’ve seen today heralds a positive start to community’s work with Transport Scotland to find a preferred solution for the A9 dualling in this area.”
Co-Creative Process
Since the finalization of the agreement with Transport Scotland (TS) for them to appoint PAS as facilitator of the Co-Creative process, with conditions from the A9 Community Group (CG), things have moved fast.
A Programme Board (CG and TS) and a Steering Group (CG,TS, Jacobs and PAS) have been established and the Steering Group has met weekly since October, working on the design of the Co-Creative process.
It is planned that this process will take place between January and May/June 2018
The Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council are holding a public meeting about the A9 on Monday 8th January (7.30pm) at Birnam Arts.
Finally, we want to wish you all a merry Christmas and happy new year. Thanks to everyone for all your help and support this year.
We are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the CG’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at facebook page:
Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

Community Council Public Meeting about A9 Dualling
Birnam Institute, Monday, January 8th, 7:30pm
Two years since the February 2016 public meeting about dualling the A9, another public meeting organised by the Community Council will be held on Monday, January 8th at 7:30pm at the Birnam Institute. The purpose is to discuss developments over those two years as well as the immediate and unique opportunity everyone in the community will have to contribute to the design of a route for our stretch of the A9. The meeting is a chance to ask questions about what has happened or not happened, why, and what is planned for the first half of 2018—as well the next few years. Everyone is welcome and anyone who wishes to speak will be heard.
In some ways, little has happened in the last two years. We do not know where the road will go, how it will be built, and what the impact and implications are for all the communities in this Community Council area. One very important thing did happen. Transport Scotland did not decide for us where the road would go or how it would be built and what will happen to our train station. Instead, they have agreed to participate directly with anyone in the community who wishes to contribute directly to the design of the road, its route and its character. Those opportunities to contribute directly will occur here in Dunkeld and Birnam between January and May 2018. The opportunities will be facilitated by an independent organisation with a record of helping communities, Planning Aid Scotland. The opportunities will be part of a process for creating a road design that will be put to the Scottish Government for approval. We believe this is unique and has never happened in Scotland, nor probably in the UK. This is our best chance to get a road we can live with.
More detail will be available at the public meeting. In addition to opportunities later in January to submit ideas, there will be a box to receive your written comments or ideas about the A9. If you’re interested in the A9, please come on January 8th at 7:30pm to the Birnam Institute.

A9 Dualling Community Engagement Event, Mid Atholl Hall Ballinluig, on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th December 2017

What's a Co-Creative Process? Put simply, the community will sit “round the table” with Transport Scotland over about five months in 2018 and will work through a process to identify, develop and evaluate preferred roads and junctions options for the A9 dualling project at Dunkeld and Birnam to Tay Crossing.

The Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group and Transport Scotland are working together to agree roads and junctions options for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 dualling project. Download FAQ here.

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group Update

Transport Scotland are working with our community to design and deliver a co-creative process to explore all options for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling Project. This means bringing the community and Transport Scotland together, to achieve a preferred option for the community.

Having your say

For the process to be co-creative, we need to decide what matters most to the community, and set this out in our community objectives. It is important that as a  community we develop our own set of objectives, as these will inform options, propose solutions and create a vision for what we want from the dualling. Our objectives, with those of Transport Scotland, for dualling the A9, will then form the basis for the co-creative process. We want as many people to have their say as possible, at the outset of this important opportunity for the community to have a genuine say on the A9 dualling outcome. We have organised a programme of workshops and a community event to help do this.

Workshop programme

Thanks to everyone who came along to the themed workshops held earlier. These workshops will help shape our community objectives, and will build on what you have already told us through the survey last year and the open sessions in June. There are still a few workshops in the programme on issues we have not yet covered. Dates for these are as follows:

·       Wednesday 1st November: Local Economy and Recreation (6pm-7.30pm, Royal Dunkeld Hotel)

·       Monday 6th November: Public Transport and Safety (8pm-9.30pm, Birnam Arts)

There is no need to book, just come along!

Big Community Event: Saturday 11th November (11am-2pm, Duchess Anne, Dunkeld)

Pop in to have your final say on the full set of draft community objectives. You'll be able to discuss the draft objectives, vote on your priorities and make any comments. There will be lots of music, food and children’s activities, so come along for a fun way to get your voice heard.

Next Community Group Meeting

Thursday 23rd November, 7.30-9.30pm, Royal Dunkeld Hotel.

Keeping in touch

We are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the CG’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!

You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com  - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at  facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Please Like and Share it. or just phone me!  

Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator   01350 727361

 Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group Update
Transport Scotland are working with our community to design and deliver a co-creative process to explore all options for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 Dualling Project. This means bringing the community and Transport Scotland together, to achieve a preferred option for the community.
Having your say
For the process to be co-creative, we need to decide what matters most to the community, and set this out in our community objectives. It is important that as a  community we develop our own set of objectives, as these will inform options, propose solutions and create a vision for what we want from the dualling. Our objectives, with those of Transport Scotland, for dualling the A9, will then form the basis for the co-creative process. We want as many people to have their say as possible, at the outset of this important opportunity for the community to have a genuine say on the A9 dualling outcome. We have organised a programme of workshops and a community event to help do this.
Workshop programme
Thanks to everyone who came along to the themed workshops held earlier. These workshops will help shape our community objectives, and will build on what you have already told us through the survey last year and the open sessions in June. There are still a few workshops in the programme on issues we have not yet covered. Dates for these are as follows:
•    Wednesday 1st November: Local Economy and Recreation (6pm-7.30pm, Royal Dunkeld Hotel)
•    Monday 6th November: Public Transport and Safety (8pm-9.30pm, Birnam Arts)
There is no need to book, just come along!
Big Community Event: Saturday 11th November (11am-2pm, Duchess Anne, Dunkeld)
Pop in to have your final say on the full set of draft community objectives. You'll be able to discuss the draft objectives, vote on your priorities and make any comments. There will be lots of music, food and children’s activities, so come along for a fun way to get your voice heard.
Next Community Group Meeting
Thursday 23rd November, 7.30-9.30pm, Royal Dunkeld Hotel.
Keeping in touch
We are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the CG’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com  - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.  Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me! 
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator   01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 26th October at the
Royal Dunkeld Hotel. 7:30 pm. All welcome!
After 2 years of hard work and ongoing discussion with Transport Scotland and Scottish Ministers, we are nearing the start of a Co-Creative process as the way to engage the community in developing joint options for the design of the A9 dualling between the Pass of Birnam and Tay Crossing. This new process reflects the expected improvements in public consultation, following recent changes to planning legislation. We anticipate the process will start its work with the community by January 2018 and conclude in the summer.
New community support staff: The A9 CG has appointed Elizabeth Leighton as project manager to support the community through the co-creative process. She will be joined by a Project Assistant, Helen Stockham, who will provide communications and administrative support. Elizabeth is an independent consultant based in Aberfeldy, experienced in facilitation, research, and community engagement. Helen lives in Birnam, and has worked on a variety of sustainability, community and digital engagement projects. You can reach either Elizabeth or Helen through the Community Group email - dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com.
Completing the Open Programme: We’ve had lots of people participate in the Open Programme sessions, which ran in early summer to discuss the key themes that emerged from our community survey in 2016. Everyone felt welcome to ask about and discuss issues, even if new to it all. Three events on active travel, local economy and safety are to come in October.
Setting our community objectives: The A9 CG is also about to initiate events to identify our community objectives for the A9 dualling. Work with the school and the Children’s Parliament will ensure local children also get their voices heard. Here are some of the questions we’ll consider:
• What’s important to us?
• What would we like to keep the same and what do we want to change?
• What would be a successful A9 Dualling project?
• What should our community look like in 10 years?
These objectives will be a key input to the Co-Creative Process and sit alongside Transport Scotland objectives to inform discussions on dualling options.
During October we will reach out to groups, businesses and individuals who want to have their say –contact Elizabeth or Helen if you would like a presentation, workshop or just a 1:1 meeting to talk about the community objectives. We’re keen to work with you to make it easy to contribute.
All contributions will be gathered together for a big community workshop – for everyone! – planned for early November to discuss, debate and approve a final set of community objectives.
Questions? Comments? Contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and have your details added to our mailing list, also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it. Or just phone me!
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

 The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Wednesday 27th September, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.  All welcome!  

HELP!:  WE DO NEED MORE FOLK to help out with secretarial/admin tasks of various kinds; helping chair and take notes at meetings from time to time;  and publicity/communications tasks. If you think that what the A9 Community Group is doing is important and can spare even occasional time, do please get in touch!

•    The A9 Community Group core group met with Transport Scotland (TS) again on 18th July, together with PAS (Planning Aid Scotland), appointed by TS as facilitator for the Co-Creative Process.  Our concerns about the appointment have still not been resolved, various options for the role of PAS were discussed at the 24th August A9 Community Group meeting, and there was to be another meeting with TS after that.

•    Following the very positive visit of Cabinet Secretary Keith Brown in June, a detailed funding proposal has been submitted for Scottish Government support to pay for a project facilitator for (i) completion of the Community led Stage 1 of the Co-Creative Process and (ii)  Stage 2 through the rest of the Co-Creative Process; and (iii) to pay for a Community Group Assistant.

•    A first meeting of the “Solutions Group” took place in July, a forum for some Community Group members to share thinking about the A9 dualling design options.

•    Planning is underway for two more events in September which could not be included in the June  Open Programme of community-led events  on Active Travel/Walking and Cycling, and on Safety Issues;  a third on Local Economy is also planned.  Watch out for details by email, on posters/flyers and on facebook (see below)

•    The second part of the Community led Stage 1 of the Co-Creative Process is also planned, for end September; this will conclude the Community Objective Setting stage and vision for the community.

•    Work has continued with Children’s Parliament to bring together a stream of activity to inform the completion of Stage 1 and following parts of the Co-Creative Process, involving people from across the wider community.

We are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the CG’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!

You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com  - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at  facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.  Please Like and Share it.
or just phone me!  Hope you’ve all had a good summer.

Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator  01350 727361

 Transport Scotland has added a section to their website to load up information to support the co-creative process. At the first of the community open sessions (Cultural Heritage and Historic Environment, 12th June) they said they would load up the baseline environmental work done to date to provide supporting information. That work is now available at this location.

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 24th August, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm. All welcome!
Apologies for the last minute cancellation of the 22nd June meeting.
• On 31st May the first AGM of the A9 Community Group (CG) was held. The office bearers elected were:
Coordinator: Alasdair Wylie; Deputy Coordinator: Mike Wolfe; Treasurer: Ken Davis; Secretary: Vacant.
• The Open Programme of community-led events in June to inform & involve everyone (details as in the June “Bridge”) has gone very well, with good feedback from community members and public body representatives who attended; thanks to all of you and them.
• Two events which could not be included in the June programme, Active Travel/Walking and Cycling, and Safety Issues, will be held in late August/early September. Watch out for emails and posters and on facebook (see below)
• The purpose of these events is to provide people with a space to be together to find out more about and discuss the issues that the 2016 Community Survey results showed that people cared about in relation to the A9 Dualling.
• If you or your local group would like to be involved in any of these events, please get in touch.
• The A9 CG had sourced funding to get going on this community-led stage of the process. We are grateful to LUSH for this support and also to the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council which has given microgrant support (from the Griffin
Windfarm fund) to cover basic costs for the last year.
• A first meeting of the CG “Solutions Group” was planned, to act as a forum for those who have been thinking about the dualling design options to share their thinking.
Cabinet Secretary Keith Brown visited on 1st June and spent time on the ground in Kindallachan and Birnam learning about the situation and some of the local issues which concern folk. It was a very positive visit and we hope that there will be some direct support from the Scottish Government to help fund our Community Objectives related activities in September as well as a continuing constructive dialogue.
• One thing of interest to the Cabinet Secretary was our recent discussions with Children’s Parliament, an organization which
works to give children the chance to voice ideas, thoughts and concerns so that they can be listened to when things are being
planned. See http://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/
• The A9 CG core group met with Transport Scotland (TS) and Jacobs on 19th June for the first time this year. Despite the
long delay by TS it was a generally positive meeting. Central to the discussions was our concerns about the appointment by
TS of PAS (Planning Aid Scotland) as facilitators for the Co-Creative Process, without consultation on the appointment brief.
There will be another meeting during the summer.
• Briefings with John Swinney MSP have continued and the A9 Community Group remains very appreciative indeed of the
continued support he has provided.
Updates on the information provided and discussions held at A9 Community Group meetings, and the AGM minutes, are available on the “Bridge” website at: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling
We are very keen to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of the CG’s work, and also to have any suggestions on how we can better communicate both with the community and at our meetings!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com - and to have your details added to our mailing list, also at facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group. Please Like and Share it.
Or just phone me! Wishing you all a good summer and holidays.
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

 Future events organised by the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group:
You can download a copy of the events list by clicking here.

There is one change: Active Travel (Walking, Cycling) , Non-Motorised Users event was Monday 19th June,  new date to be confirmed.

Our Facebook page also shows all the dates and events so we are encouraging people to use this too: https://www.facebook.com/Birnam-to-Ballinluig-A9-Community-Group-278325772500670/

Open Programme: Your opportunity to find out more about issues you said you cared about in the Community Survey.
Each event will include short presentations about key issues, further information, Q&A and discussion.
• Cultural Heritage & Historic Environment – Monday 12th June, 8pm-9.30 pm, Birnam Arts
• Natural Heritage: Habitats and Landscape – Wednesday 14th June, 8pm-9.30pm Birnam Arts.
• Active Travel, Non-Motorised Users – Monday 19th June, 8pm-9.30 pm, Birnam Arts
• Community Health: Air, Noise, Vibration, Dust – Wednesday 21st June, 8pm-9.30 pm, Birnam Arts
• Public Transport, Dunkeld & Birnam Station – Monday 26th June, 8pm-9.30 pm, Birnam Arts
• Natural Heritage: Protected Species - Wednesday 28th June 8pm-9.30 pm, Birnam Arts
• Evening Walk: Birnam Station to Braan (Inver) – 29th June, 7.30-9.30pm, Depart from Birnam Arts
More events to be confirmed, see posters & facebook updates.
If you or your local group would like to be involved in any of these topics or events in the programme, then please get in touch.
Email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com
Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 22nd June, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
All welcome!
• The A9 Community Group has sourced funding to get going on a community-led stage of the process, the purpose of which is to find out more about what you said you care about in the Community Survey done last year.
• An Open Programme of events to inform & involve everyone starts in June. Please see above for information on the different events.
• If you or your local group would like to be involved in any of these events, please get in touch.
A full update on the information provided and discussions held at recent meetings is available on the “Bridge” website at: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling
We are very keen to hear peoples’ suggestions on how we can better communicate with the community! You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group

Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting and AGM will be on Wednesday 31st May, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm
All welcome!
Please note: The Constitution of the Group provides for the election of four office bearers at the AGM: Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Secretary and Treasurer. Nominations for office bearers may be submitted to the Secretary before the meeting or at the meeting, to the email address below.
A full update on the information provided and discussions held at recent meetings is available on the ‘Bridge’ website at: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling
We are very keen to hear peoples’ suggestions on how we can better communicate with the community! You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group

Alasdair Wylie,
Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Wednesday 26th April, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm. All welcome! Thank you to all who managed to attend the March meeting and apologies for any inconvenience caused by the change in the previously advertised date.
A full update on the information provided and discussions held at the March meeting is available on this page.
We are very keen to hear peoples’ suggestions on how we can better communicate with the community!
You can contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator  
01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 23rd March, Royal Dunkeld Hotel, 7.30pm.
All welcome! It was great to see new folk coming along to recent meetings.
Thank you to all attending for your valued input.
Key events since December:
December 2016:
• Transport Scotland (TS) announced the decision that the A9 Dualling between the Tay Crossing and Ballinluig was to be ‘online’, rather than the ‘offline’ option investigated last year. You can see the proposed route options here. (but it takes a while to download and its not that easy to read for some)
http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/documents/projects/A9%20Dualling/A9-Tay-Crossing-to-Ballinluig-Preferred-Route-Preferred-Route-Option-Plan.pdf
• A second draft of the Co-creative Process plan (for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section) was received from TS. It needed further work especially to simplify process. Significant efforts were made to do so but the Community Group’s next version was not accepted by them.
• At a meeting on 16th Dec with TS and Jacobs, the Community Group representatives continued to feed back two concerns – that the process plan was not yet complete and agreed, and that the present document was too unwieldy to be an accessible communication (such as a leaflet) - a concern expressed clearly at CG meetings. This was a difficult meeting, however, there were some points clearly agreed and some constructive suggestions made.
http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/images/A9_CG_Core_Group_meeting_with_TS__161216_key_points.v0.2.pdf
• In particular, the need for a facilitator to be appointed as soon as possible was agreed, to assist the design, delivery and completion of the Co-creative Process. It was agreed that the Community Group propose possible candidates as soon as possible; those referred by TS by then did not demonstrate particular skills and experience in facilitation or design of participative decision making processes.
January/February 2017:
• Members of the Group worked up a list, did some desk based research and explored availability of two candidates recommended. A preferred candidate with facilitation as well as other key skills and experience emerged.
• A proposal paper for facilitation “next steps” for discussion with Transport Scotland went through due process and agreement with the Community Group at its January meeting. It has also been shared with “Planning Aid for Scotland”, with whom both CG representatives and TS are in touch, to see if they can play a role in the process.
• A request for a meeting between the Project Manager and the Co-ordinator of the Community Group was made in mid January to establish how we could urgently move forward more constructively and positively to the next steps. This took place on 7th Feb and it was hoped that a next meeting would be in the week beginning 20th Feb.
Tay Crossing to Ballinluig A9 Exhibitions
• A public exhibition on current proposals was to have been held on 15th and 16th Feb in the Mid-Atholl Hall, Ballinluig. If any residents did not receive notification of the exhibition, please contact the Secretary and also Jacobs/Transport Scotland. The web link for the event circulated by them first was not working, but was fixed and you will find details here: http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-tay-crossing-ballinluig
For the latest news update please go the The Bridge website at http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling or contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com, or at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

A9 Dualling Programme: Perth to Inverness

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig Preferred Route Public Exhibitions

Following the announcement of the Preferred Corridor and Route Decision on 5 December 2016, public exhibitions are being held on 15 and 16 February 2017.  These exhibitions will give local communities and road users the opportunity to see and comment on the outcome of the route option assessment work and the preferred option for the Tay Crossing to

Ballinluig dualling project – part of the A9 Dualling Programme.

Transport Scotland officials and design consultants will be on hand to discuss the preferred option and answer any questions.

Details of the public exhibitions are as follows:

For further information, please visit

http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-dualling-perth-inverness

Sarah Morgan – Stakeholder Manager
Jacobs Infrastructure UK Ltd

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group - Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling proposals
The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 23rd February, venue tbc, 7.30pm. All welcome!
For the latest news update please check this page or contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com, or at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator, 01350 727361

 The Community Council has received a letter from Jacobs in response to the detailed submission to Transport Scotland compiled by the A9 Working Group on behalf of the council.

Click here to view the letter.

A9 Dualling Perth to Inverness, Tay Crossing to Ballinluig – Preferred Corridor and Route Decision

Following assessment work on the online and offline options for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig dualling project, it has been confirmed that the preferred option for dualling that section will comprise online widening of the A9.

Supporting documents including a plan showing the route can be viewed on Transport Scotland’s website at http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-tay-crossing-ballinluig

Sarah Morgan – Stakeholder Manager
Jacobs Infrastructure UK Ltd

 The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 15th December at Little Dunkeld Kirk, 7.30pm. There will be a discussion about the latest version of the plan for the new Co-creative Community Engagement process, which will be circulated before the meeting. All welcome!
The following Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 26th January 2017, same place and time.

 The Constitution of the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group, adopted at the CG meeting of 25th August 2016, provides for the election of the following office bearers:

a)  Coordinator
b)  Deputy Coordinator
c)  Secretary
d)  Treasurer

The election will be conducted at the next A9 Community Group meeting on Thursday 24th November, 7:30pm at Little Dunkeld Kirk.

Nominations for the office bearer positions can be sent to the Secretary at this email address at any time up to the date of this meeting. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the meeting if none have been submitted in advance.

Key activities since October:
Co-Creative Community Engagement plan : Transport Scotland gave a broad acceptance of our proposal and of the timescale envisaged (for the time being, regarding the section from Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing) at a meeting in Birnam on 6th October, a major step forward.
Their first draft engagement plan with timescale was circulated to all Community Group members and discussed at the 27th October CG meeting, returned to Transport Scotland with comments and suggested edits and discussed again with them at a small group meeting on 7th November.
TS will have responded with a further version by 18th November which was discussed at the 24th November Community Group meeting. Further comments and suggested edits were returned to TS and are being discussed at a small group meeting in Birnam in early December.
The results of that meeting and the next version of the community engagement paper will be reported back to the 15th December Community Group meeting for further discussion and, we hope, finalisation.
We will keep everyone informed of developments by email and in The Bridge online.
Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section : At the time of writing (mid Nov) Transport Scotland’s advice is that a decision on the offline/online options is targeted for late autumn, “in the next few weeks”.
A9 Community Survey: The full survey report as well as the summary slide presentation are also available on the A9 Dualling page of The Bridge online. If anyone would like a hard copy, please contact us, details below.
MSP Briefings:We have continued to brief MSPs on the progress of meetings with Transport Scotland/Jacobs as well as on the community survey results, and appreciate very much the close interest they have taken in following up with Transport Scotland.
If you want to make opinions/feedback known to your elected representatives at local or national level, you can find out who they are and their contact details at writetothem.com
If you want to get more involved or get more information please contact us at email:
dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and/ or come to the next Community Group meeting. Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator 01350 727361

The next A9 Community Group meeting will be on Thursday 24th November at Little Dunkeld Kirk, 7.30pm. There will be an update on further discussions with Transport Scotland on planning for the Co-creative Community Engagement process, to which they have in broad terms agreed.  All welcome!

Key activities since September:
A9 Community Survey:  A well attended meeting on 15th September was given a first presentation of the main results of the survey, which had a tremendous 452 responses by 31st August and which has yielded a rich amount of information and opinion.  A draft full report was shared at the Community Group meeting on 28th September and after further editing sent to Transport Scotland prior to meeting with them in Birnam on 6th October to discuss it.
The full survey report as well as the presentation are available on the A9 Dualling page of “The Bridge” online, link below. If anyone would like a hard copy, please contact us.
Thank you again to everyone who completed the Community Survey, helped at or stopped to talk at one of the pop up stalls, discussed with residents, and undertook data analysis and preparation of the presentation of results and of the full report.
Co-Creative Community Engagement proposal : 
The proposal, sent to Transport Scotland at the end of August, was discussed with them and Jacobs at a meeting in Birnam on 2nd September and again at the 6th October meeting. (Copy also available at The Bridge online).  At the latter one, Transport Scotland indicated broad acceptance of the proposal and of the timescale envisaged (for the time being, regarding the section from Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing); this is a major step forward. We expect to have a next meeting with them in early November to begin to plan the new engagement process and will meanwhile keep everyone informed of developments by email and in The Bridge online.
MSP Briefings:
We have continued to brief MSPs on the progress of meetings with Transport Scotland/Jacobs as well as on the community survey results, and appreciate very much the close interest they have taken in following up matters with Transport Scotland.  If you want to make opinions/feedback known to your elected representatives at local or national level, you can find out who they are and their contact details at writetothem.com
If you want to get more involved or get more information please contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com  and/ or come to the next Community Group meeting. You can also get information, documents and contact details for the Community Group at The Bridge website http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling  or at the facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.

Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator   01350 727361

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group update - Working constructively to get the best community outcomes from the A9 dualling

There will be a Community Meeting on Thursday 15th September at the Birnam Hotel, 7.30pm, at which the results of the A9 community survey will be presented and updates given on discussions with Transport Scotland and Jacobs. All welcome! (Note: date changed from 14th Sept advised before).
Key activities since June:
Briefings of MSPs; Response from Jacobs to April submission by A9 Working Group; Technical meeting with Transport Scotland/Jacobs to review response and press for more meaningful engagement with community; Discussions with advisors on an improved engagement process; Continuation of leafleting for community survey; Pop up stalls in Dunkeld and at Birnam Arts; Discussions with residents closest to A9; Monthly meetings of Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group; Drafting of Constitution for Community Group; Regular meetings of Communications and Strategy Sub-Group Councillor and MSP Communications: Following constructive meetings with John Swinney MSP, Murdo Fraser MSP and Mark Ruskell MSP reported on in the June update, there has been a short verbal update to each of the MSPs and letters prepared updating them on the 29th June meeting with Transport Scotland/Jacobs and next steps proposed.
Meeting Jacobs/Transport Scotland: As previously reported, despite requests Transport Scotland/Jacobs had confirmed that they would not attend a public meeting. There was agreement to a smaller ‘technical meeting’ with the Community Group, which was attended by the Co-ordinator, Chair of DBCC, a couple of Comms & Strategy Sub Group members and lead contributors on each section of the submission that had been made in April. In the course of the meeting on 29th June it was possible to give just an impression of major outstanding concerns, remaining gaps and questions in relation to each theme (for example any assessment of health impacts), the stress, lack of awareness of residents (even immediately adjacent to the route) of the proposals (e.g. that junction proposals had quadrupled in the new proposals set out this year), and lack of provision of accessible information for all were all outlined.
Transport Scotland asked what was requested and directed to the headline request in the April Community Council submission (a request to which there had been no response) to work together to design a meaningful process to achieve workable solution.
However, as so much trust in the process had now been lost it was recommended that a proper participative process to deliver benefits for the community should be designed. This has political support and it was agreed that the Community Group would come back to Transport Scotland with a proposal and accompanied with a request to extend the timeline, should that be required. This has been sent.
It was explained that the community survey would be underway until end August and that survey outcomes and trends would be shared with the community, Transport Scotland and Jacobs in September after the survey closes.
Thank you to everyone who completed the Community Survey and/or helped at or stopped to talk at one of the pop up stalls. The survey will help inform the Community Group, but please do write directly to Jacobs/Transport Scotland as well with opinions, questions, concerns, ideas.
Feedback from door to door chats is demonstrating that some people, even those immediately adjacent to the route or new junctions, still have no idea about the proposals that will affect them directly. If you want to communicate opinions/feedback to your elected representatives at local or national level, find out who they are and contact details at writetothem.com
Volunteers to help with continuing pop up stalls will be welcomed.
Next steps:
Jacobs was trying to push a ‘participative’ process to take place to a very short deadline with a small number of people.
Meanwhile there have been urgent and thorough explorations on designing an appropriate proposal for better engagement with the community including dialogue with Planning Aid Scotland and a senior planning adviser. The proposal will have been discussed at the 25th August Community Group meeting before going to Transport Scotland.
If you want to get more involved or get more information please contact us at email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and/ or come to the Community Meeting on Thursday 15th September, Birnam Hotel, 7.30pm.
You can also get information and individual contact details for the Community Group on the Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Alasdair Wylie, Coordinator,
01350 727361

The Community Group would like to express a huge thanks to those of you who were able to come to guided walks, meetings in June, or who have otherwise contributed so far. Huge apologies to anyone who has missed out on any updates due to technical problems with our mailing list – we are getting these sorted!
Following the Community Meeting on 18th May, and with support from Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council, the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group (the Community Group) has now been set up to represent all those who may be affected by the upgrade of the A9 from the Pass of Birnam to Ballinluig within the community council area, and seek to get the best possible outcome for the community as a whole. Since the community meeting and ongoing through the summer, our big push is to get as many responses as possible to the community opinion survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/a9dualling as possible.
Please watch out for coffee mornings, street stalls and other activity happening throughout the summer promoting the survey, sharing information and hearing views. The Community Group has been gathering local knowledge and tapping into expertise to help interpret the maps and provide information that is useful and accessible. If you can help, with cups of tea or engineering experience, please let us know.
Jacobs and Transport Scotland have not yet fully provided the information requested at the Public Meeting in February or addressed the local issues they have been asked to consider in the submission from the Community Council. Members of the Community Group are due to meet with Jacobs, Transport Scotland, as well as some local MSPs, by the end of June.
Previously there was an expectation that Jacobs and Transport Scotland might return to do a follow up public meeting, but that request has been turned down. There will be now be no public meeting with Jacobs and Transport Scotland. The Group update from the smaller meeting at the end of June will be provided online, in the usual place: http://www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk/community-council/a9-dualling
In the meantime, you may be aware from posters and press, that a new offline option has been proposed on the east of the northern section (Tay Crossing to Ballinluig) which would affect the community particularly from Rotmell to Guay. Residents who would be adversely affected are campaigning against this new proposal, which would take both carriageways up the hill. The impact of the online proposals on the flood plain, residents and local business on the northern section also continue to cause concern. We can't emphasise enough how critical a time this is and how much your views count. Please share your opinions anonymously through the community survey; online or hard copies can be provided. This will enable the Community Group to best represent the views of the community.
Please do remember that if you have particular questions or concerns, it is helpful if you can share them in the community survey – but do not hesitate to also contact Jacobs on: A9dualling@jacobs.com directly so that your questions or concerns can be addressed as part of the formal process.
You may want to copy your thoughts to your MSPs and Councillors too. It is easy to find out who all your representatives are on writetothem.com Recommendations will have been made by the end of June and decisions on the proposals are imminent.
If you want to get more involved – please do! – email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com and/or come along to the Community Group meeting on Wednesday 27 July 7.30pm (venue tbc). We will hold a bigger meeting to update the community on Wednesday 14 September 7.30pm (venue tbc).
For further information, and to find individual contacts for the Group, please email: dunkeldA9workinggroup@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page: Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group.
Robert Kelman,
Community Group
Walking the future A9
Two guided walks have followed the proposed routes and changes of the A9 dualling project and looked at the impact it would have on key areas around Dunkeld & Birnam. “I found both walks incredibly useful in translating what the plans will mean on the ground and I’m still coming to terms with the fact that the new Birnam junction will be taller than the current Ballinuig flyover!” said Lindsey Gibb one of the walkers.
For more information on the two walks and the additional one planned to specifically look at flooding issues on the northern section. contact: jesspepper@gmail.com or see www.dunkeldandbirnamnews.co.uk

On 18 May around 100 local people met in the Birnam Institute about the A9 dualling. The meeting, organised by members of a community working group, was to provide an update on progress since a public meeting with Transport Scotland in January. The working group are very grateful to everyone who came along and shared their views, donated and volunteered to help.
On behalf of the Community Council, the working group had put together a detailed submission to Transport Scotland outlining a range of concerns and requests. The A9 dualling will have a huge impact on many different aspects of the local communities, including noise, human health and air quality, flooding risk, ecology and the natural environment, public transport, non-motorised users, and culture and historic environment.
These local issues have not been considered properly in the process. Transport Scotland needs to agree a realistic process to work in partnership with the community to address these issues and then to revisit the options.
This is a critical time. According to Transport Scotland's timetable, the decision on a preferred option was to take place in June - this is not acceptable.
A9 dualling is going to have an impact on you and your community. Whatever you think you can offer, whether it's a donation, involvement in the working group, or your expertise as a structural engineer, you can make a difference!
•    Complete the community opinion survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/a9dualling
•    Go on a guided walk to look at various issues of concern on 30 May or 13 June at 7.30pm. Email: dunkelda9workinggroup@gmail.com
•    Come to a meeting with Transport Scotland (date and time tbc)
•    Join the working group, make a donation, join a mailing list, or contribute in some other way - Email: dunkelda9workinggroup@gmail.com
For more information, including the presentations from the 18th, visit the Community Council website or email: dunkelda9workinggroup@gmail.com

Robert Kelman, Member of the Community Working Group

Join the Dunkeld A9 Dualling Group on Facebook for regular updates.

Community Council Submission

The A9 working group has spent the last couple of months pulling together the submission to Transport Scotland in relation to the Pass of Birnam-Tay Crossing and Tay Crossing-Ballinluig sections of the project. This follows on from the public meeting on 8^th February and the Transport Scotland and Jacobs consultation sessions. The document, which was submitted on 21^st April, relied on contributions (and a lot of time and effort) from a large number of people involved in the working group. The key conclusion of the submission is:

“On the basis of the limited information currently available, the Dunkeld and Birnam Community Council cannot indicate a favoured option for these sections of the A9 dualling project. This reflects the strong feeling that the current proposals do not adequately recognise the complexity of dualling these two sections.”

The key themes in the submission, where we are seeking further information, relate to the overall character of the local area, potential for varying road standards in this area, noise, public health and air quality, flooding risk, ecology and the environment, public transport, history and culture and non motorised users. We are also seeking a better understanding of the decision making process and how the local community can continue to be a vital, cooperative part of such process. A large amount of supporting information has also been presented.

The document was sent to Transport Scotland and local councilors, and will be sent to other stakeholders and to MSPs and ministers (following the Scottish parliament elections on 5^th May).

If you want a copy of the document, or any further information, please contact Stuart Paton (dunkelda9workinggroup@gmail.com) on behalf of the Community Council. We have also set up a Facebook page - click here or search "Dunkeld A9 Dualling" on Facebook.

Dates of forthcoming meetings will be provided on this website, through Facebook, The Bridge and posters.

Background information is available through the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-dualling-perth-inverness.

DOWNLOADS:

A9 Story So Far - September 2019

A9 Co-Creative Stage 5 Final Report - September 2019

Whole Route Options - September 2019

Final Objectives December 2017

Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group Update October 2017

A9 Community Group Update June to August 2017

Next_Steps_Facilitation.Jan17.v4.pdf - uploaded 20th February 2017

Next Steps Facilitation.Jan17.V4 - Uploaded 9th February 2017

Report on A9 CG Core Group meeting with Transport Scotland/Jacobs 16th Dec 2016. - Uploaded 6th February 2017

Dunkeld & Birnam CC Final Submission

A9 Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing Community Council Meeting Notes

A9 Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing Technical Note 011 Rev01

Community Opinion Survey Findings - Full Report - October 2016
Community Opinion Survey Findings - Presentation Summary - September 2016
Birnam to Tay Crossing - Co-Creative Community Engagement Process
Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group - Constitution