A REPORT on a planned active travel route for Rothesay has been slammed after naming a community council that does not exist.
Concerns were expressed to councillors over a route between Rothesay Pavilion and Albert Pier, which only ten per cent of respondents to a consultation supported.
During a meeting, it was also stated that approval was only being sought for a move to a more advanced design stage, with the planned route open to changes.
Council officers had previously highlighted “vitriolic” feedback which had been received regarding the proposal.
Former councillor Jean Moffat, now convener of Bute Community Council, questioned the findings of a report by Connected Transport Planning.
The discussion took place at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal area committee on Tuesday, December 3.
Ms Moffat said: “The document is full of misinformation and missing information. I can see nowhere that CalMac or Western Ferries have been asked for their views on the cycle way, which will affect them considerably.
“It states that the BID (Business Improvement District) has been consulted and is in approval, but it has not – and has had no decision to make.
“It states that Rothesay Community Council, which is an organisation that does not exist, agrees to the proposals.
“I am the convener of Bute Community Council, and it is not in our remit to decide whether to approve of it. It is in our remit, by the name community, that we give the community’s views.
“Ten per cent of the community are in approval and 90 per cent are quite strongly against it. Bute Community Council simply cannot approve of the cycle pathway.
“The most annoying thing is that we were led to believe that the views of Bute would be taken into account.”
The report states that the BID, and ‘Rothesay Community Council’, are “supportive overall of the concept overall”.
But Erin Murphy, of the BID, added: “We have not carried out any consultation and made no statement for or against these proposals. I would suggest the report is significantly flawed.”
Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) responded: “It is at the concept and design stage. There would then be another vote at the end of that process.
“[The views of the community] allow us to adapt the travel plan. If we see a massive turnaround, we adapt the plan.
“We are not voting today to go ahead with the proposal; we are recommended to agree to move to the design stage.”
Colin Young, the council’s strategic transportation delivery officer, added: “The design work done so far is the first stage of a four-stage process. What we are asking for today is approval to go on to do more consultation.
“The design could change, and at the end of this we would come back again prior to any construction work to seek approval of that step.
“The other thing I would note is that this is all externally funded, so we still have to find the funding. It primarily comes from ring-fended Scottish Government pots which we have the option to bid for.”
Connected Transport Planning has been contacted for comment.
Andrew Galloway,
Local Democracy Reporter
