AWPR - A Road Too Far

IN December, Culter breathed a sign of relief. At last the Scottish Executive had decided where to build the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, and it did not pass through our village. But there is little cause for celebration. Our neighbours in Milltimber, Maryculter and Netherley will be devastated by a road which should be nowhere near them; a road for which £ 11 million of our money has already been spent to produce just a freehand line on a map. Survey, traffic analysis, design, costing, environmental assessment - all have still to come, yet the last opportunity for consultation has passed.

Already it is apparent that the route has major problems, notably the appalling junction proposed for the Stonehaven road at Charlestown. This blunder explains the late addition of the Stonehaven leg, which even the AWPR engineers in Aberdeen did not know about before Tavish Scott's announcement. Before the Scottish Executive makes an even bigger mess, perhaps we should remind Mr Scott of the purpose of the AWPR.

70 years ago Anderson Drive was brilliantly conceived as Aberdeen's first peripheral road. But as Aberdeen expanded Anderson Drive became overloaded. Traffic clogged both the Drive and the many radial roads which cross it. This is the key problem that the AWPR has to solve, which gives a simple guideline for where to build it. The further west from the city, the less effectively it relieves Anderson Drive, and the longer and more expensive it becomes. So as the AWPR drifts toward Culter its cost ­effectiveness plummets. That is why a corridor was established for the AWPR through Pitfodels many years ago. It is still there. Using it would facilitate a vastly better junction with the Stonehaven road, and with a full junction at North Deeside Road the links to west Aberdeen would be much better than at Milltimber.

So why has the Scottish Executive shifted the AWPR west from Murtle to Milltimber? We know the reason - that the Camphill Community objected loudly and Milltimber did not. But why not go east to the original and best route?

Unfortunately Pitfodels lost favour 10 years ago because it would disturb the patients in Woodlands Hospital. Has anyone told Mr Scott that it closed in 2003?

Doug Stewart

(ex-Principal Traffic Engineer, Grampian Regional Council)

AWPR

A meeting is to be held in the International School, North Deeside Road, at 7.30pm on Monday 20 February 2006. Those who are concerned about the proposals for the AWPR, are welcome to attend.