Here's now the final report.
From: Bob.Mitchell@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk [mailto:Bob.Mitchell@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk]
Sent: 28 December 2007 14:57
To: Chris Eckl
Cc: Sharon.McIlroy@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk; Martin.Graham@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk; Harvey.Kaplan@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk
Subject: A87 Trunk Road, Breakish, Isle of Skye - Request for Provision of Footway
Dear Mr Eckl
Further to our telephone discussion on Monday 17 December 2007 I now enclose the up to date version of the Feasibility Report on the provision of the missing footway link at Breakish, which Scotland Transerv prepared at my request.
As I explained when we spoke, my understanding is that the present lengths of footway to the east and west of the 'missing' section were provided by the Trunk Road Authority, after A87 became a Trunk Road, as part of a general road improvement which also widened the road and provided better road drainage. It appears that land was purchased to allow this work to be carried out. Such projects can take a considerable length of time between identification and construction, because of two factors: the land acquisition procedures, and the need to make available large sums of money, perhaps in excess of £1M, from relatively small budgets.
When I received the initial request for provision of the 'missing link' footway from a local resident, earlier this year, I recognised that if a footway was to be provided relatively quickly the best solution would be to construct it within land already under the control of the Trunk Road Authority, and not as part of such a road improvement scheme. Accordingly I asked Scotland Transerv to investigate the practicality of providing a footway within the existing road boundaries. The Feasibility Report demonstrates that this is possible, but that a continuous footway could not be built on one side of the road only, without land acquisition.
The current situation is that the principle of providing the 'missing link' footway at the locations indicated in the Feasibility Report, is agreed by Transport Scotland, and so the scheme has been added to a list of similar minor improvements awaiting funding.
I can not however give any firm commitment about when this project can be funded. The preliminary estimate of cost is £220,000, which is a very large proportion of this financial year's total budget (currently £1M) for schemes like this, in the whole of the North West of Scotland contract area (Stirling to Thurso, and A9 westward to Uig).
Although it can not be guaranteed, if it is assumed that the same budget may be available in future years, the most likely funding arrangements would be that the cost be spread over two consecutive financial years. However there are a number of schemes in the current year's programme which will require to be completed from next financial years budget, and it can not be guaranteed at this time that any funds will be available in 2008-09 toward this scheme. The detailed design will however be progressed during 2008. The earliest therefore that such an arrangement could be put in place would be late in financial year 2008-09, and early in year 2009-10, depending on funds being available at that particular time.
As I indicated when we spoke, the need to provide the requested footway is recognised and the high level of interest and correspondence which the subject has generated from local residents is acknowledged. As a result of this, I propose to offer to attend a local Community Council meeting at some mutually convenient time in the Spring, to present information current at that time.
Whilst I do appreciate that there may be some local people who would prefer to see the footway completed on the south side only, there will be some to whom it will be a positive benefit to have it on both sides. However if, between now and detailed design being begun sometime in 2008, any appropriate landowners contact Transport Scotland offering to make land available by negotiation within a specified short timescale, I would be willing to instruct that the feasibility of completing the link on the south side only, be examined.
If the current proposals are progressed, the treatment of areas where pedestrians will require to cross the road will need to be considered carefully and that will be part of the detailed design process. I will require that design to take account of current speeds through the community, and would hope that measures will be able to be incorporated which will help to reduce speeds from their current levels.
I hope the above information, in addition to that contained in the Feasibility Study Report, is helpful. I believe I have covered all the issues we discussed last week, but please contact me again early in January if there is anything you believe is outstanding.
Yours sincerely
Bob Mitchell
Area Manager North
Transport Scotland
Trunk Roads - Network Management Directorate
Buchanan House
58 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow G4 0HF
tel 0141 272 7357
mob 07825011527
mailto:bob.mitchell@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk
We are trying to meet next week Monday to discuss. Meeting at 19:30 at Struanlea.
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