Western Peripheral Route (WPR)

Since the last article on this page it has become clear that the routes the WPR project team have considered have been more diverse than we were originally lead to believe. But, whilst the decision on routing is for the Minister to make, the project team do not appear to be progressing with detailed engineering of anything other than a close approximation to their original (route 14) proposal. We have continued to press them to mitigate some of the adverse effects on our area in their current design and some small amendments have resulted but when it comes to the public consultation we, along with many other organisations and individuals, will be presenting our objection to the Public Inquiry about the scheme.
We would welcome comment on the project to wpr@nkrcc.org.uk and specifically on the version of the route that the project team are advocating which, as we go to press, varies from the sketch circulated in the last edition of the "South Deeside View" especially regarding the South Deeside Road (SDR). The plan still shows no junction with SDR and the WPR is now shown passing under rather than over the SDR and is now just to the west of Copeland Motors, Some other route sections have been moved a short way further west or south of line originally proposed. A recent suggestion made by some residents to the project team is to join the WPR to the A90 at Marywell rather than Charleston and we would welcome your views on this too. As we go to press the WPR project team will still not release plans for us to publish (on the basis that the route is currently with the Minister for decision as to what to present for public consultation) so we continue to recommend that you go, as we have, to the project offices (see www.awpr.co.uk) to see the plans for yourselves and say what you think ! We are told that the public consultation on the WPR will start in the first months of the new year and that there will be a presentation at the Old Mill Inn.