Transport Scotland is facing a fierce backlash against its latest bid to buy out land for the next phase of its £3 billion A9 dualling project.
Several residents along the Birnam to Luncarty stretch are refusing to sell up to the trunk road authority after project leaders attempted to take over their land using compulsory purchase powers.
They are unhappy junctions along the six-mile route will be closed off, blocking access to the A9 and forcing them to take significant detours.
The Scottish Government now wants to hold a public inquiry to resolve the dispute and avoid delays to the £60 million stage of the project.
Huge swathes of land, including agricultural fields, woodland and private gardens, are needed to progress the development. The earmarked sites include 10 acres on the banks of the Sochie Burn; 1,640sq ft of private garden ground near Cramflat Farm; almost 24 acres near Northleys Farm at Luncarty, and 1,300sq ft between Stanley and Bankfoot.
The work could also impact on several conservation areas, as well as five scheduled monuments, 53 listed buildings and Cairnleith Moss, a site of scientific interest.
Landowners received orders outlining Transport Scotland’s requirements in May and full details were rolled out at a series of public sessions over the summer.
The Scottish Government’s directorate of planning and environmental appeals (DPEA) has announced that, after objections, it is preparing to stage a full inquest.
The department’s head of performance and administration David Henderson said: “I can confirm that a compulsory purchase order (CPO) and related road orders have been passed to the DPEA to make arrangements for a public local inquiry into unresolved objections.
“We will shortly be appointing a reporter to carry out this examination and report to Scottish ministers, who will make the final decision on these orders.”
He added: “Once the reporter has been appointed we will write to all parties with outstanding objections to inform them of the timetable for this examination.”
Peter Series, a director at property advisers Savills which represents several of the objectors, said the complaints relate to potential access problems.
“I can’t go into specific cases, but the plan involves shutting down most of the junctions along this part of the A9, including private roads,” he said.
“This means that a lot of people will be faced with lengthy detours to get to where they are going.”
The proposed multi-million-pound upgrade is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to have the entire 110-mile road dualled by 2025.
Project leaders hope to improve safety and curb the alarming high toll of serious and fatal accidents.
Between 2006 and 2010 on the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam stretch, there were 24 recorded accidents including two involving fatalities and five with serious injuries.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Everyone who uses the A9 will hope that a compulsory purchase order can be progressed smoothly.
“I can only hope that the A9 doesn’t follow the lead of the Aberdeen Peripheral Route which has faced a number of objections and reviews since first being announced in 2003, with shovels only now hitting the ground on this road.”