Perth city link road will destroy historic woodland, say charity

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A leading nature charity is opposed to plans for a new Perth city road which they say will destroy centuries’ old woodland.

Applicant Perth and Kinross Council are proposing to build the 1.4km Bertha Park Link Road (BPLR) to the north of the city as part of the Perth Transport Futures Project (PTFP).

However, the Woodland Trust this week lodged an objection to the scheme on the grounds that it will destroy the long-established Knockarb Wood near Bertha Park which is comprised mainly of mature oak trees –some of which could date back hundreds of years – resulting in some areas within the forest being classed as ‘ancient woodland’.

The charity’s submission states it “strongly objects” to the planning application “on account of direct loss and deterioration to Knockarb Wood.”

It pointed out that the woodland is “a Long-Established woodland of Plantation Origin (LEPO)” designated on NatureScot’s Ancient Woodland Inventory and also recorded on the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland (NWSS).

LEPO is defined as woodland outlined in maps from the mid-18th and mid-19th centuries, continuously wooded since, which have “developed semi-natural characteristics” and the oldest ones “may be as rich as Ancient Woodland.”

The Trust’s objection continued: “Our main concerns relate to direct loss of LEPO woodland [and] severance of the LEPO woodland and resulting fragmentation of the woodland from other woodland areas and semi-natural habitats.”

Woodland Trust’s Woods Under Threat Team programme leader Jack Taylor said in a letter to PKC: “Any development resulting in loss or deterioration of LEPO woodland must consider all possible measures to ensure avoidance of adverse impact.

“We consider that development that has adverse ecological impacts on LEPO woodland should not be supported by the council in line with both national and local planning policy.”

The Bertha Park Link Road (BPLR) would connect phases one and two of the Perth Transport Futures Project (PTFP).

Phase one connects the existing roundabout adjacent to Bertha Park High School and phase two the new A9 west roundabout currently under construction as part of the Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) project.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said the comments would be taken into account, adding: “We note the objection from the Woodland Trust to this application. Their comments will be considered as part of the determination process for the application.”

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