A leading physician has chosen not to respond to the latest consultation concerning the proposed Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR), despite a doctor previously declaring the project will put people’s health at risk.
Perth and Kinross Council invited NHS Tayside’s associate medical director Dr Hamish Dougall to comment on its detailed application to build the crossing back in November.
But a board spokesperson has since told the PA he opted not to write a reply.
Scone and District Community Council reckons Dr Dougall’s lack of engagement with the consultation is surprising considering another doctor warned council bosses last year its intention to put the road through the planned Scone North development will expose future residents to pollution.
Emails seen by the PA show Dr Jackie Hyland, the board’s former associate director of public health, told managers two days before they asked councillors to approve their preferred route it “will pose a health risk” to people who live next to it.
She further advised the same managers an alternative route proposed by the community council that would have gone around the development instead of through it “would address the problem”.
But asked what Dr Dougall had to say about the council’s detailed application for the new road, a spokesperson would only say over the phone: “He has not responded to the consultation”.
And pressed to provide a written statement confirming Dr Dougall did not make a comment and explaining what aspect of the project he had been invited to comment on, the spokesperson would only say the board had “made their position clear”.
Perth and Kinross Council also refused to say what aspect of the project it had asked Dr Dougall to comment on.
A spokesperson said: “We will not be providing a statement in relation to this query.”
SDCC vice chair Jill Belch said the group now intends to write to Dr Dougall to ask him what he was quizzed about and why he chose not to respond.
She remarked: “It is very important that NHS Tayside engage with planners on items such as the CTLR.
“This is especially important in this case as Dr Jackie Hyland from NHS Tayside has been very critical of the choice of route of the CTLR through the [Scone North] housing development, saying it will bring noise and air pollution to those living there, and sever the community, contrary to Scottish Government recommendations about place-making.”
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