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ACRE Steps Up Campaign for Open Roads

ACRE, the local action group campaigning against Perth & Kinross’s unswerving support for a closed road cycle marathon this summer, is laying plans to challenge the decision on several fronts.

A legal challenge is being investigated, on the grounds that the council’s decision-making process was seriously flawed, amounting to maladministration, leading to a denial of human rights for the hundreds of local people including businesses who will be affected.

The campaign group is also preparing to submit a formal complaint to Perth & Kinross Council’s chief executive Bernadette Malone, with a view to taking the matter before the Scottish Executive.

ACRE spokesman Peter Hounam said ACRE’s supporters were not prepared to accept the event was unstoppable: “Our members were angered and dismayed that the Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee’s decided to rubber stamp the application from London promoter, Etape Caledonia. But we weren’t surprised because the council has acted as Etape’s lap dog from the very beginning.

“The so-called consultation process was a farce, shown most vividly when the E&I committee agreed to support the event in principle and set the date of 18 May, before some meetings to gauge local opinion had even been held. When the official report came before the council it claimed the vast majority of local people and businesses were in favour, a mockery of the truth.

“ACRE has about 500 signatures to its petition backing the event only if it is held on open roads, and many have backed this with pledges of cash. We will fight P&K’s monstrous behaviour until it realises the people of Highland Perthshire deserve better from their elected representatives.”

Apart from supporting Etape’s demand for the roads to be closed, P&K is giving the company a grant of £12,000 and has earmarked another £5,000 for ‘promotional activities’ to encourage visitors.