Protesters demand inquiry into third bridge plan for Don

A PROTEST group has called for a public inquiry into controversial plans for a third bridge across the River Don in Aberdeen.

The City Council has drawn up proposals for a new 14.5 million bridge scheme in the hope of easing the gridlock facing thousands of motorists heading into the city on the A90 from the Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh areas.

The proposed route would link the A90 Parkway to St Machar Drive, via Gordon's Mills Road and Tillydrone Avenue.

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But the Don Crossing Communities Alliance (DCCA), formed by five community councils in the area, has now written to Stewart Stevenson, Scotland's transport minister, demanding that he should call in the council's planning application and order a public inquiry into the new bridge plan.

The protesters claim that the proposal is contrary to the Aberdeen City local plan and that the proposed route is based on traffic models from 2004 which are irrelevant in 2010.

Ross Grant, the chairman of Tillydrone Community Council and a member of the DCCA, claimed: "Communities opposed to the third Don crossing have been treated with contempt and their concerns have been totally ignored by the city council time and again."

Mr Grant added: "A number of individuals who own land that the council would require have indicated that they wish to oppose the draft compulsory purchase orders that will have to be served upon them. "

Dewi Morgan, an Old Aberdeen community councillor, said: "A joined-up transportation strategy is required to meet the needs of Aberdeen into the next decade and more. The provision of a bridge to nowhere will just encourage more commuter cars to fight for the same space on the same roads in the centre of Aberdeen, piling up still greater problems."

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