Transport Scotland - A9 northbound Gleneagles Footpath Resurfacing cost: EIR release

Information requested

Can you provide the following information relating to the above roadworks, that are causing unnecessary delays for local road users and are scheduled to be ongoing until 30th October 2026.

Amey describe the works as improvements to the existing footpath “that will provide safer and a more comfortable route for pedestrians, including those accessing nearby businesses and local amenities”.

May I suggest that the above justification for such expenditure is somewhat spurious in view of the fact of the footpath is only infrequently used by the public and doesn’t require pedestrians access for local businesses as the only one in the vicinity is a petrol station.

I shall therefore be obliged if you can provide:

1) Total contract budget

2) Details of the cost benefit analysis justifying the works

3) Which public body authorised the expenditure

Response

For clarity, the subject heading in your email was "A9 northbound off slip for Gleneagles Footpath Resurfacing

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the pinterest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Q1. You requested the total contract budget.A1. Transport Scotland's Operating Company, Amey advises the total contract budget is £177,307.69.

Q2. You requested details of the cost benefit analysis justifying the works.

A2. Under the terms of the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held),

Transport Scotland is not required to provide information which it does not have. We do not have the information you have requested because a cost benefit analysis was not carried out.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about any cost benefit analysis, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

Q3. You asked which public body authorised the expenditure.

A3. The expenditure was authorised by Transport Scotland as the trunk road authority. The works were delivered by Amey on behalf of Transport Scotland under the relevant trunk road maintenance contract.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.