A9 Dunkeld
The DCS received an Expression of Concern from Atholl Estate and on 6 May 2004 the stretch of road became a Priority Site. Work was carried out between DCS, the estate, the trunk roads authority and the police and it was agreed to cull the deer using a Section 10(4) authorisation at the end of the close season, as per DCS guidance, if fallow deer continue to cause concerns at roadside sites.
Tayside Police reported 12 “accidents” had occurred in the first 10 days of November 2005 within the Priority Site. Most of these “accidents” were subsequently defined as dead deer at the side of the road although 2 cars were reported sufficiently badly damaged to be written off following collisions with deer during this time period within the Priority Site. Following discussions between DCS, Tayside Police, Atholl Estates and SE-Trunk Roads Network Management Division, a 10(4) authorisation was issued on 12th December 2005 to kill deer at night on the A9 between the Rottmell Farm junction and the Jubilee Bridge on the grounds of reducing danger to public safety. The authorisation was current for 28 days. Tayside Police closed the road for short periods while deer were shot. A total of 9 deer were shot but sightings suggested this was a small proportion of the deer using the area. Deer were surprisingly lamp shy which hindered culling.
DCS will now consider all further options to reduce the risk to public safety
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