Engagement approach

Overview

The purpose of the March 2024 public engagement events was to provide an update on the DMRB Stage 3 Assessment design development for the LTS and progress towards delivering the MTS.

The feedback period ran from 18 March to 10 May 2024 and featured four in-person events and a virtual exhibition room.

Approach

The primary aim of the engagement was to gather feedback on the design development of both the LTS and the MTS schemes.

The feedback-led approach for this engagement was to provide clear and concise information to allow the public and stakeholders to provide their views and comments on the emerging proposals.

The public engagement events and virtual exhibition room were publicised through Transport Scotland’s website as well as the dedicated online A83 Story Map, social media channels, press releases, advertisements, posters and via email. The A83 Taskforce was also informed in advance of the public engagement.

Feedback was collated through the feedback forms available at the events, virtual exhibition room, scheme email address and by post.

Engagement materials

A variety of materials were prepared which were available from 18 March to 10 May 2024 and can be found in Appendix A.

Brochure

An A4,12-page colour brochure provided an overview on the proposed scheme including information on the development of the DFS, environmental surveys, car park overview, progress on the MTS and next steps.

Information boards

A total of 14 A1 size information boards were on display at the public engagement events. The same boards were also available online to view in the virtual exhibition room.

The content of the information boards covered:

  • Welcome information
  • Scheme objectives
  • Design development
  • Ground investigation
  • Debris flow shelter
  • Environment
  • Car park overview
  • Car park progress
  • Medium-term solution overview
  • Medium-term solution progress
  • What happens next
  • Comments and feedback

Poster

An A4 colour poster was produced to promote the public engagement events and the virtual exhibition room. The poster was distributed to libraries, customer service points, education centres, halls, churches, community groups, shops and cafes in Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Lochgoilhead and Arrochar. A full list of poster recipients can be found in Appendix B.

Feedback form

An A4 double-sided colour feedback form was prepared to gather views and comments on the design development work on the proposed scheme. It was the primary feedback tool and included four open questions, which were:

  1. We would appreciate your feedback on the LTS
  2. We would appreciate your feedback on the MTS
  3. Please provide your feedback on how the long-term solution fits with the landscape. Please list the top three things that you consider important to you in how you interact with the landscape at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.
  4. Please provide your feedback on the emerging proposals for the Rest and Be Thankful Car Park and Viewpoint:
    1. Tell us what you think about the existing car park
    2. What opportunities should be considered at the car park

The feedback form was available for completion at the in-person events and in the virtual exhibition room. The scheme email address: A83@wsp.com was also available to allow people the opportunity to email their completed feedback forms. A postal address for hardcopy feedback forms was provided at: Atkins Réalis WSP Joint Venture, 110 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3BX.

Public engagement events

There were four in-person public engagement events held to provide members of the public, local communities and stakeholders the opportunity to view the engagement materials. Staff from Transport Scotland and AWJV attended the events to answer any queries or discuss details of the scheme.

The in-person public engagement events were held at the following locations:

  • South Kintyre Development Trust Hall, Campbeltown on Monday 18 March 2024
  • Lochgilphead Baptist Church, Lochgilphead on Tuesday 19 March 2024
  • Lochgoilhead Village Hall, Lochgoilhead on Wednesday 20 March 2024
  • Three Villages Hall, Arrochar on Thursday 21 March 2024

Transport Scotland offered a range of additional methods for respondents to provide feedback, which aimed to increase inclusivity and accessibility during the feedback period.

Virtual exhibition room

The virtual exhibition room was set up to ensure anyone unable to attend the in-person events was able to view the materials and provide feedback. It went live at the same time as the first public engagement event in Campbeltown. The PinPoint Connect All room included digital copies of the information boards, brochure, feedback form and a three-dimensional fly-through visualisation of the proposed scheme.

A total of 3,306 visitors were recorded to have used the virtual exhibition room between 18 March and 10 May 2024. The room closed on 10 May 2024 and all materials were transferred to the online A83 Story Map.

A screenshot of the virtual exhibition room is shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Virtual exhibition room

A83 Story map

The A83 Story Map is Transport Scotland’s dedicated scheme website which is set up to provide updates on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful project. It was used to promote the engagement events and features all the materials.

Please refer to the A83 Story Map.

Visualisation

A three-dimensional fly-through visualisation of the proposed LTS scheme was displayed on a 42” monitor at the in-person events.

The visualisation was hosted on Transport Scotland’s YouTube channel and was available in the virtual exhibition room as well as the A83 Story Map.

Please refer to the visualisation.

A screenshot of the visualisation is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Proposed scheme visualisation

Engaging with key stakeholders

Transport Scotland and the AWJV project team engaged with stakeholders using a variety of methods (email, social media channels etc).

A scheme email address was used to contact stakeholders, respond to queries and capture feedback. Emails were issued to a wide range of stakeholders, including the A83 Taskforce and individuals who provided contact details from previous engagement events (see Appendix C) inviting them to attend the public engagement events and to make them aware when the virtual exhibition room was live. A copy of the email can be found in Appendix D.

A dedicated telephone line (0131 316 8293) was available from 18 March to 10 May 2024 to accept any queries and was staffed during business hours linking the caller to the project team. The number was included on the information boards, feedback form and brochure.

A number of stakeholders attended the public engagement events on behalf of their organisations, these included community councils, businesses and community groups.

Promotion

Various channels were used to raise awareness of the public engagement events and encourage feedback on the design development work of the proposed scheme and are outlined below.

Social media

The public engagement events and virtual exhibition room were promoted via Transport Scotland’s social media channels. Information included dates, locations, timings of the events and links to the A83 Story Map and virtual exhibition room. Copies of the social media posts can be found in Appendix E.

Emails

Emails were issued on 11 March 2024 to a wide list of stakeholders via the dedicated scheme email address A83@wsp.com to make them aware of the public engagement events and how to submit feedback.

Advertisements

Advertisements were placed in the Argyllshire Advertiser, Campbeltown Courier and Oban Times, and appeared on 29 February 2024 and 1 March 2024. A copy of the advertisements can be found in Appendix F.