Plans for Elgin’s western link road were rejected by Moray councillors today following a one-and-a-half day public hearing.
Members of the council’s planning and regulatory services committee refused the planning application by seven votes to six.
The £8.5million scheme had been promoted by the council as a means of easing traffic congestion in Elgin and helping to encourage economic development within the town.
It would have seen Edgar Road extended to meet the southern end of Wittet Drive and the construction of a new road bridge over the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line as well as a new signalled junction where Wittet Drive meets the A96 at West Road.
The application attracted almost 800 objections and most of the first day of the hearing was taken up with presentations by opponents of the scheme who claimed it would result in increased traffic on Witted Drive and Edgar Road and unacceptable noise pollution and visual impact along the proposed route.
The motion to refuse the application came from committee chairman Councillor Douglas Ross seconded by Councillor Gordon McDonald. The amendment to approve came from Councillor John Cowe and seconded by Councillor Allan Wright.
Councillor Ross said afterwards: “Today’s vote is a culmination of many years deliberations and for the campaigners who erected signs saying, “Are you listening Moray Council?” I think the planning committee showed them we were.
“Planning applications are often controversial and divide opinion and this one was no different but for me, after hearing the public submissions and the responses from the applicant and council officers, I wasn’t convinced this road was the best way forward.
“A number of issues remained uncertain, including noise mitigation, projected vehicle numbers and safety aspects. These were just some of the material planning considerations that led me to move refusal of the application and a majority of councillors agreed.
“I’m in no doubt that doing nothing is not an option but this scheme, in this location was not going to deliver the benefits required to take such a monumental decision to approve the application.
“This saga has gone on for too long and now the planning committee, appointed by the entire council, has spoken. The Western Link Road is not the way forward and campaigners against the route must be commended for the case they presented.”
