Moray Council scraps controversial A96 Western Link Road
Plans for A96 Western Link Road project have been abandoned.
Moray Council's scrapped its proposed A96 Western Link Road project.
The ÂŁ8.5million development was meant to relieve congestion on the west side of Elgin, but the local authority's come under fierce opposition to the plans.
Councillors have narrowly voted (13-11) to abandon the scheme.
It means the local authority needs to repay ÂŁ2.7million to a housing association for land which was part of the proposed development.
Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative Councillor for Fochabers-Lhanbryde, claims to have secured support from councillors to scrap the development.
He's told MFR News that following today's decision the project will no longer progress.
He said: "It was a long meeting with various deferrals and adjournments but ultimately we got to the correct decision.
"There have been people on both sides of this argument for decades. There have been false hopes for opponents before when planning permission was refused only for the project to be brought back in just a few days later.
"I have always said that it was the wrong proposal in the wrong location and today brings years of representing these views in the council chamber to an end.
"The dire financial situation led to the vote being proposed and the Western Link Road being scrapped. It was clear that this project, simply on financial grounds, could not be a priority over other projects while our capital plan was unsustainable.
"When the planning committee I chaired refused the application I thought the project had come to an end but it was quickly resurrected. The vote now taken by the council is clear and final, the Western Link Road is now scrapped and I know many people who have been campaigning against this for many years will welcome this outcome."
But the decision has been described by Fraser Grieve from the Scottish Council for Development and Industry as "disappointing".
Mr Grieve told MFR News: "From an economic point of interview, the A96 is clogged up through Elgin, and it's really strangling the growth through the area.
"This project would have helped to open up new land for development, and would ultimately have brought in new investment, supported economic growth, provided additional housing. Now all of those areas are in jeopardy."