The £5million rail station at Inverness Airport has been a key priority for north transport chiefs for more than a decade.
The 568ft platform is expected to be built by December, with the station due to open to passengers before the end of next year.
The development is viewed as vital to accommodate growing airport passenger numbers, the nearby business park and thousands of homes to be built at Tornagrain.
However, yesterday’s debate was complicated by the inclusion of a reference to the nearby Petty level-crossing.
It has been under closure threat for some years as part of Network Rail’s plans to reduce the risk of railway accidents.
Culloden and Ardersier councillors Kate Stephen and Roddy Balfour argued forcefully that its closure was not pre-ordained and should not feature as part of the planning application.
It did, however, because the planning application referred to the crossing not being closed “until the rail halt and its associated 50-space car park have become operational.”
The concerns sparked a prolonged legal debate during which it was made clear by council solicitor Susan Blease that, once an order is made for a level-crossing to close, a single objection would trigger either a hearing or a full-blown public inquiry into the decision.
That option would lie with Scottish Government ministers.