Plans for Elgin’s western link road were sensationally rejected by Moray councillors yesterday following a two-day public hearing.
The surprise decision was hailed a “victory” by opponents, who had warned the £8.5million scheme would bring traffic dangers, noise and pollution to the town.
The move to refuse it was led by Councillor Douglas Ross, who said doing nothing was not an option but he and colleagues had taken heed of residents who lodged almost 800 objections.
He said: “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.
“The Western Link Road is not the way forward and campaigners against the route must be commended for the case they presented.”
Members of the council’s planning and regulatory services committee blocked the application by seven votes to six.
It had previously been identified by the local authority’s economic development and infrastructure services committee as a key infrastructure project for Elgin, deemed essential to address growing traffic volume around the town.
Councillor Ross’s motion to reject it was seconded by councillor Gordon McDonald.
An amendment to approve came from councillor John Cowe and was seconded by councillor Allan Wright.
Moray Council chiefs had claimed the £8.5million scheme would ease traffic congestion in Elgin and help to encourage economic development within the town.
It would have involved Edgar Road being 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.
Objectors argued that it would result in increased traffic on Wittet Drive and Edgar Road and unacceptable noise pollution and visual impact along the proposed route.
Councillor Ross said: “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.”
Councillor Cowe, economic development and infrastructure services committee chairman, said: “The Western Link Road is a strategic project for the council, as agreed by my committee earlier this year.
“However, given the decision by the planning committee today to refuse planning permission the council will need to look again at how – or indeed, if – this project is progressed.
“This could include consideration of all available options to manage future growth in traffic within in Elgin, and could entail a revised planning application to mitigate the grounds of refusal by the planning committee.”
Elgin Designing Streets Action Group member Caroline Webster said: “We are delighted. This is definitely a victory for the community of Elgin, but I think, as a community, we will watch it very closely, and we will take a view on how to take it forward.”