Moray councillors will today decide whether or not to revive plans for an Elgin Western Link Road (WLR) just over a week after a planning application was thrown out.
The proposed route between Wittet Drive and Edgar Road has been subject to at least 30 reports to the council or its committees over the last 12 years.
A report to members at today’s meeting of the economic development and infrastructure services committee (EDISC) presents councillors with two options – either “work towards submission of an amended application as soon as possible” or “accept the decision of November 13 as signalling the end of the WLR as a strategic project.”
Despite planning and regulatory services committee members voting against the latest plan 11 days ago, council officers maintain that the road is a “crucial part of the Elgin traffic management programme”.
However, campaigners fighting the link road have said “enough is enough” and the time to let the idea die once and for all has now come.
While initially outlining the two available options to voting councillors, the report – from Stephen Cooper, head of direct services at Moray Council – goes on to state: “The WLR has long been a fundamental part of development of the Moray economy. It addresses a number of transportation needs and supports the local plan, Moray 2023 and Moray Economic Strategy.
“Its purpose is to support existing and future development and its absence will impact on congestion and potentially restrict housing development and economic growth.”
Speaking last night, Elgin Designing Streets Action Group member and Wittet Drive resident Caroline Webster said: “This is exactly what we expected, and we will keep fighting it. Obviously, as a group, we are really hoping that the whole proposal is taken off the agenda completely.
“The whole community would like the planning decision to be accepted and for this to be the end of the whole proposal.
“We almost think there’s a human rights issue with all of this. It’s been going on for 14 years. It’s been voted against by the community and the councillors all that time, and it keeps resurfacing in various forms.
“Our community has been blighted by this for 14 years. It affects the marketability of our homes and our general well being having to worry about it all the time. Enough is enough. It’s time to give it up. “