Moray Council’s budgetary woes could hinder ambitious plans to boost safety on a notorious country road.
Earlier this year, the SNP opposition group successfully argued £42,000 should be directed towards start-up work on improvements along the B9016 Buckie-Keith route.
They were backed by Independent administration councillor Gordon Cowie, who represents Buckie, and Fochabers Labour member Sean Morton.
Redesigning the road will cost more than £5million if work is ultimately approved.
But following the decision, Moray Council leader Stewart Cree said it lacked the “strategic value” of the doomed Western Link Road project – which was sensationally scrapped during the same meeting.
And the authority’s corporate director, Mark Palmer, has now been accused of “undemocratic” practices in urging members to vote against progressing with the B9016 project.
Mr Palmer said the first phase of the scheme would involve purchasing land and commissioning design works, and has warned members the money would be wasted if the council could not proceed with the full £5million revamp.
He said: “The council is not in a position to commit to the entire project, and since phase one is restricted to the purchase of land and associated design works, there is significant risk that such expenditure could be abortive.
“Therefore, it is recommended that this be removed from the council’s capital plan for 2016-17.
“The council should not commit to potentially abortive costs of £42,000.”
The B9016 Buckie to Keith route acts as a link between the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness trunk road and the A98 along the coastline.
Buckie councillor Gordon McDonald believes the redesign of the B9016 is vital to the development of Buckie harbour as a thriving port – but say its reputation for accidents needs to be addressed before directing increased traffic along it.
Since 2013, the B-road has been the scene of six crashes, one of which was fatal and another serious.
Last night, Mr McDonald said that bringing the scheme back to the drawing board was “undemocratic”.
He said: “It seems like the council leaders were not happy with this decision, so they are now trying to get it reversed.
“A democratic decision has been made, and this smacks a wee bit of bullying.”