West relief road change plans published by Moray Council

Relief road changes published
Relief road changes published

PROPOSED CHANGES TO plans for the Western Link Road in Elgin have been published by Moray Council.

Road width, pavements, junction and signage improvements are amongst the 32 requests being implemented to the plans – with 21 having been accommodated in the current design, the local authority reported on Sunday.

However, some suggested changes have not been implemented either because they conflict with other requests or had no real benefit, were illegal or were unworkable. The changes were first presented to those objecting to the plans at a workshop earlier this year – it was noted that no objector sought changes to the new rail crossing, which the local authority says is one of the main benefits of the project.

Councillor Stewart Cree said: “The project consultants and engineers from the council’s own team have been working to resolve the objectors’ concerns, and I’m delighted to see that the majority have been resolved.

“I expect a revised planning application to be submitted early in the New Year that will include all these agreed changes.

“It is vital that this link is built if we are to prepare Elgin for its future development – the existing roads infrastructure is already straining to cope with the limited rail crossing options. With new houses being built all the time and hundreds more planned it is incumbent upon us as councillors to take a strategic view and plan for that growth.”

A revised planning application is expected to be lodge with planners next month with a view to it being put before the planning and regulatory services committee early in the summer.

The changes are detailed on the Moray Council website.