THE LONG RUNNING battle over the creation of a Western Link Road into Elgin took another turn today when it was thrown out of the Moray Council capital plan.
Attempts were made by supporters of the plan in the council chamber to invoke council standing orders to protect the decision to go ahead with the plan.
That dictated that no decision can be revisited until six months have passed – however, Councillors objected to being asked to make a decision on the overall Capital Funding crisis facing the local authority without reconsidering one of the largest projects being planned.
After several delays and two recesses to discuss legal implications, and a warning from council officials over a proposals to delay the decision on any capital projects before the Council, the proposal was made by Councillor Tuke and seconded by Councillor Murdoch that all standing orders be suspended to allow full discussion on all issues.
That was carried by 17 votes to 7 – giving the required two-third majority, and opening the door for Councillor Ross to move that the Western Link Road be “removed from the Moray Council Capital Plan”.
That was seconded by Councillor Coull, the leader of the SNP opposition group, and carried by 13 votes to 11.
Reaction will appear on insideMoray tomorrow.