A major property company has urged landowners to object to the long-awaited Nairn bypass if they have concerns about the planned route.
Savills say that there are anxieties around the proposed dualled A96 and local residents do not feel their concerns are being taken into account.
The estate agency is already acting for a number of property owners along the length and breadth of the A9 and A96 dualling schemes with compulsory purchase order specialists agreeing “disturbance” and “injurious affection” claims for homeowners, landowners and occupiers of land affected by the projects, submitting objections on behalf of clients where appropriate.
Transport Scotland held a series of events last week giving updates on progress on the scheme.
Draft CPOs have also been issued and landowners have until January 31 to raise concerns if they have them.
Jamie Watson of Savills office in Fochabers said: “Even though Transport Scotland has been through several consultations with stakeholders, we are aware that a number of local residents still feel that their concerns have not been fully considered in the final design.
“Now that draft orders have been published it is likely that the only route for these people to voice their concerns will be through formal objection.
“It is important to bear in mind the relatively quick turnaround for formal comments and objections to be submitted.”
Concerns were raised at a public exhibition in Nairn that a public inquiry could yet be needed because of concerns about some stretches of the route, though many were in favour of the long awaited development.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030.
“We have been progressing essential design and assessment work on the Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass, since 2013 as part of the A96 Dualling programme.
“Following a robust evidence based assessment, which included extensive public consultation, the preferred option for the scheme was announced in October 2014.
“Since then we have been taking forward the development and assessment of the preferred option and we recently published draft orders and held a series of public exhibitions to let locals and road users view our plans for the route.”
