Highlands and Islands MSP Douglas Ross will meet Scottish Government transport bosses to raise concerns Moray residents have over dualling the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road.
Mr Ross will sit down with Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, in Edinburgh this week to “ensure he fully understands” the reservations some in the region have over the improvements project.
A series of public events have been scheduled for next week, where the design team responsible for plotting out the 28-mile route between Hardmuir and Fochabers will canvas local opinion on what the best options are.
The Forres A96 Dualling Action Group claims some of the suggested routes could cripple traders’ income by bypassing the region’s main towns.
And the monks at Pluscarden Abbey fear that the option in question could send traffic past their peaceful retreat on the outskirts of Elgin.
Mr Ross, who is also a Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor, said: “A number of constituents have contacted me in recent months quite rightly concerned over possible routes, and I hope that these events will give them the opportunity to air these matters directly to both Transport Scotland and their design consultants.
“I will discuss the project with the Transport Minister, and ensure that he fully understands the concerns people have highlighted to me over the potential impact the dualling may have should the wrong routes be selected.”
Mr Ross encouraged residents with strong opinions on the matter to contact him urgently so that he could raise those issued with Mr Yousaf.
The forthcoming consultation events will take place from noon to 7pm at the Bellie Church Hall in Fochabers on Tuesday, October 4, at Forres’s Ramnee Hotel the following day and in the gallery at Elgin Library on Thursday, October 6.
