Campaigners have urged the Scottish Government to block plans for a road they claim will put lives at risk and ruin their quiet neighbourhood.
Residents In Lossiemouth’s Boyd Anderson Way area have raised objections to proposals which could lead to the creation of an access road to a new 300-home development.
But they have been ruled invalid by local authority officials.
Today councillors could back getting rid of turning areas at the end of the Halliman Way and Fisher Place cul-de-sacs, which would pave the way for forming a direct road to the new homes at Sunbank.
Campaigners, however, want the issue referred to SNP ministers at Holyrood.
Robert Murdoch, John Hamilton and Lee Paxton have been opposed to the access plans since they first emerged two years ago – fearing a huge surge in the number of vehicles passing their front doors.
The trio and three others sent objections to Moray Council’s planners calling for the proposals to be rejected on traffic grounds.
But local authority officers ruled their objections were invalid, meaning the orders to alter the cul-de-sacs could be approved “unopposed”.
Mr Murdoch has now taken the fight to the Scottish Government to ensure their fears are heard.
He said: “It’s contrary to natural justice for the council, not only to be ruling on the orders, but to decide whether the complaints are valid or not.
“If they’re making the decision then it should be somebody else who decides whether the objections are in order.
“It’s ridiculous to even consider the roads to be suitable to be the major access for a large housing development. They’re too narrow, it would be dangerous.”
Mr Murdoch stressed that he was not opposed to the housing plan but believes access roads should be provided off the A941 or B9135 approaching Lossiemouth from Elgin.
The protestors have no concerns about the cul-de-sacs being used as bicycle or pedestrian entrances to the new estate.
In a report to councillors, legal officer Aileen Scott said fears about car access were already debated when the 278-Tulloch of Cummingston housing development was approved last year.
Her report says: “None of the matters raised are relevant to the proposed stopping-up orders and the points raised are covered in separate statutory processes which have already considered and ruled on the issues, although perhaps not to the satisfaction of the parties raising the issues.
“It is not possible for the stopping-up process currently under consideration to try and address the ongoing concerns.”
Three options will be presented to members of the council’s planning committee at today’s meeting.
They could agree with officers and confirm the proposals as “unopposed”, or decide they are relevant and refer them to the Scottish Government, which could hold a public inquiry to resolve the dispute.
The final option would be to allow the status quo to remain, with the council retaining responsibility for maintaining the turning areas on the cul-de-sacs.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are aware of the issue raised by Mr Murdoch, which we will consider and respond to in due course.”
