Councillors today refused planning permission for the controversial Western Link Road in Elgin.
The decision came after a two-day hearing that heard from planning consultants acting for the Moray Council, and 22 individuals who wished to address the committee on their views on the scheme. Councillors voted 7-6 against the scheme.
The scheme was previously identified by the council’s economic development and infrastructure services committee as a key infrastructure project for Elgin, and deemed it essential to address growing traffic volume around the town.
Councillor John Cowe, who chairs the economic development and infrastructure services committee, said today: “The Western Link Road is a strategic project for the council, as agreed by my committee earlier this year.
“However, given the decision by the planning committee today to refuse planning permission the council will need to look again at how – or indeed, if – this project is progressed.
“This could include consideration of all available options to manage future growth in traffic within in Elgin, and could entail a revised planning application to mitigate the grounds of refusal by the planning committee.”
After the meeting, local residents and link road objectors spoke of their delight at the decision.