Plans for nearly 300 new homes in a Moray coastal town have finally been approved – despite mass local opposition to the “absurd” access road.
The development in the Sunbank area of Lossiemouth has been the subject of huge debate since it was first tabled three years ago.
However, the majority of residents fighting the Tulloch of Cummngston application have not been opposed to the housing estate itself – but the access to it.
They were furious at the proposals to use adjacent cul-de-sacs Halliman Way and Fisher Place, which run into Boyd Anderson Drive.
Campaigners – who formed The Stop the Boyd Anderson Drive (Bad) Access group – argued that adding vehicles from 261 households onto the road would turn it into a “dangerous rat run”.
They instead want the routes to stem from the main A941 road into Lossiemouth from Elgin, and the B9135 Murton Road.
And yesterday, protesters and community council members pleaded with Moray Council’s planning committee to reject the scheme on behalf of 63 objectors and 403 petition signatories.
In nearly three hours of submissions, they described using Boyd Anderson Drive as an alternative to the A941 as “absurd”, “dangerous” and a “travesty of fairness and justice”.
The A941 had originally been considered as one of two required access points, but Tulloch of Cummingston manager John Tulloch said yesterday the idea was dropped as the development of the junction was “economically unviable”.
He told councillors it may become a possibility in the future if another developer decides to connect Sunbank Park to the artery road, however, that was “out of their control”.
Councillor Mike McConachie proposed a “compromise” with a motion to support the scheme, on the condition that no construction traffic be allowed to use the Boyd Anderson Drive route during building work, which was seconded by council convener Allan Wright.
But Councillor Douglas Ross shared the views of objectors that the Boyd Anderson Drive access was “inadequate” and moved to reject the scheme because the A941 had been ruled out.
The tense vote came back five a piece, with committee chairman Chris Tuke eventually using his casting vote to push it through.
Afterwards, Mr Tulloch welcomed the decision and said: “It has been a long day, and stressful as well, but we’ve got the decision we hoped we would get.
“Albeit, the last-minute condition will make it extremely difficult to develop that first stage of development.
“But, ultimately, we are able to move on with the project, which we are happy about.
“It’s been a long journey. It’s been probably three or four years since we started this process, so it is good to finally get there.”
But dejected campaigner Robert Murdoch hit out at the manner in which the decision was reached.
He said: “We are very, very disappointed, particularly as it was so close.
“I think that the concept of Moray Council’s planning department fell apart today.
“How can they set out a local development plan which they spent two years bringing together, then just turn it over in this way and approve this development against all the opposition of the people of Lossiemouth?”