Concerns have been raised that plans for a new block of flats in the heart of Forres could cause chaos on the surrounding roads.
Developer Redco Milne wants to build 80 flats at the site of a former supermarket on Caroline Street.
Locals have widely welcomed the proposal, saying that new affordable housing is badly required and that the move will offer a boost to flagging High Street businesses.
But Invererne Road resident, Alan Parkin, fears that Redco Milne has tabled a scheme which could wreak havoc on the roads around the centre of the town.
Mr Parkin said the location of the flats appeared to be “inappropriate”, and said basing 80 dwellings there would be “excessive”.
The retired farmer moved from Rafford to the town earlier this year, and said that since that time he had been surprised by the heavy flow of traffic around that area.
He added: “There is very poor road access to the site, which should cause considerable concern.
“A lot of the roads around the development are restricted to single flow as it is.
“By adding another 100 vehicles belonging to the residents of these new flats, the traffic flow will be seriously affected.
“This will detrimentally impact a large number of present residents.”
Mr Parkin issued a plea for Redco Milne to stage a public consultation meeting prior to the proposal going before Moray
Council’s planning committee for consideration.
Redco Milne declined to comment on Mr Parkin’s concerns.
The firm was left disappointed last year when a proposal to create a £20million development on an area of common good land to the east of Forres was rejected by Moray Council.
Residents said that siting a massive shopping complex on the outskirts of the town would cause takings on the High Street to suffer.
After years of controversy, the Bogton Road project was axed by Moray Council’s planning committee last October.
However, despite Mr Parkin’s traffic concerns, Forres Community Council says residents have largely welcomed the plan to create flats on Caroline Street.
Group chairman Stewart Noble said: “This will bring folk into the town, whereas the previous application would have pushed them from the centre.”
