A group of monks, who feared a busy dual carriageway would destroy the serenity of their Moray retreat have welcomed the news the proposal has been scrapped with “shouts of joy”.
Transport Scotland had considered Pluscarden Valley as a potential site for upgrading the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route.
But yesterday, the organisation revealed they had ditched the scheme a year ahead of schedule because it was “too remote” to be viable.
Campaigners welcomed the development as ending uncertainty for residents, who faced having HGVs disturbing the peace near their homes.
Brother Michael De Klerk, a monk at Pluscarden Abbey, said that Transport Scotland’s abandonment of the scheme had brought two years of worry to an end.
He said: “This is almost too good to be true, so we are welcoming this announcement with shouts of joy.
“The idea of having a dual carriageway with lots of traffic rumbling past was horrific.
“But that wouldn’t just affect us, so many visitors from Moray and abroad come out here for the peace which the abbey offers.”
Father Benedict Hardy added: “Visitors love how calm and tranquil this area is. If a dual carriageway was built through the valley, it really would have been a pity.”
Yesterday, Transport Scotland unveiled 34 possible options that remain for the upgrade between Hardmuir, near Nairn, and Fochabers.
More than 200 people attended an exhibition in Elgin within the first two hours of the drawings going on display.
Maps showed options for bypasses to be constructed at Forres and Elgin with junctions to connect the trunk road to local routes.
Tom Hardie, chairman of the Forres Area A96 Dualling Action Group, said: “Nairn is screaming out for a bypass and so is Elgin, so it’s good to see that they will happen.
“That will be considerably better for the area than taking the traffic miles to the south.
“I know some property in Rafford has not sold for two years because of this. It’s good that uncertainty is gone.”
However, JJ Johnston, vice-chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, is eager to ensure the new road can cope with the increased volume of traffic.
He said: “The dualling is going to be a significant step in taking Moray forward economically.
“Sadly, there will be those who will be affected by the progress, represented by the dualling, but that’s an inevitability in something like this which will grow the area’s economy.”
