Moray in 1983: Elgin by-pass 'almost certain' to be abandoned
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Taken from the files of the Northern Scot on Saturday, July 9, 1983
Elgin's bypass – which has featured for years in long-term plans for the town's future – is almost certain to be abandoned.
Moray District Council feels the relief road has largely eliminated the town's traffic problems and that the need for a by-pass no longer exists.
But as long as it remains as a line on the Scotland Development Department map it is a definite impediment to the town's development, particularly in regard to housing.
The by-pass has existed on paper for some decades but following a meeting of the district council's policy and resources committee in Elgin on Wednesday it seems certain that the ghost road will go.
Chairman of the planning committee Councillor J C Russell (Cathedral) raised the matter and referred to the proposed housing developments in the Reiket Lane and Linkwood areas of the town.
He asked: "Would it not be the best thing at this time to abort the plan because wo much depends on our housing needs."
Already one developer's housing plan had been deferred because they were continually told the area would have a humped back bridge for the by-pass.
"Since the building of the relief road we have seen a great difference in the traffic flow in Elgin," stated Councillor Russell.
"I think it sufficiently meets our needs for today, and perhaps 20 or 30 years into the future."
"I would rather see the by-pass laid aside so that we can encourage them to go ahead with others. Press on with Forres and Lhanbryde and leave Elgin in the meantime so that we can get out housing and other associated plans taken into consideration."
Councillor J M Anderson (Heldon), council chairman, said: "Everyone seems to accept the fact the by-pass in not likely to happen. That being so let us start taking steps to look at what is left and what we should do now.
"I would ask planning, housing and the legal department to look at it and get in touch with the Scottish Development Department and let us have a re-think about the whole thing."
