Support sought for Elgin bypass
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Moray Council is being asked to back an Elgin bypass – and also raise concerns with the Scottish Government over slow progress on dualling the A96.
Labour councillors Sandy Keith and John Divers will put forward a motion calling on the local authority’s leadership to write to Jenny Gilruth, the Minister for Transport, reminding her of previous SNP commitments to improve the route.
They are also calling for a firm timetable about when the work will begin and end.
Both councillors were involved in an Elgin bypass campaign group in the early 2000s.
That campaign proved unsuccessful with the local authority told to improve the roads infrastructure in the town instead.
Soon afterwards the SNP government gave a commitment to dual the full length of the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.
This commitment was included in the 2007 Holyrood elections manifesto as well as the Scottish Government Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011.
In 2018 Transport Scotland stated its preferred route though Moray included an Elgin bypass.
However, the SNP entered into a power sharing deal with the Greens following the elections last year.
As a result a review is currently being carried out to establish whether dualling the route is compatible with combating climate change.
That review is expected to report its findings by the end of the year.
Cllr Keith (Elgin North), who will put forward the motion at next Wednesday's meeting of the full council, said: "This is something that’s been affecting the people of Moray for quite some time, and it’s an issue that comes up a lot when I speak to folk.
"The roads are getting more and more full and congestion is getting worse.
"It’s an inadequate road system, and I’m hoping we get the full backing of the council.
Cllr Divers, who is seconding the motion, said: "There was a campaign for an Elgin bypass, but here we are 20 years on.
"We need local authorities to put pressure on the government, because it would appear the SNP are bowing to the Greens and this issue is being pushed further and further back.
"We were promised dualling of the A96 would be completed by 2030.
"It will be more like 2050 – that’s if we get it at all."
