A proposed scheme to create a link road in Elgin has been rejected.

On Thursday, Moray Council's Planning and Regulatory Services Committee voted on whether to approve the plans. The £8.5m was defeated by seven votes to six and the result comes after a public hearing on the scheme which lasted almost two days and heard from representatives both in support and opposed to the plans.

If approved, the Edgar Road would have been extended to meet the southern end of Wittet Drive in Elgin, with a new road bridge constructed over the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line. In addition, a new signalled junction, where Wittet Drive meets the A96 at West Road, would have been created.

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Hundreds of objections had been raised regarding the scheme, with many referring to the grounds of increased traffic on Edgar Road and Wittet Drive, as well as noise pollution and the potential visual impact on residential properties that would be situated along the route.

Those in support of the scheme, however, argued it would help to ease traffic congestion in Elgin and promote economic development.

Commenting on the decision, Councillor Douglas Ross, committee chairman, said: "Planning applications are often controversial and divide opinion and this one was no different but for me, after hearing the public submissions and the responses from the applicant and council officers, I wasn't convinced this road was the best way forward.

"A number of issues remained uncertain, including noise mitigation, projected vehicle numbers and safety aspects. These were just some of the material planning considerations that led me to move refusal of the application and a majority of councillors agreed.

"I'm in no doubt that doing nothing is not an option but this scheme, in this location was not going to deliver the benefits required to take such a monumental decision to approve the application."

He added: "The western link road is not the way forward and campaigners against the route must be commended for the case they presented."

(JP/MH)