Approval has been granted to develop for a £100,000 transport strategy for Elgin in Moray.

Councillors agreed yesterday, 07 June to create a new 'masterplan' following proposals for the western link road being scrapped.

While £100,000 of funding will be committed towards designing a new strategy, members were told a plan of this scale would normally take six months to a year to complete, costing £250,000.

However, the transport model for the abandoned western link road project could be utilised to help reduce costs.

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Transportation manager Nicola Moss said: "This must be prepared as a priority due to anticipated developments and the local development plan review cycle.

"Without a clear plan for delivering transport infrastructure in a strategic manner, there is a risk that Elgin's roads network will not develop in a way that can meet the increasing demand from population and employment growth.

"The western link road had previously been viewed as a strategic project of the council and work must now be done as a priority to identify alternative options to address transportation issues in Elgin."

Consultations will be held with the public to help form the strategy and these will begin at the start of the study period.

Mrs Modd added: "The views and experiences of everyone who uses Elgin's roads network are vital to make sure the work we are doing represents people's everyday needs and aspirations."

(LM)