Associate members await Transport Scotland's response

FORRES Community Council (FCC) will continue to investigate Transport Scotland's choice of the north route option for the dualled A96, despite complaints.

Forres Area A96 Dualling Action Group (FAADAG), a group formed from the Forres, Rafford, Pluscarden and the Finderne Community Council area, object to what they perceive is unnecessary investigation into the decision to select the north route between Forres and Findhorn rather than the south route through Finderne.

FAADAG chairman Howard Stollar explained: "FCC have carried out an information-gathering exercise in such a way that it appears to be biased towards recommending a dualled A96 South of Forres. "Furthermore, the time for such an exercise has gone as the official consultation with Transport Scotland finished months ago so the focus for FCC should be on how to mitigate Transport Scotland's 'preferred' northern route."

Earlier this summer, FCC associate members Alan James and Mike Miller met with representatives of Transport Scotland to discuss their detailed evaluation of the assessment report prepared by Mott Macdonald SWECO, the consulting engineers appointed to decide which route the road will take from Hardmuir to Fochabers. Despite an expectation from a number in the Forres community that this would go south of the town and connect with housing developments expanding from Grantown Road, the preferred route to bypass Forres is north by Findhorn Bay.

Concerns were raised regarding: the environmental impact during construction; the visual aspect upon completion; the cost to the taxpayer; connectivity to the existing infrastructure; and the effect that the north route may have on the traffic flows within the town.

FCC’s evaluation report was sent to Transport Scotland on April 30 for comment so that the watchdog group would be in a better position to highlight any further concerns.

Following the meeting, a Transport Scotland spokesman promised that a response to Mr James’ comments on the route option assessment report would be issued "shortly".

Mr Stollar said: "If FCC wants to gather views regarding mitigation of the 'preferred' Northern route, information considered and processes used should be unbiased and must consider the needs of all the people and environments under the jurisdiction of the FCC."

FCC chairman Graham Hilditch claimed that his colleagues have not taken a view on the proposed route.

He said: "FCC are waiting for a response from Transport Scotland before we consider things further - at that point we will decide on a course of action, if indeed there is a course of action to follow.

"Individual members and associate members have every right to hold their own personal views, but these views do not represent the view of FCC - this will be decided by discussion and democratic vote.

"FCC have sympathy for members of the public, who may be affected by the route, but our roll is to look after the interests of the Forres public who we represent, to try and address concerns that they may have, and to make the wider public aware of these issues."