Elgin Bypass Campaign seeks ministerial meeting

A RESURRECTED Elgin Bypass Campaign is seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Keith Brown.

The Scottish Government has announced its intention to dual the entire length of the A96 by 2030.

A series of public consulations will be held later this year in Moray to discuss the project and the timetable.

The Elgin campaign was launched in 2002 by then editor of ‘The Northern Scot’ Pauline Taylor, in conjunction with the Moray Trades Union Council.

That culminated in a petition containing more than 8,000 signatures going to the Scottish Parliament’s petitions committee.

After the failure of an Elgin bypass to appear in the Scottish Government’s strategic roads programme in 2009, the campaign has been on the backburner.

However, following the commitment by the Government to now dual the trunk road, which will include bypasses for Elgin and Keith, the campaign met to discuss the way forward.

It was agreed to write to the Transport Minister seeking a meeting to press the case for Elgin to be given high priority in the dualling timetable.

Larry Easton, bypass campaign chairman, said: “We have been boosted by the Government’s pledge to dual the A96 and Elgin has to be one of the first communities to get a bypass.

“We have been campaigning since 2002 for this to happen and there remains strong public support for an early resolution to this long standing traffic need for Elgin.”

Meanwhile, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has welcomed Transport Scotland’s plans to hold a series of public exhibitions in Moray next month.

Officials from the agency will be at meetings in Elgin, Forres, Fochabers and Keith to talk through work already progressed and gather views from members of local communities along the route.

A detailed examination of the project is being undertaken over the next 12-18 months before any possible bypass routes may be identified.

Mr Lochhead said: “The A96 is a vital route through Moray with the Scottish Government having already committed to dualling of the route being completed by 2030.

“It is of the utmost importance that Transport Scotland take account of public views during the planning, design, procurement and construction phases of this project.

“I am aware through communication from many constituents that the benefits of dualling the A96 are already widely recognised and hope that as many as possible will make it along to these exhibitions.”

The exhibitions will be held at:

•Forres - Ramnee Hotel, Friday November 15 from 12pm to 7pm.

•Keith - Longmore Hotel, Tuesday November 19 from 12pm to 7pm.

•Elgin - New Elgin and Ashgrove Public Hall, Wednesday November 20 from 12pm to 7pm.

•Fochabers Institute, Friday November 29 from 12pm to 7pm.