This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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A96 Fochabers to Mosstodloch bypass gets go ahead
17/03/2005
A new bypass will improve the quality of life for
residents of Fochabers and Mosstodloch, it was announced
today.
Following careful consideration of the issues raised
during the public local inquiry, Scottish Ministers have
approved the construction of a new bypass. The decision to
authorise the project is in accordance with the Reporter's
recommendation.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"The new bypass will relieve traffic congestion,
increase safety and improve the quality of life for
residents of Fochabers and Mosstodloch. Journey times for
through-traffic using this key route between Aberdeen and
Inverness will be reduced, benefiting the economy in the
North East.
"There have been some concerns about this scheme and its
impact on the environment. Measures to reduce these impacts
will be implemented following detailed consultation with
local residents. A cycleway and footpath which will link
Fochabers and Mosstodloch will also be constructed,
encouraging more people to cycle and walk between the
communities.
"There are clear benefits of reducing congestion for
both communities, regular commuters and visitors to the
area. I look forward to work beginning on this scheme."
A public local inquiry (PLI) was held between 9
September and 28 October 2003. The task for the Reporter
was to consider the pros and cons of the proposed route in
the context of the objections received and to recommend
whether or not the roads orders and compulsory purchase
order should be made.
There has been considerable local objection to the
proposal, particularly relating to the loss of part of the
historic designed landscape of Gordon Castle at the
northern edge of Fochabers and due to the environmental
impacts on adajacent properties. The urgent need for a
bypass of these communities has not been disputed, although
objectors favour a route to the south of Fochabers.
The Reporter has concluded that there would be
significant benefits in terms of reducing traffic
congestion and he has therefore recommended that the
proposal should be authorised. The enabling orders will now
be made. It is anticipated that work could start on the
scheme in 2006, with an anticipated completion date of
2008. The cost of the new bypass will be approximately £22
million.
A detailed environmental mitigation strategy for the
most sensitive section of the bypass through the Gordon
Castle estate will be re-examined and drawn up in
consultation with residents and statutory bodies. The
agreed mitigation measures should ensure the optimum
balance between noise reduction, prevention of pedestrian
access to the bypass and integration with the designed
landscape.
The A96 Fochabers-Mosstodloch bypass was one of five
schemes approved as part of the Strategic Roads Review in
1999. The proposed scheme involves a 5km wide single
carriageway bypass to the north of Fochabers and south of
Mosstodloch. A cycleway-footpath will link Fochabers and
Mosstodloch, with an underpass adjacent to Baxters.
Route options passing to the south of Fochabers were
dropped in 1995 by the then Secretary of State. While
opponents of the current route have suggested that a
southern bypass of Fochabers should be built, this has not
been reconsidered due to the difficulties of traversing the
River Spey water abstraction scheme (the river runs between
the two communities), and also the ecological sensitivity
of the Spey.)