Shock as major road to to pass close to Findhorn Bay

This visualisation was made for Transport Scotland 

Transport Scotland has announced that they plan to build the new A96 dual carriageway right across the countryside between Forres and Findhorn Bay. The new road, which connects Inverness and Aberdeen, passes only 1km from the edge of the Findhorn Bay Nature Reserve. 

This will be a major road, built up to a height of 6-10 metres above the current ground level. It will be visible and audible from the whole area from Findhorn to the North side of Forres. 

The area to the north of Forres is just a few metres above sea level and all groundwater drains straight into Findhorn Bay. At this section, the polluted run-off from the road is planned to be collected in huge ponds next to the Mosset Burn and neighbouring farms. At the recent public exhibition, Transport Scotland's consultants were unable to give assurances about how that polluted water will be treated before it runs into the Mosset Burn and Findhorn Bay. As well as being very fertile land farmed by local families for generations, the area is home to protected and endangered species including skylarks, hares, badgers and bats, and has a peaceful rural character which would be destroyed by the route. 

Many people use the quiet country road for walking, cycling, jogging and riding, and as a route for active travel between Forres, Kinloss and Findhorn. The Government’s own research states that there is not a need for a dual carriageway at Forres, based on traffic volume, however the government maintains a policy to dual the entire route from Inverness to Aberdeen. Only 5% of the traffic on the A96 is travelling the whole route between Inverness and Aberdeen.

This is the single biggest infrastructure project ever to impact Forres. It will change the area permanently. It is crucial that people make their views heard.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN TO TRANSPORT SCOTLAND AND YOUR LOCAL POLITICIANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Please let your friends know that this is happening and that now is the last chance to respond. Millions of pounds have been spent already on a consultation phase and yet many people in the area still do not know about the planned route. 

For more information see:

www.transport.gov.scot/publication/preferred-option-public-exhibition-materials-december-2018-hardmuir-to-fochabers-a96-dualling

Most importantly, please write or email Transport Scotland as soon as possible at the following address:

A96 Dualling Team

Transport Scotland

Buchannan House

58 Port Dundas Road

Glasgow G4 0HF

Email: A96dualling@transport.gov.scot

Email your local politicians

It would be well worth sending your message to local politicians too, as some have begun to get involved in the process.

These include:
Your local Members of the Scottish Parliament (click on their name to send a message to them): Richard Lochhead (SNP); Maree Todd (SNP); Donald Cameron (Conservative); Edward Mountain (Conservative), David Stewart (Labour); John Finnie (Green); Jamie Halcro Johnston (Conservative); Rhoda Grant (Labour); 

Your local councillors: Claire Feaver (Conservative); Aaron McLean (SNP); George Alexander (Independent); Lorna Creswell (Independent).

You could also write a letter to the Forres Gazette, and to the Press and Journal.

New proposals for major dual carriageway passing close by Findhorn Bay

New maps are now available showing three route options for the dualling of the A96 round Forres. Two of the three proposed routes pass between Forres and Findhorn Bay, with the closest route passing just 0.5km from the edge of the Bay.

Consultants have ruled out the possibility of the new dual carriageway following the current footprint of the A96 at Forres, and have instead given 3 options for routes through countryside around Forres: two to the North of Forres near Findhorn Bay, and one to the South of Forres near Rafford. 

This website is for information about the North routes only: readers who would like to find out more about the South routes can see them using the Maps link in the navigation bar above.

Impact on Findhorn Bay area

The proposed roads to the North of Forres will cut right through the drainage basin for Findhorn Bay. It will be seen and heard from the North of Forres right to Findhorn village and throughout the corridor, affecting local residents and tourists alike, as well as impacting important coastal ecosystems, destroying prime agricultural land, and threatening local businesses of national and international significance, such as Benromach Distillery and Christies Elite.

Transport Scotland published this visualisation of the road.

The scale of the road

You can see the scale of the proposed road in the image shown here, taken from a visualisation provided by Transport Scotland's consultants for the Nairn section. The proposed road is a full sized dual carriageway with central reservation and hard shoulders. The width of the road itself is expected to be around 50 metres, but due to the low-lying land, watercourses and local roads in the area to the North of Forres, the road would be raised as much as 9 metres high in some sections – higher, if noise barriers are included. The amount of material required to raise the road this high will extend the footprint to many times this width. In addition to this, huge tanks, many acres in size, will be installed to contain water running off the road, before it drains into the groundwater and then into the drainage systems running towards Findhorn Bay.

In other words, this is the single highest impact infrastructure project this area has ever seen, and its effect will be immense and permanent. The current views that are enjoyed from Forres, Califer and surrounding areas towards the bay and mountains beyond will be irrevocably interrupted by a wide, busy road.

It is crucial that local residents make their voices heard as soon as possible so that Transport Scotland and their consultants (Mott Macdonald Sweco), and local politicians understand concerns that people may have about these proposed roads.

Proposed dual carriageway routes close to Culbin Forest and Brodie Castle

Transport Scotland's latest maps giving the options for routes for a new A96 dual carriageway show options which cross the floodplain and drainage basin for Findhorn Bay, as well as cutting between Kintessack, Brodie and Dyke, skirting the edge of the Culbin Forest. The Purple Route includes a 760m bridge over the River Findhorn, which still lands within the floodplain. Consequences of these routes for the communities at Brodie, Dyke, Kintessack, Broom of Moy and surrounding area would be far reaching. In addition to this, people should be aware that these routes are constantly changing so although people may think that they are not impacted just now, there is no guarantee that by the time the actual route is announced that it won't have moved again.

It is crucial that local residents inform themselves of these proposals and respond to Transport Scotland as soon as possible at the following address:

A96 Dualling Team

Transport Scotland

Buchannan House

58 Port Dundas Road

Glasgow G4 0HF

Email: A96dualling@transport.gov.scot

Transport Scotland's consultants have had several waves of consultation about this project already. The most recent ends on 13^th April, but - even if you miss this date - you should contact them as soon as possible to ensure your views are taken into account. If you wish, you can use their feedback form to make your response, but the important thing is to send your response in whatever form you can so that they fully understand people’s views about the proposals.

Email your local politicians

It would be well worth sending your message to local politicians too, as some have begun to get involved in the process and it is important that they know that there are a range of views around the North and South of the town.

These include:
Your local Members of the Scottish Parliament (click on their name to send a message to them): Richard Lochhead (SNP); Maree Todd (SNP); Donald Cameron(Conservative); Edward Mountain (Conservative), David Stewart (Labour); John Finnie(Green); Jamie Halcro Johnston (Conservative); Rhoda Grant (Labour); 

Your local councillors: Claire Feaver (Conservative); Aaron McLean (SNP); George Alexander (Independent); Lorna Creswell (Independent).

You could also write a letter to the Forres Gazette.