Impacts of the Road

To ensure you have all the available information from Transport Scotland, download their latest exhibition materials (December 2018) about the route options here.

Summary of some of the impacts of the chosen route for the road:
Environmental factors

• Impact of a major road across the sensitive drainage basin for Findhorn Bay
• Risk of contamination of groundwater from huge road surface run-off tanks
• Proposed road would be built on land that is only a few metres above sea level, causing engineering challenges and impacts on the hydrological system
• Impact on flood risk (including existing tidal effect on drainage throughout the basin)
• Impact on habitat for many Red List coastal and farmland species of birds as well as protected mammals
• Threat of water contamination impacting sensitive ecosystems in and around the bay SSSI and Local Nature Reserve

Noise and visual impact

• Road would have to be built up higher than 10m in places, with serious negative impact on views from Forres and throughout the area
• Area is very flat with no topographical features to mitigate visual or noise impact on surrounding area from Findhorn village to the northern areas of Forres. Prevailing wind will carry noise in the direction of Findhorn
• Views from both Forres and Findhorn would be dominated by the dual carriageway

Loss of amenities and active travel

• Destruction of popular routes for non-motorised travel, cycing, walking, running and horse riding 

Economic impact

• Impact on Benromach Distillery, Christies Elite, and other important local, national and international businesses on the route
• Serious negative impact on tourist destinations and tourism businesses at Findhorn Bay, Brodie Castle and throughout the area.
• Destruction of prime agricultural land and impact on farm businesses
• Cost of major engineering works including raising the road above the floodplain and existing infrastructure. An estimated 2.1 million cubic metres of imported material would have to be brought in to build the road up.

There also remains concerns about whether Forres really needs a dual carriageway, and there is evidence to support the case that end-to-end dualling is not the best option for the A96.