‘Shouts of joy’ in road victory

A group of monks who feared a busy dual carriageway would destroy the serenity of their Moray retreat have welcomed the news that the proposal has been scrapped with “shouts of joy”.

Transport Scotland had considered Pluscarden Valley as a potential site for upgrading the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route.

But yesterday, the organisation revealed they had ditched the scheme a year ahead of schedule because it was “too remote” to be viable.

Campaigners welcomed the end of uncertainty for residents, who faced having HGVs disturbing the peace near their homes.

Brother Michael De Klerk, a monk at Pluscarden Abbey, said that Transport Scotland’s abandonment of the scheme had ended two years of worry.

He said: “This is almost

“Visitors love how calm and tranquil this area is”

too good to be true, so we are welcoming this announcement with shouts of joy.

“The idea of having a dual carriageway with lots of traffic rumbling past was horrific.

“But that wouldn’t just affect us. So many visitors from Moray and abroad come out here for the peace which the abbey offers.”

Father Benedict Hardy added: “Visitors love how calm and tranquil this area is.”

Yesterday, Transport Scotland unveiled 34 possible options that remain for the upgrade between Hardmuir, near Nairn, and Fochabers.

More than 200 people attended an exhibition in Elgin within the first two hours of the drawings going on display.

Maps showed options for bypasses to be constructed at Forres and Elgin with junctions to connect the trunk road to local routes.