Road improvements to the A96 – Highland Council’s statement of case at the public inquiry - encouraging sustainable modes of transport?

Thanks to Lamplighter for the link to the following document:

“ APPLICATION FOR ERECTION OF CLASS 1 RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, PETROL FILLING STATION, ASSOCIATED ACCESS ROAD, CAR PARKING, LANDSCAPING AND ANCILLARY WORKS AT FORRES ROAD, NAIRN FOR PETTIFER ESTATES LTD

(THC REF: 07/099/OUTNA) (DPEA REF: NA/HLD/045) JANUARY 2009

STATEMENT OF CASE BY THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL”

Here’s a wee bittie from section 6 - Draft Conditions & S75 agreement

"15. Prior to the occupation of any part of the development hereby granted the following improvements to the road network shall be implemented to the satisfaction of the Council, in consultation with Transport Scotland, in accordance with the details submitted to and approved in writing by the Council;

(i) Modification of the A96(T) Forres Road/Tom Semple Road junction, generally in accordance with Colin Buchanan Figure 3.2 of the Transport Assessment submitted in support of the application,

(ii) Modification of the A96(T) Inverness Road/Moss-side Road priority junction generally in accordance with Colin Buchanan drawing 132461-SK-01,

(iii) Modification of the A96(T) Academy Street/Seabank Road priority junction, generally in accordance with Colin Buchanan drawing 132461-SK-02,

(iv) Modification of the A96(T) Academy Street/Albert Street priority junction, generally in accordance with Colin Buchanan drawing 132461-SK-03,

(v) Modification of the A96(T) Forres Road/A939 priority junction, generally in accordance with Colin Buchanan drawing 132461-SK-04,

(vi) Traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing over the A96(T) Forres Road to Balmakeith Industrial Estate,

(vii) Bus lay-bys and shelters on the A96(T) Forres Road in both directions.

Reason: To mitigate the impact of the development on the road network, and encourage sustainable modes of transport."

Now that all talks of modifications – did that mean lights? Looks like it doesn't it? If so then Highland Council officials should have warned their members for Nairn and the Community Councils perhaps about what was coming. Lamplighter had a few more points to make in a comment but unfortunately we don’t have the resources to follow them up effectively. I’m sure students of how these lights came about will find this document of particular interest however, and will thank Lamplighter for drawing it to our attention.