Despite the Highland Council reaffirming its support for the Inverness West Link last week, a new motion means it will now have to be looked at again.

According to the BBC, the controversial plans may need to be re-evaluated after five councillors put forward a motion.

The motion to 9th May's full council is understood to ask for the preferred route of the new road to be re-examined.

The five councillors who signed the motion are Jim Crawford, Roddy Balfour, Norrie Donald, Donnie Kerr and Janet Campbell. They said there was new information available regarding the development as well as new ideas for two alternative routes.


In July 2012, the green light was given by the Highland Council for preliminary work to begin on the West Link. The study focuses on the environmental impact caused by the new infrastructure, which could cost up to £27.2m.

The local authority used delegated powers to push ahead with the investigative work.

The Inverness West Link has been proposed as a solution to the city centre's problem of congestion. If the plans went ahead, it would cross the River Ness and Caledonian Canal.

Last week, the leader of the Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry said he was "looking forward" to the publication of a report next month, which would highlight the potential opportunities for increased recreational and tourism provision as a result of the West Link development.

He added that since the decision to proceed with the development last year, the Council had made "significant progress" with the design of the route, and a planning application was expected to be made by the Council in the late summer.

(JP)