The Highland Council has confirmed the route for the proposed Inverness West Link route.

Before the decision was made, the Council was asked to consider a notice of motion by five councillors to review the choice of the distributor road. In phase one, this development would take traffic from Dores Road to Torvean via a bridge crossing at the River Ness, before the second phase would transport traffic via a second swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal.

The notice of motion said: "In light of information made available to us, which was not included in the original options and two further options now suggested by the public since Option 6 was voted as our preferred option, we ask that Council consider again their decision to promote Option 6 for the West Link."


However, at a meeting, the Council voted 66 to 6 in favour to progress with the chosen route, therefore rejecting the call for a review.

The chosen route has been endorsed at three separate public inquiries and the decision has been unanimously agreed by 26 Inverness City Committee members, a 16-member cross-party working group and the 80 members of the Council.

Speaking about the decision, Council Leader, Councillor Drew Hendry said: "I am pleased that the Council has overwhelmingly supported the unanimous decision of the Council in March 2012 to progress the chosen route. The route was the subject of rigorous examination and I am convinced the route is the best possible option on technical, environmental and sustainability grounds.

"We have committed £1.3 million to developing this route and we will now press ahead with a planning application by late summer."

(JP/CD)