Forres neither wants nor needs this

ALTHOUGH I was born and brought up in the USA, I’ve been lucky enough to have lived half my life in this beautiful part of the world. Reading the front page of this week’s Gazette made me want to weep.

Redco Milne has offered to build Forres a new football stadium. To state the obvious, they want a return on their investment - to construct a soulless shopping centre filled with multi-national outlets that they describe as ‘an extension to Forres town centre’. It’s a complete misconception to believe that spending money with a ‘national retail operator’ will help our local economy (see Pluggingtheleaks.org).

Just look at what’s happened in America and more locally, Elgin’s Edgar Retail Park. How’s that going? Do our elected councillors really think that Redco Milne is doing this out of the goodness of their hearts? I was under the impression that the people of Forres have clearly stated they neither want nor need a retail complex. This is nothing more than acquisition by stealth.

It’s time for our community to lead the way to build a creative, new paradigm as the old one is well and truly collapsing around us.

Davy Jones

Blackhills Cottage

Rafford

Forres IV36 2SJ