Debate opens up for the Common Good

BOGTON residents have decided not to rest on their laurels, waiting for Redco Milne to submit a detailed planning application for a proposed development on Common Good land.

Instead, they have thrown an open day ‘celebration of their community’ event, which was well attended and gathered responses from members of the public, about what, if anything, they would like to see on their land.

There was, apparently no overall movement in favour or a retail development, nor was there an over-arching theme to preserve the Status Quo. although it goes without saying that both of these things would be the preferred choice of some.

Instead, there seems to be a feeling, that the land could serve the community in some way and residents came up with a numer of suggestions, which included the usual call for youth facilities, with other suggestions from an orchard to an outdoor gym and playpark also being thrown into the melting pot.

Meantime, a local councillor who agreed to organise a public debate, now says there is little point in doing so, until after developers submit detailed planning application. Essentially, this would suggest that he is quite happy for developers to lead the debate on what should happen to the Common Good land. the idea that the public could use the land, and decide what they want to see on it, is a refreshing one. There will be pitfalls such as money, and no doubt some disagreement about what could happen; maybe a community shop could be added into the mix, although it is unliekly developers would be interested in something so small scale.

Meanwhile, the developers have informed the ‘Gazette’ that they intend to submit full planning application, so it is likely that their next step will be an offer put forward by them, to buy or lease the land they need. Moray Council will have to decide on the best course of action. The best that the local community can hope for is that someone else takes a debate forward and that common sense prevails.

Does Forres need another supermaket? Will it bring the suggested numbers of jobs? Will it benefit the community? Do The Can sneed a new stadium?

Are we any further forward. No, if you are prepared to elt the local authority make all teh decisions. Yes, if the community acept that they are in this together, and agree to work together, trying to make the best assets work for everyone.

Not easy.

On a different note - there has been some concern raised via the ‘Gazette’ social media pages, about film-makers who are in town, at the moment, creating a low budget production which has some strange twists and turns. There has been some suggestion that film-makers are not portraying the town in it’s best light. But film makers have assured the ‘Gazette’ that this is not their intention, and will be replying to concerns in the next issue.

And finally, Culture Day came to Forres on Saturday, and was a well attended, well enjoyed event, with a range of performances, around the Forres,m Findhorn and Kinloss area, which were sponsored with a range of grant funding, and involved various local groups, who were able to showcase what they do. Well done them. Next year should be bigger and better.