In a letter resigning from the Business Improvement District Scotland (BIDS) steering group for Elgin, Graeme Mackenzie said Moray Council planning officers' recommendation for approval of a 50,000 square foot retail park at the former sawmill on Linkwood Road was the "straw that broke the camel's back", and a legal block should be put on further developments until the situation on the High Street improves.

"Elgin requires a moratorium on out-of-town development for the next five years at least, to allow for the centre to weather the current recession and for the impact of the Robertson's development, when it fills, to be assessed," he said.

There would be a total of 135,000sq ft of retail space available between the Robertson and Linkwood developments able to sell any goods other than food. "To put it into context that would be the equivalent of another 10 Woolworths or three more Asdas," he said.

"The council has recently commissioned Hargest and Wallace to produce a retail impact assessment which maintains that such developments will not be detrimental to the vitality and viability of Elgin town centre. Clearly they did not interview town centre retailers, the business community or the public in arriving at their conclusions, but appear to base their findings on hypothetical calculations and the opinions of developers and agents."

He called for strong leadership from the business community and Moray Council, but criticised the local authority's chief executive Alastair Keddie,

director of planning Bob Stewart, Jim Johnston from Moray Chamber of Commerce and council convener George McIntyre for not fulfilling promises to improve car parking and traffic management since the pedestrianisation of the High Street in the 1990s.

In last week's 'The Northern Scot', Mr Mackenzie spoke out against the decision by councillors to allow units at the Springfield Retail Park on Edgar Road to sell any item except food, calling it the "death knell" for the High Street.

The BIDS group aims to increase business opportunities in Elgin town centre as well as making it a more attractive place to visit.

John Russell, councillor for Elgin North, who is heavily involved with the project, said: "Graeme's input to getting the BIDS process off the ground was invaluable, he will be missed. He has been an influential voice for Elgin's independent retailers for many years and has always had Elgin's interests at heart.

"He seems to be singing off with a vary loud broadside that will leave no one in doubt about his opinion on the health of the town centre. However, the BIDS process has now achieved a critical momentum and it will continue towards its objective to revitalise Elgin."

The Linkwood development proposals – by Broom Estates Ltd – will be discussed at the council's planning meeting on March 17.

Meanwhile, Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has asked for a meeting with Elgin town centre businesses to discuss ways of helping the ailing High Street.

He said: "The economic crisis, which has led to the loss of a number of major high street brands, is clearly placing a huge strain on our High Street businesses, particularly the many smaller independent retailers.

"The BIDS scheme, which has been promoted by the Scottish Government, will help to bring investment into Elgin town centre if businesses are supportive of it, but there are other avenues that can be looked at to try and improve the public's use of town centres in the shorter term.

"I am keen to hear first hand from town centre businesses what their biggest challenges are and what their views are on how things can be improved."

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