The 24-page Spirit of Community' Community Plan 2024-2034 has been compiled over the last two years
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NEARLY 40 residents attended the town hall for the launch of a scheme to improve Forres.
The 24-page 'Spirit of Community' Community Plan 2024-2034 has been compiled over the last two years by Forres Area Community Trust (FACT), Forres Area Forum (FAF) and Moray Council following extensive public consultation.
FAF chairwoman and Forres In Bloom secretary Sandra Maclennan confirmed local groups and residents are encouraged to read the findings and help prioritise the areas of improvement listed.
She said: "We were very pleased with the attendance of 37 while there were other events in town. We had a good representation of groups which would be able to take priorities forward.
“It all started with a need for local improvement plan suggested by former Moray Councillor Lorna Creswell. This led to the first Spirit of Community document in 2014 then the Forres 2020 Vision document six years later.
“We’ve assessed a vast amount of data collated via our public consultations. The result is a short report with useful links at the back. The data will be useful as evidence for groups seeking funding and more.”
She added: "The next steps are to study the responses and to form groups to formulate plans to deliver the priorities.
"We will meet every six months to check progress and have a full review in three years time."
Views and ideas of residents of all ages regarding enhancement of the area are presented in the Spirit of Community Plan with the themes: The Local Environment; Transport, traffic and access; Leisure, tourism and heritage; Facilities and services; Cost of living; and Young people.
Under each are subheadings of 'Priority', 'Action' and 'Community engagement ideas'.
Two pages offer snapshot statistics of the area aimed at using demographics to suggest priorities.
These include: there is a higher proportion of one-person over-65 households in Forres than that of Moray and Scotland; there is a larger proportion of households with no vehicle in the area compared to the Moray average; Forres has a proportionally lower number of 16-17-year-olds in full time education than Moray and Scotland; the unemployment rate for younger people in Forres is higher than national and Moray levels; more residents in Forres provide over 50 hours of care per week than the Moray and national rate; and Forres has a higher rate if incidents of antisocial behaviour compared to Moray statistics.
Community support officer Laura Cameron was also delighted with the attendance at Forres Town Hall.
She said: "The plan was well received. Attendees shared how they felt priorities could be progressed and how we could work together.
"The next stage is to collate the feedback and share with those who attended, along with a wider promotion of the plan."
She added: "Attendees felt themed subgroups should be formed and there should be regular updates.
"We need more community volunteers to support the steering group. Anyone interested in joining, please get in touch via laura.cameron@moray.gov.uk or 07988152261.
