Moray Council: Call for face-to-face public meetings on major developments
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Public consultations regarding large housing, industrial or infrastructure developments should now be held face-to-face again rather than just online.
That was the view expressed by Graham Leadbitter, the former leader of Moray Council, during the first meeting to be held within the council's chambers since the beginning of pandemic.
Cllr Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) was speaking at yesterday's local authority's planning committee.
What are known as proposal of application notices were presented to the committee about two large developments.
The first was from Keith Renewables Ltd, which put forward initial plans for a battery energy storage system and relevant works next to the electricity substation on Westerton Road in Keith.
These plans also include access roads and CCTV. The batteries are expected to look similar to shipping containers, and will be able to store up to 49.9 megawatts of electricity.
The other proposal of application notice was from William Grant and Sons Distillers for maturation warehouses on around 15 hectares of land to the south of Crisp Maltings at Portgordon.
These plans also includes realigning the path taken by the water in the Core Burn.
Members were asked to give feedback on both proposals ahead of formal planning applications being submitted.
Cllr Leadbitter called for face-to-face meetings to be held as part of public consultations on the proposals.
He said: "We’re in a much better place in respect of the pandemic.
"Some sections of the public don’t have easy access online."
There is no obligation for either developer to hold face-to-face meetings, although both are discussing their proposals with local community councils online.
A three-week exhibition for the warehouse proposal is expected to be held from Thursday, June 9, to Thursday, June 30, with a question and answer session on the first day from 7pm.
It can be accessed at www.wgswarehousingportgordon.co.uk
