Gas company says sorry to Moray towns with £5k donation
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A gas company has given a £5000 donation to Keith and Newmill following the two major supply failures over the winter
More than 4500 households in the area were left without gas for two days at the start of February as temperatures dropped well below freezing.
A similar episode then took place the following month.
SGN has given the donation to Moray Council as a thank-you for the assistance its staff provided during the two outages.
Councillors have agreed to pass the cash on to the Keith Common Good Fund.
Cllr Teresa Coull (Keith and Cullen/SNP) said: "It was a very kind and thoughtful gesture of SGN to donate this money to the towns of Keith and Newmill.
"Although it was uncomfortable at the time for many residents, SGN and Moray Council along with the volunteer group did their very best to alleviate the situation.
"Groups in both towns will be able to apply to the common good fund through Moray Council procedures which will help to benefit their causes."
Cllr Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen/Conservative) said: "The donation is a magnanimous gesture.
"I’m pleased that all Keith and Cullen ward councillors have agreed that the fairest way share this money is via the Keith Common Good Fund.
"It will enable the widest range of the community to apply."
Cllr Laura Powell (Keith and Cullen/Conservative)said: "I'd like to see a broad section of local people benefitting from this money and strongly encourage community groups to apply."
Following the second outage SGN stated that it would overhaul safety equipment which had caused the loss of supplies.
John Lobban, the managing director of its Scottish operations, said: “We’d like to extend our sincere thanks once again to Moray Council for their support while we worked to restore gas supplies.
Full details on common good fund application criteria can be found on Moray Council’s website.
