Regeneration plans for six Moray towns go out for consultation
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Parking must be retained for people living in rural areas if communities are to be regenerated and inclusive.
That was the message from some councillors discussing proposals aimed at breathing new life into six Moray towns yesterday.
Members of Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee agreed draft town centre improvement plans for Aberlour, Buckie, Dufftown, Forres, Keith and Lossiemouth and for them to go out for public consultation.
The aim is to make each more attractive for people to live in and tourists to visit by improving pedestrian and cyclist access, promoting heritage, restoring buildings and creating more environmentally friendly spaces.
However, some councillors felt the move towards encouraging walking and cycling should not detract from those who need to use a car for health reasons or because they stay in more remote locations.
Cllr Derek Ross (Speyside/Glenlivet, Independent) said: "I’ve lived in Speyside for over 40 years and I know that people shop and interact in Aberlour and Dufftown.
"Most people from Glenrinnes, Glenlivet and Tomintoul go to Aberlour and Dufftown and they take their cars, so we must retain parking for people."
Cllr Sonya Warren (Buckie/SNP) told the meeting residents had already spoken to her about the plans to reduce parking in Buckie's Cluny Square around the area of North Church.
Mrs Warren asked: "What about deliveries, access to the church hall and access for disabled people and mothers with young children and buggies?"
While accepting the need to encourage walking and cycling, cllr Frank Brown (Elgin North Conservative) asked for people who have to rely on their car not to be forgotten.
He said: "These towns are all areas where people come to who live much more rurally, and there’s poor connectivity for people who live outside these settlements to shop and socially interact.
"That means people have to use cars."
A sum of £200,000 is available for the proposals with the aim of attracting matching funding from external sources.
Proposals in Aberlour include enhancing the Alice Littler Memorial Park to make it a more vibrant space.
In Buckie they involve improving Cluny Square for the purpose of holding civic events as well as showcasing the town’s historic buildings.
Supporting the refurbishment of the clock tower in Dufftown is one priority, as is helping to turn Forres Town Hall into a multi-purpose community hub.
Reidhaven Square in Keith is in line for an upgrade, while in Lossiemouth there are proposals for the regeneration of the esplanade and Clifton Road.
Bringing in public wifi for all six towns centres will be looked at, as will the introduction of electric vehicle charging points.
The eight-week online consultation began yesterday and will runs until Monday, March 14.
A series of virtual meetings will be held with community councils and other interest groups, with one-to-one sessions also available.
Comments, including those made by councillors, will be collected and reported back to the committee in the summer.
Related article: What it might mean for each individual town
