Forres Academy’s replacement build on Applegrove playing field will be directly behind war veterans’ cottages
A father and former soldier claims he is being forced to consider leaving his home because of plans to build a new secondary school.
Simeon Crawford, 57, who has lived at War Veterans Cottages, Orchard Road, Forres, for 10 years, is campaigning to stop Moray Council building a replacement for the aging Forres Academy directly behind his home on Applegrove Primary School’s playing fields.
“All of the veterans here oppose the plans and are concerned about the future,” he said. “The car park will be at our back gate so we will fight the development.
“It’s a settled environment here. Building work will upset that and trigger PTSD.
“Nearby businesses will be affected too and traffic will be even worse than it is now with the traffic lights at the junction with St Catherine’s Road. In fact, three to five years of construction will affect the whole town negatively.”
Simeon attended Applegrove then Forres Academy before serving with his regiment The 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Highlanders in Northern Ireland, Kenya, Belize, Germany, Iraq, the USA and Canada.
He then ran a roofing company in Aberdeenshire for seven years before retiring and being offered a house in his home town.
He said: “The cottage was a mess when I moved in but I put my pension into it. My late wife and I brought our kids up here - it’s just me and the cat now.
“I feel comfortable and safe here. It’s ideal.
“No one has asked me for my opinion on the development. I’m wondering now if I should I stay or should I go?”
Simeone claims the majority of nearby residents oppose the plans for the new build Forres Academy.
He finished: “We are being left in limbo but the council will build here no matter what is said. We attended an early council-run meeting about the development but were ignored.
“Two of my neighbours have left already including one with PTSD. There are six veterans and their kids left. Most of us will have to if the school is built.”
Simeon’s former neighbours Tim and Lisa Weeks confirmed that they moved because of the plans.
Lisa said: “I will never be happy being back down in England but that is a small price to pay for my husband's wellbeing, being ex-military with PTSD.
“Just the thought of the new academy being built outside the back gate was triggering, I can't imagine how he would have been when they start the work.
“Moray Council have made their decision and to heck with anyone else.”
A local authority spokesperson stated that it has not received any direct correspondence from Simeon regarding the project, pointing out that he would have had opportunity to engage via public consultation and engagement events over the past year.
He said: “For the pre-application consultation meeting, we invited engagement from the wider community and did not approach any individual residents directly, as it was an open public meeting.
“However, we’ve responded to contact from two parties in the past, including an organisation representing veterans’ housing, raising concerns about the potential impact of the development on veterans living in neighbouring properties.
“Moray Council has the utmost respect and appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans. We take matters relating to health and wellbeing extremely seriously. As part of the planning process, we’ll publish detailed plans outlining how construction-related impacts such as noise, vibration and dust will be managed.”
The spokesman claimed that, together with appointed contractor Balfour Beatty, the council will approach veterans’ support organisations, representatives of the War Veterans Cottages, military welfare support organisations and the trustees to better understand concerns and offer reassurance.
“Mitigation and support measures will be put in place during construction,” he finished. “We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the wellbeing of all residents, and we’ll take all reasonable steps to minimise disruption for residents throughout the construction of the new school.”
