A large emergency service response was called to the Torridon Park area of Forres on Sunday night. Firearm officers were called to a property in the Torridon Park area of Forres at around 8pm on Sunday after reports of concern for a person. Around half a dozen police vehicles, ambulances and specialist firearms officers were at the scene. A 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.05pm on Sunday, May 4, 2025, officers were called to a concern for a man within a property in Torridon Park, Forres. “Officers attended and a 34-year-old man was later arrested in connection. He is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. “A report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" A MAN has been arrested after a residential street was locked down by armed cops Emergency crews were scrambled to Torridon Park in Forres Officers raced to the scene after receiving a call relating to a concern for a man within a property Cops cordoned off the area and around five police motors and an ambulance were spotted on Grant Drive He is due to appear in the dock at Elgin Sheriff Court tomorrow A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.05pm on Sunday, 4 May, 2025, officers were called to a concern for a man within a property in Torridon Park, Forres. “Officers attended and a 34-year-old man was later arrested in connection. "He is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 6 May, 2025. Elsewhere in the northeast, police believe a Welsh teenager missing for a week may have travelled to Aberdeen The 15-year-old, known only as Brandon, disappeared from Blaenau Ffestiniog in northwest Wales on April 29 Welsh officers believe he may have used public transport to travel to Aberdeen on the same day he vanished Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here A man is due in court after armed police were called to a house in a quiet residential area of Forres Officers were spotted in the Grant Drive area in the west of the Moray town around 8pm on Sunday There were several police cars parked on Grant Drive and Torridon Park Police also confirmed specialist armed officers were called to assist The road connected to Torridon Park was cordoned off by officers who were seen patrolling the area Police have now confirmed a 34-year-old man has been arrested following reports of a concern for a person A spokesperson said: “Around 8.05pm on Sunday officers were called to a concern for a man within a property in Torridon Park “Officers attended and a 34-year-old man was later arrested in connection He is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday “A report will be forwarded to the procurator fiscal.” Our reporters are working to bring you the latest updates on this developing story Please check back later for more and follow The Press and Journal on Facebook for breaking news Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments The £1.3m facility in Forres was developed by the charity Erskine. The £1.3m centre, developed by the charity Erskine, already boasts more than 300 members. Shaun Moat had served for eight years in the RAF when he was medically discharged for loss of hearing. He told STV News: “The centre has been a lifeline for me. I was in a very dark place before it opened and now I am here all the time and co-ordinate our newsletter. It’s made a huge difference to my life.” The centre was officially opened by Erskine Ambassador Scott Meenagh, a former paralympian. He said: “To know that Erskine will always be here to support me and others who may need it is a great comfort.” Fiona Robinson, a centre volunteer who served with the Women’s Royal Air Force, added: “When you walk through the door you don’t know anyone but they are quickly becoming like family.” More than 300 veterans have already signed up to join the new centre and it’s hoped that more will open across the country in the future. Home   News   Article Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with a “serious assault” in New Elgin which left another man in hospital A 28-year-old man was seriously assaulted and 63-year-old woman assaulted in Main Street at around 10pm on Saturday The 28-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident and police launched an appeal for witnesses In an update this morning (Saturday, May 3) officers confirmed that three men have now been arrested and charged in connection with the incident and will appear in court at a future date a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10pm on Saturday officers received a report of a serious assault on Main Street A 28-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment 27 and 19-years-old - have been arrested and charged and are due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday “Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting ‘incident 3818 of April 26’.” we know the value you place on trusted local journalism At The Forres Gazette we are committed to delivering the very best coverage from communities right across our area and we can only do this with the support of our readers By becoming a subscriber you not only support us in this mission including unlimited access to our website and digital editions of all our weekly newspapers Head to the subscribe page to claim this offer The button can be found above the newspaper masthead at the top of this page Use the promo code PHILIPMURRAY to get a year of unlimited digital access for just £20 - we really appreciate your support The organiser of a Star Wars-themed open day was delighted with the event’s success has a garden - and some indoor space - dedicated to his favourite film franchise May 4 is recognised as ‘Star Wars Day’ due to fans coining the phrase ‘may the fourth be with you’ Mark took the opportunity to open his garden up to attendees on this special day - with more than 100 passing through on the day They had the chance to see his exhibits - all of which he has made himself from scratch - including a newly-designed ‘Star Destroyer ship’ Mark is hosting another open day on Saturday The historic Dallas Dhu Distillery has been awarded “Best New Event” at the 2025 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival for its remarkable experience Drams from the Archives a tour and tasting that captivated whisky lovers and industry experts alike is one of Speyside’s most beloved closed distilleries it remains an evocative symbol of whisky heritage and a beacon of potential revival under its current custodians The winning event marked the first time the distillery had opened its doors to the general public since the pandemic offering a rare glimpse into a landmark of Scotland’s whisky past Drams from the Archives offered guests a unique opportunity to step inside the mothballed Victorian-era distillery and still house before settling in for an exclusive tasting of five incredibly rare Dallas Dhu single malts all distilled in the late 1970s and early 1980s The event’s originality and historical richness captured the spirit of the broader festival the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival celebrates the region’s legendary distilleries It brings together enthusiasts from around the globe for tastings and one-of-a-kind events that honour the world’s most iconic whisky-producing region Whisky writer and festival judge Jonny McCormick praised the Dallas Dhu event as “an exemplary experience for those lucky enough to grab a ticket,” adding that “the welcome return of Dallas Dhu Distillery will make a significant impact on the Spirit of Speyside Festival and the wider whisky world in the years ahead.” and engaging in a spirited debate over the distillery’s signature style during a curated archive tasting of independent bottlings also joined the group for the final dram in the atmospheric barley loft underlining the personal commitment behind the site’s careful stewardship This year’s Best New Event award came amid stiff competition from several innovative experiences across Speyside the final pre-expansion Aberlour Distillery tour fine dining at Linn House with chef Jack Stein and a live podcast recording of Not Another Whisky A residential road in Forres was closed last night as armed police were called to a house in Torridon Park Several police vehicles and an ambulance attended the incident which went on till late at night A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.05pm on Sunday More news and comment can be found on our Facebook page Forres Local, and our group Forres Loves Local. Or get our news in your inbox by subscribing at forreslocal.com/subscribe If you have news to tell, or want us to feature your business or organisation, email editor@forreslocal.com We are winners of the Digital Community category in the Scotland Loves Local Awards 2023. Read more Have you got news about something happening in the Forres area Email: mail@forreslocal.comPhone: 01309 255060Messenger: m.me/forreslocal A man has been arrested after a large police presence was called to a residential area in Forres Around half a dozen police vehicles and ambulances were on the scene in the Torridon Park area of the town on Sunday night The street was cordoned off and a 34-year-old man was arrested He is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court tomorrow (Tuesday A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 8.05pm on Sunday “He is due to appear at Elgin Sheriff Court on Tuesday Home   Sport   Article The celebration went long into the night in the Jewel of the North Lossiemouth United are the champions of north junior football’s second tier after their nearest rivals faltered on Saturday In only their third season back from a six-year stint of abeyance, United won the Championship crown having recently secured promotion to the Premier Division After defeating New Elgin 1-0 in their final league game Lossie were guaranteed a top two place and a step up in divisions They also held a handsome lead at the top of the table and only Buchan side Longside could catch them if they won all of their remaining games That possibility crashed on Saturday when United manager Scott Campbell’s former club Forres Thistle held Longside to a 1-1 draw making the coast side uncatchable in the title race It kicked off a big celebration in Lossiemouth on Saturday night United are still in two cup competitions and must shake off any hangovers in time for tomorrow night’s trip to face Premier Division side Dyce in the quarter-finals of the Domino’s North Regional Cup Victory would keep Lossie’s treble hopes alive as they also face New Elgin in the semi-finals of the Elginshire Cup sponsored by Alex Lauriston Industrial and Garage Doors Ltd United will also be presented with the Championship trophy that day A driver is to stand trial charged with killing a motorcyclist in a fatal crash is said to have struck Andrew Wright on the A96 Alves to Forres road in Moray on July 30 was behind the wheel of a Hyundai i10 when it is claimed she attempted to overtake a camper van when it was unsafe to do so Prosecutors state she failed to maintain a proper lookout and be aware of oncoming traffic It is alleged McIntosh eventually went onto the wrong side of the road and into the path of Mr Wright This is said to have resulted in her hitting the 34-year-old was left so severely hurt that he passed away there The case called for a brief hearing at the High Court in Glasgow McIntosh faces an accusation of causing death by dangerous driving said: "Mrs McIntosh tenders a not guilty plea to the charge." The solicitor advocate added he was ready for a trial to be fixed Prosecutor Leanne Cross said two witnesses in the camper van that day will give evidence via video link from New Zealand Their pre-recorded testimony will then be played to jurors Lord Renucci went on to state: "I will fix a trial for February 10 2026 in the High Court in Aberdeen." Moray Council is inviting the local community to take part in an eight week consultation on the proposed disposal of land at Clovenside Cemetery The land is held on the Forres Common Good Account and being considered for sale to the Forres Baptist Church The transfer does not include the cemetery itself and car parking to visit the cemetery will not be affected The proposed sale of the land includes the church premises and the car parking area between the church and the cemetery Proceeds from the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good Account and distributed within the local community This sale aims to avoid any future vacant property liabilities for the Forres Common Good Account The council is asking for the views of the community on this proposal to inform the decision-making process Full details can be found online here and the consultation can be responded to here by 3 June 2025 Representations must be received by Tuesday 3 June 2025. Submissions can be made by email to CAT@moray.gov.uk or by post: FAO CAT Team – Forres Baptist Church, Housing and Property Services, Room 245, Moray Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX; or through the online survey council officers will review all representations and provide a report to the Corporate Committee for a decision to be made Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ A Forres man who drove on a cocktail of drugs has been banned from the roads for a year Thomas Bailey appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court and admitted to getting behind the wheel of his car in 2024 when he was unfit to do The court heard he had gone to visit – uninvited – his former partner at her Hopeman home but had left his vehicle parked without care outside and had clipped the kerb while doing so She called the police who arrived shortly thereafter to arrest him Bailey was in the living room of the property muttering things under his breath and swaying Mike Chapman explained to the court Bailey could present in the behaviour spotted by police both of which were found in his blood when he was tested Mr Chapman also noted a guilty plea would have come sooner for his client but the disclosure of the drug tests and information from Bailey’s own doctor had not arrived before the matter came to court this week that can increase the likelihood of the symptoms Mr Bailey was experiencing.” “His previous convictions are of some vintage,” he added whose address was given in court papers as Castlehill Road £400 for the offence in addition to banning him from driving for 12 months Mr Chapman had said his client was hopeful of returning to the workforce and had something lined up but the conviction on Monday will mean that opportunity is lost to him A sportswoman is doing a 24-hour tennis marathon in honour of her mum - who is at the end of her life Jette Virdi is taking on the challenge for her mum to raise funds for CLAN Cancer Support in Elgin Jetta confirmed CLAN has been supporting the family since Marcia’s diagnosis three years ago She added: “The challenge is to honour mum and and recognise the amazing work that they have been giving us “Mum has been part of CLAN since her treatment Marcia is a tennis coach in Aberdeenshire and Moray She has taught hundreds of youngsters at schools and clubs across the north-east who moved back to the region from Ireland to look after her mum wants to take on the personal challenge and hopes that others will play with her over the 24-hour period said: “Mum has been coaching up here since 1995 “She has been a real force in making sure that children can access tennis or have the equipment to play it at school Jette proudly concedes that she has never been able to beat her mum at the sport She added: “Forres Tennis Club has been so welcoming and mum has given a lot of her equipment to head coach Joe Hargeaves so he can inspire more young people in the sport “I want as many people as possible to get involved It’s not about playing competitively: it’s about raising awareness of what mum has been through: the superb care from CLAN; and to raise funds to help them continue that for other families please come down and knock the ball around with me during the 24-hour period.” also urges as many people as possible to get involved as possible He finished: “Please hit as many balls as possible over the weekend in honour of Marcia who has been so influential in the world of tennis.” greener public spaces and increased promotion of the town’s rich history will be some of the benefits of a £1.8million grant for Forres The Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme is benefitting from £790,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s ‘Grants for Heritage’ scheme £980,000 from Historic Environment Scotland’s ‘Heritage and Place’ scheme Moray Council leader and Forres ward member said that this is in addition to funding previously secured from the ‘Place Based Investment’ programme Coastal Community Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund supporting overall investment of £3.3 million She added: “The funding will give the town a great boost “As a member of the partnership management group I’ve seen first-hand the appetite for recognition of Forres as an outstanding area of conservation “We have some great stories to tell about our heritage and I look forward to seeing the project going from strength-to-strength.” The funding means key projects and activities can go ahead Grants will be made available for property owners to repair and conserve traditional buildings and shopfronts The building health check scheme will offer grants to property owners and tenants in the conservation area between Bridge Street Properties will be surveyed to assess urgent The historic shop front grant scheme will include condition appraisals of shop fronts in year one The results will be shared to encourage uptake of the grants supported by workshops for property owners on the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings Grants of between 50 and 70 per cent will be available for renovating shopfronts repairing and replacing windows and reinstating architectural details There will be traditional building skills training including grants for businesses and learning activities for local property owners created and delivered in response to local needs It will include opportunities such as workshops and tasters for the unemployed and pupils interested in learning trades Improvements will be made to public spaces ‘Public realm enhancements’ will focus on encouraging social interaction and increasing the use of green spaces Areas set for improvement include Castlehill Museum Square and the area around the Tolbooth A ‘heritage quarter’ will be created featuring points of interest Current partners involved include community groups Opportunities in and around the conservation area include the creation of a secret garden The Cluny Hill Management Plan will inform improvements at Cluny Hill Innovative ways to explain the history of Forres will be explored digital photograph archive and online exhibition develop and deliver media and tools with the community and Forres Interpretation Reference Group The ‘Stories from the Shadows’ podcast will also be used to share local knowledge and an audio trail is planned to encourage visitors to use mobiles to learn about its past The funding will also be used for bringing vacant buildings back into use Options for the properties will be explored to highlight and market potential uses to help reduce town centre vacancy rates And there will be opportunities for social interaction and enhanced wellbeing through public realm improvements that encourage community use Funding will also support inter-generational activities and heritage-focused community events and inclusive interpretation activities and storytelling projects Chairman of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme Partnership Management Group “with increased opportunities for collaboration and connection; both for those who have and have not been involved with heritage before “After all the work in preparing the plans we are excited to get started on delivering them with the same energy and enthusiasm that the town’s community is renowned for “You only have to stand at the top of the Tolbooth and look around to see the poor state of a lot the roofs in the town centre We hope that the buildings’ owners take advantage of this opportunity because it won’t come around again.” is looking forward to the first meeting of the management group He said: “One of the first things it will do is to hire a project manager to guide the team and the project As things develop over the next few months we will advise how people can apply for funding “The funding is great news for Forres and will hopefully Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland believes the scheme will revitalise and conserve the town’s historic environment She said: “We are pleased to support the scheme as one of the eight awarded funding through our Heritage and Place Programme re-imagining public spaces and creating new ways for heritage to support social and physical wellbeing it places community and heritage at the heart of Forres We are excited to see the new ways in which Forres tells the story of its past The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland Caroline Clark is pleased to support heritage-driven regeneration in Forres She explained: “Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity It helps connect people and communities to a place and boosts local economic prosperity “Our aim is to help to drive heritage and community focused regeneration A scheme designed to revitalise Forres has successfully secured almost £1.8 million setting the wheels in motion for a range of ambitious projects The Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme will benefit from £790,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Grants for Heritage scheme alongside £980,000 from Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage & Place Scheme secured from the Place Based Investment Programme The funding means key projects and activities can now go ahead The Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme is the first of eight local improvement projects across Scotland to be approved funding with many of the projects involved being recommended by the local community said: “As a member of the partnership management group I’ve seen first-hand the appetite for recognition of Forres as an outstanding area of conservation “We have some great stories to tell about our heritage and I look forward to seeing the project going from strength-to-strength The funding will give the town a great boost.” Chair of the Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme Partnership Management Group with increased opportunities for collaboration and connection; both for those who have and have not been involved with heritage before with the same energy and enthusiasm that the Forres community is renowned for.” said: "The Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme is a fantastic effort to revitalise and conserve the town’s rich historic environment and we are pleased to support the scheme as one of the eight local improvement schemes awarded funding through our Heritage and Place Programme this scheme places community and heritage at the heart of Forres We are excited to see how the project develops and the new ways in which Forres tells the story of its past said: “Heritage sits at the heart of a place’s identity Thanks to National Lottery players we are supporting heritage driven regeneration for Forres A Forres pensioner whose “momentary loss of concentration” left a woman wheelchair-bound has been banned from driving for 18 months rear-ended a car near the junction of the B9101 with the A96 at Auldearn pushing it into the opposite carriageway and into the path of another vehicle Inverness Sheriff Court was told the 80-year-old is still at a loss to explain why he didn’t notice that the Toyota Yaris had slowed in front of his BMW which detached and hit Thomson’s car Thomson previously appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted causing serious injury by careless driving Fiscal depute Emily Hood previously told the court the rear-seat passenger of the Yaris suffered serious injuries in the crash “She suffered multiple fractures to her ribs sternum and a perforated bowel,” Ms Hood said “She now requires a wheelchair and is unlikely to walk again struggles to write and to talk due to an injury to her left lung.” Two other people also suffered fractures as a result of the collision Ms Hood said that the pensioner broke down in tears when he heard the consequences of the crash said her client was intending to surrender his driving licence which was clean after a 63-year career driving tractors She said there was no suggestion of excessive speed and all Thomson could remember before the collision was “two bumps” “He did not see any brake lights or indicators on the Yaris,” Ms MacQueen said She added that an expert assessment concluded that he hit the Yaris “It remains unclear what the red Yaris was doing,” she said “He must accept he had a momentary loss of concentration and he is deeply regretful.” Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald also ordered that Thomson must resit the extended driving test of competency She told him: “It is alarming to me that you were not aware of what was happening and you are still not aware of what happened “What is clear is you did not react to the traffic in front of you and caused significant injury to others.” A popular social enterprise hopes to expand into additional premises to divert even more items from landfill Waterford Road-based Moray Waste Busters (MWB) has applied to Moray Council for permission to change the use of Strathcona House call centre at Forres Enterprise Park to a re-use hub with facilities for sales A MWB spokesperson confirmed the Waterford site will continue as a collection He explained: “Barriers to growth due to physical constraints at Waterford require acquiring a building that can be used as quickly as possible To support ongoing growth in re-use and enhance our social activities we need a space to double our current capacity “Strathcona House is close enough to work operationally and large enough to grow our operations and community activities for years to come It has good access for our vans to operate safely and efficiently with a bus service stopping by the entrance MWB hopes to transform Strathcona House into a community hub with a re-use outlet and a resource point for other social enterprises MWB general manager Phil Mills said the workshops would start once they are settled in the building He added: “We previously ran workshops collaborating with local craftspeople and artists before we ran out of space at Waterford “Share and repair is a growing part of our sector It involves repairing items that can be saved and also offering the chance to rent and return an item rather than buy “We already employ a qualified school teacher part-time who goes out to schools to deliver workshops We used to have schools visit us before we ran out of space A new building would create the opportunity to offer them again.” not-for-profit venture was founded in 2002 next to Forres Recycling Centre as a food recycling The main aim of the charity’s 29 team members now is to reduce waste by saving items from landfills and promoting their reuse The current premises divert close to 25 tonnes of landfill a month MWB passes on around £2000 worth of items for free every month to local community groups and schools Phil said: “Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful support and encouragement they have given us over the years MWB has been looking for suitable premises for expansion since 2017 and is still enjoying rapid growth Its target market and catchment primarily includes Forres and Nairn but extends further into the region MWB has experienced a 9.4 per cent growth compared to the same quarter last year turnover has risen by 285 per cent - the growing demand has pushed it to maximum capacity at Waterford “Strathcona House is the only property available in the area that meets all our criteria,” said the spokesperson “The property is available and ready to use and the acquisition is a financially viable option for us.” Moray Council’s Planning Committee will make a decision on the application by June 23 If it gets the go-ahead MWB hopes to fund the project via grants and loans The latest planning applications to north and north-east councils include proposals for a new wind farm near Tomatin in the Highlands save to say local community benefits over the project’s 35-year lifespan are estimated at £26.6 million Hardly a month goes by without plans emerging for a new battery energy storage system (BESS) somewhere across the north and north-east One of the latest proposals is a rejigged version of a previous application to Aberdeenshire Council Renewables firm Pulse Energy is already building a 49.9-megawatt (MW) BESS on land north-east of Overhill Farm But it is also seeking planning consent for changes to the scheme that were previously proposed by another company Those plans were approved by the council in March 2023 Explaining the need for a revised application planning and development consultancy Lichfields said: “Pulse Clean energy has now acquired the site “The transfer of the site to a new developer coupled with advancements and changes in technology has resulted in minor amendments to the layout and some of the components “Amendments to the scheme are driven by the products now available on the market.” Changes include a reduction in the number of battery containers from 42 to 17 AS Tocher And Sons are seeking planning consent in principle for three new homes on land at Drumblair Home Farm The development would require the demolition of existing A survey was carried out to establish if there is any use of the buildings by bats The survey found no bats emerging at sunset but two soprano pipistrelles returning to one of the buildings at dawn Making her report recommending mitigation measures bat expert Isobel Davidson said: “Without intervention the buildings will continue to deteriorate and collapse further “There is a house adjacent to these buildings which would be affected if the steadings become more dangerous.” Cara Cusick has applied for planning permission for house alterations an extension and new annex to Nether Ord Farm A design statement for the project says: “The main cottage will essentially remain as it is with a parallel two-storey wing to the rear… to accommodate a new kitchen/dining room and boot room with a master bedroom and family bathroom above.” Mr G Cameron and Ms H Fraser plan to build a new home next to Beechside Farm And Davidson Gall Farms is seeking planning consent for alterations as well as an extension and garage at Gamekeeper’s Cottage The same applicant is planning alterations and an extension to form a new three-bedroom home Kate Irvine’s plans for Mill Of Durno Farm deliver alterations and a replacement extension And R & L Lamb aims to build a new home on land next to Meikle Kirkhill Farm A design statement for the development says: “The proposed application site extends to 0.34 hectares (just over 0.8 acres) and will accommodate a new house for an essential farm worker in a primary industry to undertake the day-to-day running of the existing farming enterprise “The site is of a good size which will easily accommodate the proposed house.” construction and haulage business Leiths (Scotland) has big plans for some land south-east of Dykeside Farm The firm wants to quarry sand and gravel south-east Of Dykeside Farm It also wants to operate a ready-mix concrete plant on the site Leiths wishes to extract around 850,000 tons of sand and gravel at a rate of around 50,000t per annum over a period of about 17 years Infrastructure works in advance of excavation are expected to take about six months with a year required to complete restoration being sought for a period of 18 years and six months Moray Council has received a flood of objections to the project Comments in these include concerns about dust as well as the impact on the surrounding area One objector says: “To have another quarry & cement works in an area like this is absolute lunacy “The adverse affect to the local community golf course and possible further developments will be unfathomable “The production of cement is one of the worst carbon producing industries in the world “Surface run-off will be inevitable and devastate local wildlife and watercourses To have another quarry & cement works in an area like this is absolute lunacy.” Andy and Jayne Jukes plan to demolish derelict farm buildings at Phorp Steading Highland Wind Farm (HWF) – a joint venture between Irish company ESB and Singapore-headquartered Ampyr Energy has formally submitted its plans for a development of up to 24 turbines on land south-east of Coignascallan Farmhouse The application, which will be decided by the Scottish Government’s energy consents unit, also includes proposals for a BESS electricity substation and other infrastructure would have a total generating capacity of 163MW Community benefit payments are expected to be in the order of £665,000 per annum equivalent to £26.6m over the scheme’s 35-year lifespan The project’s website at highlandwindfarm.co.uk says: “We will be asking communities surrounding the proposed development to help us shape a community benefit package that best meets local needs.” A second round of community consultation took place last October The developer will be undertaking a further round next Wednesday and Thursday prior to the consultation deadline of May 15 Altnaharra Estate has submitted plans for a proposed peatland restoration project a few miles from Mudale Farmhouse The first phase of works is proposed in a 500ac area east of Loch Meadie It would be carried out between September 16 and December 31 this year Supporting documents say the project “should put circa 129ha (319aac) of degraded peat habitat on the road to recovery.” A patient was taken to hospital following a road traffic accident in the centre of a town that resulted in a car on its roof Traffic was diverted for nearly three hours as the emergency services dealt with the aftermath of the incident on St Catherine’s Road A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 5.25pm on Tuesday we received a report of a crash involving two vehicles at St Catherine's Road “The Scottish Ambulance Service were contacted.” A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We received a call at 5.29pm to attend a two-vehicle road traffic collision at the junction of Thornhill Road and St Catherine’s Road “An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and one patient was transported to Dr Gray’s Hospital Residents of a village are being invited to a screening of two films focused on life in their community Rafford Movie Night - celebrating host venue Rafford Village Hall's 75th anniversary on Saturday May 17 - will show Rafford's Growing Roots' and 'Rafford's Hall Tales' with support from the Film Forres Mobile project Rafford resident and Film Forres administrator confirmed the hall’s doors will open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start - £5 cash at the door includes tea and home bakes She said: “Come along to the world premiere of Rafford's Growing Roots and Rafford's Hall Tales “You'll recognise many well kent local faces and hear heart-warming stories of times past in these unique films made in the village.” filmed over the last year by Diana Mosterd of Connecting Images (Wester Lawrenceton) It follows the project of the same name and locals whose taking part “ignited community spirit” Roots was led by fellow locals Lisa Wolff on behalf of Rafford Village Hall with Amy Neville from local business Naturally Useful and funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund Its aim was to connect the community around a shared love for the land through free low-cost events featuring talented residents a 'Six Inches of Soil' film screening and seed swap and a willow dome planting in the village hall’s playfield “The film features seven talented growers and caretakers” said Lisa community spirit and the vibrant landscape that make Rafford such a special place.” Rafford's Hall Tales was filmed in 2012-2013 by Tim Flood and was part of the ‘Moray Hall Tales’ project organised by Euan Martin of Right Lines Productions and financed by the Scottish Government and European Moray Leader programme Its aim was cross-generational involvement and community participation The projected culminated in March 2013 at village halls in Alves The elements were: original one-man play ‘Watching Bluebottles’ about the life of a village hall keeper; a film made by children of each village who interviewed older residents about memories of growing up in their village; and an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia gathered from the community She said: “Our Hall is celebrating its 75 years Anniversary this year - this is one of many get-togethers here we’ll have raffles and a garden plant exchange “Movie Night will be a great way to meet and make friends with the local!” Email anne.garrow@yahoo.co.uk or call 01309 672930‬ A traffic management officer has lost his licence after police caught him driving under the influence of cocaine Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Patrick Balford Forres was stopped by officers at the Milton of Culloden junction with the A96 on the afternoon of July Subsequent analysis of the 29-year-old’s blood sample revealed he had a reading of 432mcgs of cocaine in his system when the safe driving limit is 50mcgs Samantha Morrison told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald: "He will likely lose his job with the loss of his licence “It has been a bit of a wake-up call for him He had been partying and the drugs were still in his system Sheriff Macdonald fined Balford £640 and banned him from driving for 14 months "because of the very high reading." The finishing touches have been made to a walking A new information panel has been installed next to a rain garden on the route packed with details of local flora and fauna; in both English and Gaelic The rain garden itself is designed to collect rainwater allowing it to float into the nearby Burn of Mosset Trees and shrubs have been planted there making the space wildlife-friendly connections to Burdsyard Road and Roysvale have been made wider and safer and access to the bridge over Burdshaugh has been improved The active travel route connects Forres Academy Chair of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee said: “We’re grateful to Sustrans for funding this important active travel project It’s good to see the project being finished with the information panel to highlight the added value of the raingarden in the area “The new active travel route has shown to be an important improvement for efficient and safe travel between destinations and numbers of users seem to have increased since its instalment The presence of the rain garden and its new information panel is a colourful addition to all that Forres has to offer to people walking The active travel route and information panel were funded through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone (PfE) programme A firm has promised to “bring it back to the old days” after purchasing a well-known Moray hotel The MacAli Group has bought The Old Mill Inn in Brodie One of the north of Scotland’s fastest-growing hotel and accommodation brands MacAli has promised to develop the site as a country pub with a well-stocked bar serving comfort food the hotel will be refurbished to become a venue for summer weddings and other outdoor events The beer garden - which is currently closed - will be developed further and a play area for children will follow Plans will be lodged to increase the number of guest rooms The hotel comprises of a former mill of solid stone which has been converted to provide a five-bedroom inn with bar MacAli Group CEO Mohammed Ali said: “We are very excited to welcome this new business to our portfolio “I have lived in this area all my life and have fond memories from being young and knowing the Old Mill as being a pub and then seeing it move to fine dining “MacAli Group are going to bring it back to the old days of real pub food for all the family “We are a family-run business and we are proud to be bringing back more family-friendly venues across Scotland.” who marketed the hotel on behalf of its former owners described it as a “traditional stone-built inn with charming interiors and period features with spacious guest rooms.” added: “I’m delighted MacAli have taken over this great venue and plan to develop it further for the benefit of the local clientele.” MacAli Group currently runs Poseidon’s Inn Update: A 19-year-old has been arrested in relation to this incident A large police presence is responding to a reported firearms threat to three Forres schools The Forres Gazette understands that Anderson’s Primary School Applegrove Primary School and Forres Academy were among the targets of the threat issued by email It is also understood that schools within the Highland council area are also among the targets Police Scotland has confirmed that a 19-year-old has been arrested in connection with a “malicious email” Moray Council and Highland Council have been contacted for comment Our reporters are working to bring you more on this breaking story as we get it A local church claims that Moray Council has agreed to sell it common good land - while the local authority is running a public consultation on the decision Forres Baptist Church has proposed to buy privately owned Clovenside Chapel and the common good land outside the adjacent cemetery - the community has until June 3 to confirm if it is happy for the purchase to proceed Pastor Dr Jon Mackenzie is looking forward to owning the building that the Baptists have looked after and internally remodelled over the 14 years it has been based there He explained: “We're hoping people will support the purchase of the land as the proceeds of the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and the funds distributed within the local community “The sale would also avoid any future vacant property liabilities which would burden the account the community will benefit to the tune of £180,000 The transfer would include the private premises and a small section of the car parking area between the church and the cemetery “The parking for the cemetery will not change,” added Pastor Mackenzie “It will remain free and accessible for anyone visiting the cemetery.” Key questions in the council consultation are: ‘Are you happy for the proposal to proceed?’ and ‘What are your views on the proposal in relation to the disposal from Moray Council to the Forres Baptist Church?’ Submissions can be made by email to CAT@moray.gov.uk or by post to FAO CAT Team, Forres Baptist Church, Housing and Property Services, Room 245, Moray Council Office, High Street, Elgin, IV30 1BX; or via the online survey at http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_161083.html council officers will review all representations and provide a report to the Corporate committee for a decision to be made Forres Baptist Church was initially allowed to use the space by the current owners of the building - William Purves Funeral Directors - before entering into a formal contract to rent it as sole occupiers in-keeping with the price the council charge for the land on which the building is situated William Purves have since offered to sell the building and Pastor Mackenzie claims Moray Council has also agreed to sell the land its on for a combined price of £400,000 The church are currently raising funds for the project looking to take out a mortgage when the deposit has been achieved Moray Council is responsible for the administration of nine common good funds as assets in the form of land and buildings To be able to make a reasonable level of grants from the income available with the remaining third being retained for contingencies and for addition to the capital sums being retained.When considering applications for grants each application should be considered on its own merits The council decides whether or not it is reasonable to make disbursements each year for the benefit of the community The reserve generated from the funds is used to maintain the land and buildings held as assets Forres Community Council discussed the potential sale of the annual income-generating land at their last meeting at Forres House Community Centre Chairman Steve Ferris said: “We agreed to send a number of questions about the potential sale and Forres common good to Councillor Scott Lawrence (Forres “He will hopefully get the answers so that we can have a more informed discussion on the subject at our May meeting then respond to the consultation before the deadline.” “With the current new internal renovations we will look to expand our work in the community “If people are interested in knowing more about the work we do we have a guest service' taking place on Sunday May 25 at 10.30am for people who do not usually attend the church to come up and see what the church is like most of the new internal renovations will have been completed too.” Moray Council has opened a public consultation on the purchase of the land as the proceeds of the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and the funds generated distributed within the local community The sale would also avoid any future vacant property liabilities which would burden the account The parking for the cemetery will not change: it will remain free and accessible for anyone visiting the cemetery Forres Baptist Church has a long-standing relationship with Clovenside Chapel occupying it for over 14 years in one form or another The church was initially allowed to use the space by the current owners of the building - William Purves Funeral Directors - before entering into a formal contract to rent the building as sole occupiers The owners have since offered to sell the growing fellowship the building as their permanent premises and Moray Council have agreed to sell the land the building is on The church are currently raising funds for this project Pastor Dr Jon Mackenzie said: “It will be great to finally own the building that we have looked after and internally remodelled over the years “With the current new internal renovations we will look to expand our work in the community He added: “With the issue of loneliness being a growing concern in society in general churches are a fantastic way of connecting people in the community and it is a real privilege to be able to facilitate those connections as well as sharing the good news about Jesus with those who want to know how to have a relationship with God.” Moray Council is responsible for the administration of 9 Common Good Funds; The Council holds each of the separate Common Good Funds as assets in the form of land and buildings as well as in cash as regards the distribution of the annual income available from those assets was established by the Policy and Resources Committee on 20th June At that time the Committee noted that the true value of money depreciates over time and therefore in an attempt to keep pace and at the same time be able to make a reasonable level of grants from the income available the Committee agreed a policy of two-thirds of the annual income available being distributed with the remaining one-third being retained for contingencies and for addition to the capital sums being retained.When considering applications for grants each application should be considered on its own merits.Whilst custom and practice have in effect established certain principles in each case and particularly in unusual cases the Council must consider whether or not it is a " reasonable judgement" for them to consider making a disbursement from the relevant Common Good Fund.In using a "reasonable judgement" for the "benefit of the Community" this can include expenditure on:-a Civic Ceremonials and hospitality provided it is reasonable.b Maintenance of public parks where they form part of the Common Good.c Donations to local philanthropic institutions.d Erection of memorial or ornamental statues and meeting the costs of maintenance.e It is essential to use the reserve generated from the Funds to maintain the land and buildings held as assets “The proceeds will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and be distributed locally as per the usual process (i.e applications can be made to the fund by the local community) More info on the application process and forms are here.” Moray Council is considering selling common good land in Forres The local authority is inviting the community to take part in an eight week consultation on proposed disposal of the area by Clovenside Cemetery currently occupied by Forres Baptist Church - who wish to buy it A council spokesperson confirmed the transfer would include the church premises and a small section of the car parking area between the church and the cemetery He said: “The transfer does not include the cemetery itself and car parking to visit the cemetery will not be affected “The proposed sale includes the church premises and the car parking area between the church and the cemetery.” He added: “Proceeds will be credited to the Forres Common Good account and distributed within the local community “This sale aims to avoid any future vacant property liabilities for the Forres common good account.” Key questions in the consultation are: ‘Are you happy for the proposal to proceed?’ and ‘What are your views on the proposal in relation to the disposal from Moray Council to the Forres Baptist Church?’ Representations must be received by June 3 Submissions can be made by email to CAT@moray.gov.uk or by post to FAO CAT Team An expanding local church that is looking to buy common good land that it already occupies Police are investigating they describe as a deliberate house fire off High Street One person was treated by the ambulance team after emergency services were called out to the blaze in a flat above the ‘pet shop alley’ across from the Mercat Cross in the centre of town at around 11.15pm last night A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 11.20pm on Monday police received a report of a fire at a property in High Street There were no reports of anyone injured."The fire is being treated as wilful." Police remain at the property while further investigation is carried out Three fire crews attended the scene and quickly extinguished the flames A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.15pm to reports of a fire within a domestic property "One casualty was taken into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service Planning permission is being recommended for 24 affordable homes at Dallas Dhu near Forres Moray Council’s planning committee is set on Tuesday to discuss the application which also includes building accommodation for 40 students which in time could potentially extend to 180 homes of various types The student accommodation is for those attending the Moray branch of the Glasgow School of Art two miles away on the Altyre Estate In February last year about 60 people attended a public consultation at Forres Town Hall about the development which stands at the far end of Mannachie Road A report prepared by planning officers in advance of Tuesday’s meeting is recommending that the development is granted permission including that building work begins within the next three years An experienced local swimmer is calling on the army to leave Forres Swimming Pool to the paying public Dave Levon was disappointed to discover that 39 Engineer Regiment has block-booked the fast lane on Wednesday afternoons - a slot the FitLife member has enjoyed for years The 62-year-old explained: “I go to the pool to boost my mental health so being restricted there doesn’t help meaning that other attendees who swim fast - some of whom train for competition - are being forced in with slower swimmers It’s frustrating and minimises our choice of stroke “The army should use the narrow inner (medium) lanes as other more competent swimmers do strokes which take up more room.” He added: “Surely a public pool should be exactly that We the public pay for it through our FitLife memberships or entrance fee.” Forres Swimming Pool public session lane sessions offer one slow and one fast lane outside and two medium speed lengths in the middle of the baths Dave claims the average four or five attending forces personnel using the lane are poor swimmers “mostly doing breast stroke so it’s effectively a wasted lane They’re in to relax rather than swim lengths They also leave the lane empty while they spend a lot of the time in the steam room or sauna “The soldiers attend on Wednesday afternoons - if their session was early in the morning or later at night there would be no problem Dave also believes the knock-on effect of the public’s loss of a lane could lead to an accident you can’t do butterfly for example in a slow narrow lane as you will take the head of somebody Safety should be paramount - mixing the competencies of swimmers is an accident waiting to happen “There has been little thought from the swimming pool management into this.” Forres Swimming Pool is a Moray Council-run facility A spokesperson said: “One lane at the pool has been hired for private use for a maximum of two hours on a Wednesday afternoon only The remainder of the pool is available for public use during this time.” The swimming pool at 39 Engineer Regiment’s Kinloss Barracks is awaiting refurbishment An Army Spokesperson said: “There is currently an agreement in place with the local authority to use Forres pool “Service personnel do so under the same terms as any other members of the public She added: “Kinloss Barracks regularly lease their recreational areas to local clubs and activity groups and are an active part of the community.”  A woman who has spent ‘too many’ years working in an office has opened a shop on Forres High Street in order to ‘reinvent herself’ UK and international chic to her new venture Bianca Judd has recently opened a home decor art and craft store at 95 High Street with a range of quirky colourful and hand-made items to brighten up your home Bianca met and married husband John abroad but when the decision to move back to the UK was made I had been living and working in Spain for 20 years I worked in retail for a lot of years in my earlier days “Forres is just a lovely town with a lovely high street I didn’t want to work in an office anymore.” She explained how she came up with the name: “My nephews’ first two names are Ulysses and Roman And I wanted something from the family with a personal touch “I asked them how they felt about me naming my shop after them Bianca explained how she chose her stock: “I thought I’d go down the Scandi route to begin with I was inspired by local artists and UK-based hand-made products I have got some bits and pieces that are made in Morocco I’ve got a few bits that are made in India but about 70 to 80 percent of my stock is made in the UK.” “I just got in touch with different artists she’s an Edinburgh-based print artist “The ocean plastic pots are made by a commercial diver who was upset by all the waste that he saw He and his team traipsed the beaches of Inverness and around the islands “Dook Soap handmade in Edinburgh with all natural ingredients She explained that she has already been contacted by more local artists: “I’ve had one young woman contact me She’s a Forres girl originally who went to Glasgow to study at the Glasgow School of Art She was there for 10 years and now she’s back and she’s a jewellery designer So I’m probably going to put a couple of bits in.” Uly + Ro is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm A community-driven currency that once thrived in Forres has been relaunched alows people to buy and sell goods and services by swapping skills rather than cash it is broadening its reach to the whole of Moray The relaunch of the scheme is breathing new life into a system that once had neighbours trading skills At the helm of its revival is Brant Bambery Originally from Edinburgh and now a proud Moray resident He said: “Imagine a time when a dedicated gardener would swap her extra vegetables with retired carpenter for a little help around the house “These simple exchanges not only meet practical needs but also wove a tapestry of trust and friendship throughout the community “One inspiring local story tells of a member who by trading everything from gardening to tutoring all through the power of community exchange.”  With over 400 networks and more than 20,000 members across the UK LETS is proving that when communities come together A Spring Trade Fair at Forres Town Hall is set for 1 March starting at 2pm And a new community noticeboard has been put up at Forres House Community Centre A public Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NewMorayLETS To become a member and access the private members’ group you can email newmoraylets1@gmail.com LETS team Manja Hannon and Brant Bamberry with member Sam Young posting a LETS cheque In the 80’s/90’s I used it happily and fairly successfully Forres area artists are being invited to apply for a cultural art exchange program which could take them to the town’s sister city in sunny Florida for a week (flight and accommodation included) Mount Dora Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Mount Dora Sister Cities Association is seeking artists from the Forres area to engage with American artists and arts professionals in the exchange program both organisations look to foster cross-cultural understanding and collaboration and to demonstrate universally shared values and aspirations a chosen art professional from Scotland will be flown to Mount Dora Florida to engage in our community and connect with other artists Both performing as well as visual artists are encouraged to apply Participants should meet the following qualifications: To apply, send a letter of interest and include the following to janet@mdca.org (tell them you saw the article in Forres Local) Feel tree to send more than one workshop idea Forres is experiencing a business boom as 11 new shops have opened their doors over the last 12 months 11 new businesses opened on the High Street This is while several others have decided to expand a convenience store – and even a shop that promotes eco-friendly recycling Gill and Weller de Oliveira made a name for themselves running the café at Logie Steading for 12 years the couple shut up shop in February 2022 to spend more time with their three children and figure out their next move In March, the powerhouse couple opened a new takeaway cafe in Forres called The Olive Tree Kitchen. This year, Fiona Gibson opened a new shop in Tolbooth Street with the aim of helping the community reduce plastic waste The Old Market Refillery opened on December 6 following months of refurbishment owns the well-known shop next door called Macbeth’s Butchers Speaking to Forres Local, Jock said: “Forres is a great place to be at the moment; there is a real buzz about it and it has given us the confidence in investing in both our butchery and our new refill store and micro-bakery “What is really nice is that there are so many independent and unique businesses that are offering something different and help put Forres on the map of places to go.” Babalu owner Laura Hanson added: “I’m super excited about all the new businesses It will hopefully become a shopping destination for visitors from afar “The future of Forres looks bright.” Moray Chamber of Commerce’s annual report showed that, in a league table of new shops, the average across all other Moray towns is 1.5 while Forres is at 10 – which is also three times that in Elgin. A spokesperson for Forres Local said: “Hardly a month goes by when we’re not reporting on a new outlet opening on the high street or some other positive business news.” Here are all the town centre businesses that opened their doors in 2024… building that has been vacant for nearly three years is set to become a vibrant new business and tourist attraction is opening the Murray McDavid Whisky Shop at The Old Bank - the former Bank of Scotland at 102 High Street by the Mercat Cross in the centre of Forres - on Friday is looking forward to adding to the firm’s local portfolio He said: “It's going to be wonderful to open the Murray McDavid Whisky Shop at The Old Bank and bring a unique whisky experience to the heart of the community “We’re incredibly proud to revive such a beautiful and historic building modern retail experience where locals and visitors can connect over great whisky and adding to the life of the town - we want to put Forres on the map as a must-visit destination for whisky lovers.” Aceo has been in the whisky industry for 25 years building its own spirit brands sold around the world including the award-winning Murray McDavid whisky They provide business to business services including bottling The company’s HQ is near Edinburgh but it has whisky maturation warehouses at Kinloss Coleburn and Royal Brackla - together holding 70,000 casks - as well as a craft bottling Hall at Dandaleith near Craigellachie Aceo have contributed to the success of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival over the last 10 years putting on whisky events and tastings that attract visitors from around the world Other assets include Parkmore Distillery manager’s house in Dufftown an old stone-ruined Bothy in the Glenrinnes hills and Tide’s Edge Cottage as well as beach huts in Findhorn.The firm’s brand home they took over the mothballed Dallas Dhu Distillery at the edge of town They aim to restore the 19th century distillery and bring back whisky production to the site for the first time since 1983 and create a state-of-the-art visitor attraction Aceo’s new venture is further local investment bolstering the whisky heritage of the area - generating employment opportunities and tourism The Victorian four-storey Bank of Scotland in Forres was opened in 1852 providing services until it closed for good in July 2022 The new whisky shop on the premises and re-opened distillery will enrich Aceo’s offering Murray McDavid will take centre stage at the new shop offering visitors a comprehensive range of whiskies - many of which will not be found anywhere else Aceo also aims to build on what the premises offers private event space and tasting experiences A new market that will occupy a disused car park in Forres four times a year will kick off with a bang next month and has its sights set on becoming the best in Scotland The first Forres Family Market will take place on 1 December in the old Tesco Car Park on Gordon Street featuring at least 60 stalls with music and food A chance meeting between AES Solar commercial director Jamie Di Sotto and Moray Honey Company Owner Tim Williamson started the ball rolling when they met at another event They got in touch with Kay Thomson who runs several farmers’ markets and large events throughout the North-east Jamie’s company owns the site in Forres where Tesco used to have a supermarket He said: “Tim and I had a chat at the Nairn Show where we thought Forres lacks a high quality event that benefits the community and local traders “Tim got in touch with Kay who organises events like these and when we met we all agreed the site was perfect “The uptake and enthusiasm for the event have been excellent Our aim is to make it the best market in Scotland that has something for everyone in the family “Our long term ambition for the site will include space for continuing local markets and outdoor events.” Kay echoed Jamie’s ambition for the event: “I want to make the market the best the area has to showcase food and drink producers and quality crafters all together in zoned areas.  “The aim is to create a family vibe that makes its own following create a hub of different ideas with the best producers Kay commented they have more than 65 stalls despite having a strict criteria of entry to maintain quality “Each producer has to be making their own produce not buying in They have to be local to the area or have sold in the area recently and most importantly be willing to be part of the team environment The market’s aim is to help one another on the day and share positivity in the run-up to the events “A silver band will be playing with staggered performances throughout the day In between we have background festive music from Starlite Disco to get everyone in the spirit and a food court area with tables and seating.  “MLG Transport has kindly sponsored the event Forres Mechanics will be selling merchandise Kinloss Primary School has been asked to make festive banners for the stage and the Fire Brigade also intend to be on-site to chat with everyone.” Tim added: “Having always thought that Forres needed a market myself and Jamie had a chat and it all came together Kay was the obvious choice to manage the event for us.” The Forres Winter Market will take place on 1 December at the Old Tesco site on Gordon Street See comments on Facebook A food factory in Forres producing dried meat snacks is set to close at the end of April is part of Valeo Foods UK who have multiple sites across the UK and produce a range of sweet and savoury products who confirmed a closing date of 30 April has been proposed when production will be moved to other sites in the group Valeo recently conducted a comprehensive strategic review of its business in the UK with a view to optimising the manufacturing footprint and category proposition and to be more cost-efficient with the aim to position the business for future growth and success The site was originally home to a company called Meat Snacks which then became New World Foods which was acquired by Valeo Foods UK The UK meat snacks business currently operates three manufacturing facilities located in York A spokesperson for the company said: “Forres presents significant logistical challenges due to its remote location These challenges have made it increasingly difficult to maintain cost efficiencies which are crucial in today’s competitive market “The York site has the immediate capacity to handle current production volumes and it is well-positioned to support both our short- and medium-term growth objectives “The strategic review considered many different options from a capacity We assessed the capacity and demand for different products; the projected investment required across all sites along with identifying operational improvement opportunities the proposal was to cease operations at our meat snacks production facility in Forres and transfer production to sister Valeo sites within the Meat Snacks Division “We conducted a collective consultation with all employees at the Forres site and no alternative solutions were found to mitigate this proposal.” added: “This closure is in no way a reflection on the dedicated efforts of the Forres team who have shown great commitment to improve the performance of the site in recent years” We use cookies to improve your experience of using our website Please let us know if you agree to the use of these cookies The Church of Scotland's Talking Ministry series shares personal stories from those serving in Christian ministry along with resources filled with questions prayers and reflections to help encourage reflection on how God might be calling you at this time Rev Stuart Finlayson speaks about his role as community pioneer minister for Forres and West Moray Married to Siân and father to daughter Lowri (9) and son Gethin (5) Mr Finlayson lives in Forres where he is also trustee of a new local charity that provides a social space for young people age 11-16 at the weekend as well as chaplain to his home town football club In 2015 I was working for a local removal company and I was sent to Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire to help move someone to Inverness The only thing we knew about him was his name but we worked out he was a chaplain because he had a study full of books and he told me that he had joined the army as a young man but it didn't work out due to his behaviour and he left soon after That led to his becoming a Christian and training as a minister He rejoined the army as a chaplain and now he was a captain To hear how he had changed because God was calling him to himself was really inspiring for me I had been married for three years by that point initially because we wanted to get married recognised my faith was slowly growing and asked me to do more things in the church Then the session clerk asked if I'd thought about the ministry and my response was: No way At the time I thought that to be a minister you had to be squeaky clean and have everything worked out and that certainly wasn't me Then I met the chaplain and was really inspired by what he had to say I went for a walk with Penelope around Brodie Castle to help me work out what I should do because I had the feeling that God was calling me to something I went home and told Siân that I was thinking of applying for ministry I remember sitting on the stair in our house and praying: ‘Lord I'll be fine with that because I've tried to listen to you.' I made the application and all the anxiety I had been feeling disappeared To hear how he had changed because God was calling him to himself was really inspiring for me" I spent my discernment with Rev Bob Anderson at Rothes and Knockando That was a brilliant time because Bob allowed me to develop my prayers as well as preach and I got a lot out of that My first placement was at Buckie North Church linked with Rathven with Rev Isabel Buchan I felt it was what I needed as I had to learn the basics of parish ministry because I was never an elder I started attending Highland Theological College (HTC) then I heard about someone developing a new charge in Inverness I had already been to a conference where I heard about pioneering ministry and the Forge Scotland church planting course That had been a definite shift for me and made me realise that maybe God wasn't calling me into traditional parish ministry when I heard about Rev Scott McRoberts trying to replant St Columba's a church that had been dissolved in Inverness I was blown away because I didn't know you could have church in a school I was just struck by the newness and the excitement with lots of people who were ready to stand up and support the minister and share the load but it was cut slightly short because the pandemic started Then summer came around and I had to do a full-time placement Rev Alastair Duncan invited me to join him at St George's Tron so I spent six weeks on a virtual placement All the services and midweek groups went online and I would prepare the service and preach on Zoom I did manage to get down a couple of times in between lockdowns but the biggest lesson for me was that church did not necessarily have to look like "church" St George's Tron was open between lockdowns Alastair said I could stay on unofficially That included working with young people of university age That showed me that there are young people out there who have faith and want to be involved I went to Elgin St Giles and St Columba South with Rev Sonia Palmer She was also interim moderator at St Laurence Church in Forres and that enabled me to try lots of things that I had been thinking about as I was going through my training I had enrolled onto the Forge pioneering and church planting course so I was given freedom to explore all these things I was learning at the same time I was taking part in more traditional ministry I was ordained at St Laurence Church in October 2022 and I have been working as a community pioneer minister ever since we were permitted by Inverness Presbytery to plant a new worshipping community: Forres Community Church (FCC) FCC is a disciple making network and new worshipping community That means that our focus is on making disciples and forming a discipleship network who then go on to become disciple makers in turn We are serious about Jesus' command in Matthew 28 we can invite people who have been asking themselves the big questions to gather round the Bible and help them discover for themselves what the Bible is saying The wonderful thing about our discovery groups is that no-one person is teaching or telling you what the Bible is saying The group leader follows as process and is always asking questions and trying to guide those in the group to discover the truth for themselves The hope is that you can experience the truth of the Bible profoundly and choose to be obedient to what is being said Each week we all make "I Will" statements based on what we've discovered from the passage and we encourage each other to say who we are going to share that truth with Being kept accountable to the group is important because we want to see growth in each other through support and encouragement And you don't have to come as a fully formed Christian There is a view that disciples are people who have been in the church for a long time but disciples can also be a rag-tag group of people who know nothing about Jesus and just want to know more We also organise what we call "Kingdom Breakthrough Events" These are community outreach events that invite the wider community to come and be blessed by the church We have done things like summer spiritual fayres where we have offered ministry of healing and prophecy; we have hosted a Mother's Day gathering called "Hope Sunday" aimed at blessing the mums in the town; and of course there is our Kingdom Christmas Celebrations when we've had Santa grottos in local community centres a sleigh that takes Santa around the town meeting kids and giving small gifts Our breakthrough events are always done with other Christians who come to help us do the work We've been so blessed to have support from Cairn Movement and loads of other folks from all over Scotland we are becoming a place for unchurched people who are sensing that God is reaching out to them Those who want to learn more and work on that curiosity There's not a month goes by without us getting a message from people saying they want to come but we are seeing success and people committing to Jesus FCC is going to the first Scottish Church Planters conference in April because lots of people ask us questions and want to draw on our experience but we're happy to share our belief that the first thing we have to do as Christian disciples is listen to what God says Trust that God has everything under control There is nothing happening now that is a surprise to Him We all have gifts and skill sets which He has given us I believe there is a breaking through of the ministry of the Holy Spirit unlike we have experienced in this country for a long time Many young people say they are "spiritual but not religious" They are asking questions and seeking answers We can help them with that because we provide a safe place to ask these questions People can be reluctant to go into a church because they think it is for fully formed Christians We offer them a way to come in and be assured that they don't need to have all the answers God has been funnelling me towards this point As someone who believes in God given potential in the fivefold ministry we read about in Ephesians 4 – apostle shepherd and teacher – I see my primary gift as apostolic but I have a knack of being able to bring people and resources together from further afield and seeing the bigger picture I'm a church planter who is also a Church of Scotland minister so teaching and preaching is also part of who I am but that is not the area I am focussing on just now the first is obvious: Jesus is my saviour and Lord and He has called me to this particular purpose I am going to try and be faithful to what He has called me to do the Church and the wider community see that the Church is not the building they are in Buildings can be hugely important to people and I recognise that and minister in ways that really show the love of Christ And that is going to require doing things differently from the way we have been doing things over the last 60 or 70 years At different times in our life we will experience significant change and sometimes we have little control over the circumstances that might arise Sometimes it can lead us to ask questions about what God might have planned for our lives As God's people we trust and believe we are in God's care but it doesn't mean we can't ask searching questions Keeping trusting that God is still active in the world even if we have a healthy dose of doubt in the midst can show an active and questioning faith which is consistent with so many individual stories in the Bible which God prepared in advance for us to do Despite our belief that ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.' Hebrews 13:8 so too we ask questions of ourselves to gain a better understanding of who we are There's always so much to learn about ourselves and our faith If we understand that God's presence is with us then in our questions might we also be ready for God's invitation to a new direction and opportunity to walk a different path that God would speak to us about a new shape our lives will take in the days ahead We have been made for more than the everyday grind We have something to offer to the story which is still to be written for our communities God has a plan for how he will use our lives for his glory It might be easy to be overwhelmed by possibility or discouraged by our own limitations That's why we take time to reflect on the lessons learned by us and the things quietly spoken by God He doesn't look to us for our great ability What have I learned about myself throughout this last year What have I learned about my faith in this last year What has God been showing me and saying to me about his work in the world and my part in it There are two great days in a person's life – the day we are born and the day we discover why Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal And the covenant which I have made on earth If you would like to consider how God might be calling you to serve at this time you may want to discuss further with your minister or be in touch with your Presbytery to explore local opportunities If you are interested in exploring a call to the recognised ministries of the Church, you can find more information on our vocations page and can contact ministry@churchofscotland.org.uk for a Discernment Conversation with one of the Recruitment Team Contact us The outside looks the same – but the interior of Forres’s former Bank of Scotland is going through a dramatic change The landmark building ceased to trade as a bank in 2022 entrepreneur Edward Odim is filling the vaults with whisky instead of cash to create a new restaurant Mr Odim gave us behind-the-scenes access to the major project and talked us through his plans this Victorian four-storey structure first opened its doors to provide banking services The former bank at 102 High Street has been empty since Bank of Scotland shut down in the summer 2022 Bank bosses claimed the closure was as a result of fewer customers visiting the branch But you may wonder what the building looks like inside and what is happening to the High Street building We gain exclusive access to the the former bank which is currently undergoing a major transformation photographer Jason Hedges and I got to go inside the former Bank of Scotland building There were plenty of clues that the building used to a bank with a big vault and significant centerpieces showing the architecture he can’t wait to open the doors of this building once again and wants it to become the “best whisky watering hole” in Moray He is the founder of Scotch whisky company Aceo Limited The firm started started as whisky brokers before rapidly growing to operate whisky maturation warehouses and acquiring the Murray McDavid brand Now they are currently transforming the former bank into a whisky shop selling rare whiskies with a restaurant and tasting rooms It is understood the bank’s transformation is costing in the region of a million pounds which includes the purchase of the building he and his team will also be reopening the well-known Dallas Dhu Distillery as a working distillery and state of the art visitor attraction Edward said: “I know when banks close it can rip the heart out of the town it is a pretty town and therefore it wasn’t a hard decision to buy the building when it became available “It is an imposing building on the Forres High Street and we want to make it great by turning it into the best whisky watering hole in the whole of Moray “Also a place that anyone remotely interested in whisky will feel the need to come to visit and have a variety of whiskies that you can’t get anywhere else.” however Edward wants the spot to be popular with locals He added: “I want it to become a community hub as well people will be thinking I have a spare half a hour why don’t I pop into there for a coffee and a cake.” He hopes to open the whisky shop part of the makeover before Christmas Edward added: “Work is well underway and we are currently looking at the layout of the shop and display units “We hope to open maybe the shop before Christmas and completely open the rest of it next year.” See inside other interesting Moray buildings: The second seasonal Forres outdoor market will feed and entertain families on Sunday Following the popular Forres Family Christmas Market March 30 from 10am-4pm at the former Tesco site between Gordon Street and Caroline Street Organiser Kay Thomson of Your Vibe Events Management confirmed it will feature local street food a dedicated children’s zone and a lively atmosphere support local and make your Mother's Day special in the heart of Forres!” Showcased businesses will include Java Rasa AES Solar on nearby Lea Road have provided the space for the event free of charge said: “We love seeing this space come to life as a hub for the community during these events ”This market is the beginning of other upcoming seasonal events that will continue to celebrate the best of Forres providing a platform for local traders and a fun and vibrant experience for residents." There will be further markets on August 17 Almost 18 years ago, Jock Gibson took over the reins of family-owned  Macbeth’s Butchers The business grew in 2015 when he and his wife Fiona also took over the running of the Edinvale farm at Dallas after the sudden deaths of his parents Michael and Susan with the firm having to navigate many challenges today it is firmly established as a Forres town centre mainstay The former engineer had originally planned to run the butchers for only five years Jock said: “I was quite enjoying things down in Glasgow but one of the things I discovered was that I wasn’t a very good engineer my mum—who had really been running the butcher shop—was wanting to step away from it “They were looking at potentially selling the business and I was kind of needing a change.” He added: “They very kindly let me come back and run it for a while “The initial plan was to run it for five years and see where we were but five years has turned into about 17.” Jock believes having the making the butchers a diverse business has been key in making Macbeth’s a success in Forres by 2008 we were already into the financial crisis and the credit crunch it’s been constant change and adaptation—whether it’s food scares “Some of it has been really good; we were very fortunate during Covid when many businesses weren’t “We’re very tied to the hospitality industry it certainly helps to have a bit of diversity in the business Forres town centre is certainly thriving with new businesses opening up and others expanding too. Jock has revealed how the positive atmosphere has encouraged them to carry out a major refurbishment of the butcher shop and open up a new business In December, Jock’s wife Fiona Gibson opened up Old Market Refillery next door to the butchers on Tolbooth Street aiming to help the community reduce plastic waste Jock said: “We opened the Old Market Refillery next door to the butcher’s “It’s a refill store and micro-bakery that my wife Fiona has set up and is running “That’s a growing business and there is a confidence that comes with being able to invest when the town is on an upward cycle almost every shop in Forres has something going on “It gives people a reason to come to Forres as there are lots of great independent shops each offering something unique “There’s a buzz about the place with it being friendly accessible and easy to park that makes a massive difference” the retail butchers shop was completed renovated with a new look Jock said: “It was a complete gut and refurb of the retail part of the shop “When my parents first bought Macbeths it was up on the High Street and then moved to Tollbooth Street in the mid 1990s and spent about a quarter of a million on refurbishing “It’s a double-height building—the old indoor Victorian market—so they added a floor and offices but the retail side was never really touched “That side hadn’t been redone since about 1957 so it was long overdue and has make a big difference.” Many businesses face competition from the big supermarkets Jock says a butcher’s offering is different to the national chains He raises cattle on grass and pasture only at Edinvale farm at Dallas He said: “I’d argue it’s a different product We go directly to individual farms—including our own Edinvale —for our produce He added: “We try to appeal to people looking for a more ethical healthy option—those who are conscious about what they eat “Supermarkets often carry Scotch beef or lamb but it’s at a different quality mark than what we’re producing “We also offer complete traceability we can give them the exact grid reference of where the animal came from “That builds a lot of confidence.” Jock wants to focus on continuing to deliver quality products the firm is currently looking to build a large new shop at Edinvale farm In September, the plans were approved by planning chiefs. The shop would operate on a self-service basis with the use of vending machines the building will sell produce from both the farm and local producers A self-service coffee machine will be set up for cyclists and passers-by to get hot and cold drinks and snacks they are currently developing building warrant drawings for the next step in making this come true It is hoped a new shop will help locals who are having to travel to Forres or Elgin for food shops The main contractor has been announced for construction of the area’s secondary school Moray Council and partners have confirmed the successful bidder for building the replacement Forres Academy by summer 2028 is Balfour Beatty said: “This is a significant milestone for Forres Academy and the wider Moray community innovative learning environment that’ll benefit both current and future generations of pupils “I’m looking forward to seeing this project progress and am committed to making sure it delivers the best possible outcomes for our pupils Forres Academy was selected for funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) The new school will accommodate 1120 pupils providing “a modern and dynamic setting” for education The project is part of the North Schools Programme which is a partnership between five local authorities across the north of Scotland to deliver new learning estate The collaboration aims to deliver substantial financial believes this is a key moment for the programme He said: “A huge amount of work has already been undertaken by our local authority partners and our supply chain on progressing these projects “This collaboration has allowed our partners to share best practice knowledge and resources to achieve their aims and has also helped simplify key elements which will bring cost time and quality benefits in delivering these projects.” Managing director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland claimed the firm has “extensive experience in delivering world-class education facilities” He said: “As we begin pre-construction works we look forward to working closely with Moray Council and hub North Scotland to ensure the successful delivery of this modern A former public toilets block in Forres has a new owner after being closed for seven years Moray Council shut the Leys Road block as part of budget cuts The public loos were closed two years after a woman was locked in the building overnight after suffering a stroke. Now it the public toilets in Forres have been sold Last year, the local authority were looking for offers over £45,000 for the building.  council officials suggested the building could be converted into a hot food takeaway or retail unit The building is only yards away from Forres High Street and is next to a busy car park It is in a high-footfall area of the town behind the Co-op supermarket and near Grant Park buyers were warned any food use of the Forres building could be dependent on the opening hours and the type of meals being served But it is possible to make the move from loos to food One good example is takeaway Pino Pizza next to Elgin bus station It operates from what was once the public toilets in the town centre it turns out the Forres loo block isn’t destined to serve pizzas the new owners are planning to reopen the toilets – as toilets Moray Council has revealed the Forres public toilets were sold last month the building is now owned by charity Ray’s Opportunities The charity was set up by Ray McDonald to support people with physical Now the charity aim to reopen the toilets which they believe would benefit the wellbeing of the local community and enhance tourism activities within the town centre public toilets have fallen victim to Moray Council’s budget saving measures Some toilets have been taken over by community groups Loos across the region including at Station Park in Lossiemouth Cullen’s West Beach and the beach in Findhorn are run by volunteers Moray Council has today (Wednesday 18 September) launched a common good consultation proposing to use part of Roysvale Park in connection with the new Forres Academy Children’s and Leisure Services Committee agreed on 22 May 2024 to the recommendation that the Applegrove/ Roysvale site be the preferred development option for the future Forres Academy new build Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the Council to consult local communities prior to taking a decision on the disposal or change of the use of Common Good assets The main aim of the consultation is to gather the views of the community on the proposals Moray Council proposes to temporarily use part of the Roysvale Park for construction purposes before being restored to its original condition a 12-metre strip will be allocated for a new bus drop-off area incorporating a shared footway and cycleway while retaining or replacing all of the well-established trees To further improve accessibility and conditions new footpaths and drainage systems will be installed throughout the park a substantial area of Roysvale Park will be available for use by the public and schools as the use of the common good land is minimised as far as possible Local residents in Forres are encouraged to take part in the consultation by sharing their thoughts before Tuesday 12 November. Questions and a template for responses can be found here. A public information drop-in session will be held at Forres Academy on Monday 21 October from 4pm – 7pm Comments on the proposal can be made by either emailing learningestate@moray.gov.uk or posting in writing to FAO Learning Estate Team – Roysvale Park Common Good A report on the consultation will be submitted to the Corporate Committee for a decision to be made on the proposals said: “We’re committed to ensuring that the development of the new Forres Academy is carried out in a way that considers the needs and views of the entire community “I encourage everyone to share their views as your input will help us balance the needs of the school with preserving valuable community spaces for future generations.” Full consultation information is available on Moray Council’s website Media interested in attending the drop-in session should contact pr@moray.gov.uk to make arrangements Food lovers and families can look forward to a new market event that is set to bring delicious street food and fun to Forres Hot off the heels of the success of the Forres Family Christmas Market the Mother’s Day Market will take place on Sunday 30 March from 10am to 4pm at the Old Tesco site between Gordon Street and Caroline Street Organised by Kay Thomson of Your Vibe Events Management who have provided the space free of charge it will feature a varied selection of local street food and a lively atmosphere celebrating vibrant said: “We love seeing this space come to life as a hub for the community during these markets “This market is the beginning of other upcoming seasonal events that will continue to celebrate the best of Forres providing a platform for local traders and a fun and vibrant experience for residents The Mother’s Day Street Food Market will showcase delicious offerings from some of Moray’s best local vendors The Mother’s Day event is just one of many upcoming events with other seasonal markets taking place throughout the year support local and make your Mother’s Day special in the heart of Forres!   Characters from the history of Forres were brought back to life during a recent ‘time-travelling’ event at the Tollbooth The Imaginarium’s Missing Museum saw actors recreating the stories of local figures such as Isobel Gowdie who was imprisoned on trumped-up charges of witchcraft in the year 1662 The two-day event at the end of last month was commissioned by Findhorn Bay Arts said: “This project was an invitation to experience history differently and reclaim historical narratives that have long been under-represented The project was delivered in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway’s The Stove Network as well as artists DJ McDowell and Margot Henderson 18 young people from Forres Academy and the town’s youth club also helped out by making artefacts for the associated displays DJ McDowell said: “The Missing Museum offered something refreshingly different — a space where people of all ages and experiences could see themselves reflected in the story of their local heritage “From curious children to long-time residents it encouraged its community co-curators to question who and what gets remembered “By opening up conversations and inviting participation it transformed heritage from something static and distant into something living “Local people welcomed us with open arms and wholeheartedly embraced the experience People were ready to have these difficult conversations help us collectively to understand now and learn from their history to help positively impact our shared futures “We’re still blown away by the breadth of community support and the astonishing response we received “Thank you for your support and trust and all you’ve gifted us in return Local storyteller and artist Margot Henderson said: “It was wonderful to see how naturally and enthusiastically the players took on their character roles She added: “It was a joy to see the Tolbooth come alive as we were led through the many rooms and ruminations by the ingenious time traveller guides “It was a real testimony to the power of art and enactment to engage illuminate and educate in meaningful ways.” Moray Council and its partners have announced the successful bidder for the construction of the new secondary school in Forres with Balfour Beatty selected as the main contractor with the aim of having the new school building ready for pupils by summer 2028 The new school will accommodate 1,120 pupils, providing a modern and dynamic setting for education. This project is part of the North Schools Programme which is a groundbreaking partnership between five local authorities across the north of Scotland to deliver new learning estate The collaboration will deliver substantial financial said: “This is a significant milestone for Forres Academy and the wider Moray community I’m looking forward to seeing this project progress and am committed to making sure it delivers the best possible outcomes for our pupils Richard Park, Chief Executive of hub North Scotland commented: “This is a key moment for the North Schools Programme in reaching the preferred bidder stage for our main contractors A huge amount of work has already been undertaken by our local authority partners and our supply chain on progressing these projects Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland said: “We’re pleased that our extensive experience in delivering world-class education facilities has been recognised in our selection to deliver the new Forres Academy Moray Council has published its service arrangements for the forthcoming festive period Tuesday 24 December at 3pm until Friday 3 January 2025 at 8.45am Over the holiday period the emergency out-of-hours service will operate as normal on 03457 565656 for all council services, including matters of child protection.You can make payments, report non-emergency faults and submit certain requests at www.moray.gov.uk Any disruption will be shared on our service status portal Over the holiday period the emergency out-of-hours service can be called at any time to report a council housing emergency repair on 03457 565656. Further guidance on emergency housing repairs can be found online Anyone experiencing homelessness with no other accommodation available can contact the housing team on 03457 565656 Emergency road, footpath, drainage defects, lighting faults and winter gritting will be covered throughout the festive period. Winter maintenance information is available online All schools and council nurseries close on Friday 20 December and reopen on Monday 6 January 2024. Any queries during this time can be sent to education@moray.gov.uk but may not be responded to immediately Buckie Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre; Forres Swimming Pool & Fitness Centre; Keith Sports & Community Centre; Lossiemouth Sports & Community Centre; Speyside Sports & Community Centre: Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 December: closed Friday 27 December until Monday 30 December: holiday timetable Tuesday 31 December until Thursday 2 January 2025: closed Normal timetable restarts on Friday 3 January 2025 with swimming lessons starting from Monday 6 January 2025 Forres House Community Centre; Milne’s Fitness Suite Tuesday 24 December until Thursday 2 January 2025: closed Normal timetable restarts on Friday 3 January 2025 Monday 23 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025: closed Monday 23 December: all libraries normal opening hours Forres & Keith – 10am- 3pm (early closing) Dufftown – normal opening hours (10am-12pm) Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 December: all libraries closed Friday 27 to Monday 30 December: all libraries normal opening hours Tuesday 31 December to Thursday 2 January 2025: all libraries closed All libraries return to normal opening times on Friday 3 January 2023 m.connect services can continue to be booked via the app throughout the festive period, visit moray.gov.uk/mconnect for more information Thursday 26 December: no service Friday 27 December: normal serviceMonday 30 December: normal service Tuesday 31 December: no serviceWednesday 1 January: no service St Giles and Batchen Lane multi-storey car park Closed: Tuesday 24 December at 7pm until Thursday 26 December at 9am; Tuesday 31 December at 7pm until Thursday 2 January at 9am Alternative street level parking is available Elgin Office closed: Tuesday 24 December at 3pm until 8.45am on Friday 3 January Friday 27 and Monday 30 December for death registration only Should a registrar require to be contacted urgently There will be no brown bin collections from Monday 23 December for two weeks Collections restart on Monday 6 January 2025 Real Christmas trees can be put out alongside your brown bin from Monday 6 January and will be uplifted without the need for a garden waste permit The special collection and waste hotline will be closed from 3pm on Tuesday 24 December until 9am Friday 3 January Please note from Monday 16 December until Monday 6 January 2025 we can't accept wood 30 & 31 December 2024 and 1 & 2 January 2025 Dallachy Recycling Centre is closed from 23 December until 8 January 2025 Bookings are still required for Chanonry Recycling Centre and can be made up to one hour before the time slot where there is availability Closed:  25 & 26 December 2024 and 1 & 2 January 2024 Scottish Welfare Fund will close Tuesday 24 December at 3pm until Friday 27 December A skeleton Crisis Grant service will be provided on 27 December and Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December Applications can be made online at www.moray.gov.uk/scottishwelfarefund or by phoning 03457 565 656 The service will close at 4pm on Tuesday 31 December re-opening at 8:45am on Friday 3 January 2025 The Care at Home service will continue to operate as normal throughout the holiday period and office-based support teams will be available Anyone who will be away from home over the festive period is reminded to inform the service about any care visits that need to be cancelled Please give as much advance notice as possible to help the service manage its scheduling effectively Children and Families and Justice services Duty social work arrangements will be in place for all services during the festive period Enquiries and concerns can be directed to: For urgent support when council offices are closed and on public holidays Moray Council emergency out-of-hours service can be contacted on 03457 565656 A new coastal route could be set to link up two major trails between Inverness and Forres The Association of Northern Trails of Scotland (ANTS), the organisation behind the John O’Groats Trail, is working with the Moray Way Association (MWA) to create a new trail to extend the Moray Coast Trail which runs between Cullen and Forres Although the project is still at an early stage the hope is to enhance access to the coast in Nairnshire and surroundings bringing both economic and health benefits said that trails can bring a lot to the local community “Existing trails not only bring economic development in terms of tourism with long-distance walking but also coastal access for local people or tourists who may be interested in seeing a bit of the coast,” he said “I also think that it improves the local economy in other ways nicer place to live and work and to do business “It’s a pity when there are resources like a coastline that aren't accessible “The development of a trail and improving access increases public interest in an area that can increase volunteerism and just the the sense of belonging in that place so that people may well tend to take care of it better “If people don't know about a place - because they don’t have access to it - then they can't really care for it.” The John O Groats Trail attracts in the region of 1000 walkers annually, and is reckoned to have boosted the local economy of the north Highlands by around £900,000 in 2024. Mr Wilson said that the biggest challenge ahead will be fundraising with resources from council funding being limited He said: “A lot of the work that we've done up north has been funded with wind farm community funds and our perception is that there's not as much of that in this area But we hope to find there may be other sources of funding.” the charity is collecting contacts and developing community support and will look at setting up a steering group and a volunteer group as well as exploring routes options in the future they also hope to hire a trail development manager “We want to identify land owners and managers as soon as possible in the process so that we can begin chatting with them about the possibilities and their preferences,” Mr Wilson added “We've seen a real groundswell of support so far just from trying to get the word out to some community groups Nairn provost Laurie Fraser said he would gladly support the development of a trail saying this would provide an alternative to other walks in Scotland and give a boost to the hospitality trade and health improvements Culloden and Ardersier councillor Trish Robertson is also in favour of the extension of the trail She said: “Extending the walking trail to give an extensive route around the Highland east coast will encourage another choice for tourist and locals alike “Walking provides individuals and communities with an opportunity to improve both their emotional and physical well-being and we also know that the Trail attracts hundreds of walkers from further afield.” Local charity Green Hive will also be supporting the initiative business development manager for Green Hive said: "Green Hive is proud to support the development of the John o’ Groats Trail extension connecting communities from Forres to Inverness This project aligns with our commitment to promoting sustainable outdoor activities and fostering connections between people and nature well-maintained trails encourage physical and mental well-being and strengthen the environmental stewardship of our coastline “We believe this initiative will have a lasting positive impact on both the local community and the wider Highland region." Anyone wanting to contact the charity to learn more about the initiative can email walk@jogt.org.uk The Forres Conservation and Heritage Scheme has completed its development phase and is applying for a five-year investment funding programme worth £3.3m This place-based regeneration initiative aims to conserve repair and enhance the historic character of the Forres Conservation Area which will place heritage at the centre of local town centre regeneration and stimulate investment.  The Development Phase has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and by Historic Environment Scotland through their Heritage and Place Programme The programme aligns with the objectives of the Forres Town Centre Improvement Plan (FTCIP) and would help to deliver key building repairs These include groups looking at ways to explore new operating models for the Falconer Museum create a heritage quarter and general improvements in the area they will continue to run in parallel to ensure a collaborative approach Funding applications will be submitted in August with the outcome due in December 2024 We have some great stories to tell about our heritage and I look forward to seeing the groups pushing the agenda forward go from strength-to-strength The council is fully supportive of the efforts to secure funding to make these dreams a reality and it will give the town a great boost if successful.” with increased opportunities for collaboration and connection both for those who have and have not been involved with heritage before I hope that after all this work in preparing the plan we are successful with the funding applications and can get started on delivering it with the energy and enthusiasm the Forres community is renowned for.”