Campaigners in a Moray town have blasted the Scottish Government for backing an industrial estate which they fear will destroy a local beauty spot.
The proposed development at Springfield East in Forres – an area to the entrance of the community overlooking Findhorn Bay – attracted more than 200 objections when it was included in the final draft of the region’s development plan.
Now Scottish Government reporters have supported the inclusion of the 24-accre site between Findhorn Road and the railway line at Cassieford – despite fears it could damage the local tourism trade.
Forres Community Council formally objected to the plans, and last night members vowed to continue campaigning to block the project from getting off the drawing board.
Chairman Stewart Noble said: “Local folk always know better and care more about their community than outsiders.
“This is a crazy decision by the Scottish Government, Forres is a tourist attraction and we’ve got to hold onto that – we don’t want the first thing people see when they enter the town to be industrial sheds.
“Our next meeting is May 21, and I would urge all local people who oppose the plan to join us at the Tolbooth and make their voices heard.
“We will continue to fight, we know the public is against this.”
Former community council chairman John Bremner has spearheaded the campaign against the site, saying locals “will never give up” their opposition to the development.
The government reporters considered alternative sites next to the town’s enterprise park and at Waterford, but judged the Springfield East land to be most suitable for the development.
In their findings they said the economic benefits of the development would outweigh any loss of tourism caused by the obstruction of views.
Last night Forres councillor George Alexander said: “Moray Council needs to create a certain area of employment land in Forres as required by the government, and while the report has approved the site at Springfield East there is still hope we will be able to develop more at Waterford.
“Personally I hope the Springfield area can avoid the majority of these upcoming developments but that doesn’t mean it will never be built upon.”