Moray Council has axed plans to sell off land next to an Elgin tourist attraction following fears such a move would threaten the popular site.
There were fears that the town’s Biblical Garden could be negatively impacted if the neighbouring land was sold to a hotel developer, as equipment used by the volunteers who look after it is stored there.
Greenhouses, potting sheds, polytunnels and tool sheds are all kept in the space, with Moray College students, and the Friends of Biblical Garden group all using them to keep the horticultural spot looking its best.
The site was earmarked by the local authority as an opportune spot for a developer to build a hotel.
But a campaign against the proposal was launched by students and lecturers, who claimed the upkeep of the garden would be detrimentally affected.
After receiving about 150 representations, Moray Council yesterday decided to scrap plans for the land to be used for a hotel.
Gary Templeton, principal planning officer at the authority, said: “Having considered the representations, what we are proposing is to change the walled garden into a community facility – mainly for education and training purposes and it will be safeguarded for those sorts of uses.
“We have also extended the Biblical Garden designation to cover the full extent of the area they use for their operations.”
Alison Walton, who studies horticulture at Moray College, was one of the campaigners and last night said she was “extremely relieved” about the decision.
She said: “It’s great that it won’t be re-developed or sold off and that it will be safe in the future.”