Councillors have backed plans for an “ampitheatre” in a Moray park – despite fears they could face a bill for thousands of pounds if the development has to be torn down again in the near future.
The raised grassy platform will be erected across from the historic Grant Lodge in Elgin’s Cooper Park, using surplus soils from the town’s flood alleviation scheme.
Moray Council’s policy and resources committee agreed to back the scheme yesterday – but was warned the mound could face removal, at a cost of £18,000, depending on the outcome of recent town-centre design talks.
Council leader Stewart Cree said he and his colleagues might encounter a hard time from the public if, soon after commissioning the development, they were forced to tear it down.
He said: “Moray Council is custodian of the ground and my concern is potentially trying to explain to the good people of Moray why we may have to spend money removing this platform in some months’ time.
“I’m not against this being implemented, but £18,000 could possibly be saved in the long run if we were to decide against building it.”
Plans to rejuvinate Cooper Park’s disused Grant Lodge were a hot topic during the recent “charrette”, which considered ideas for the town’s future, and it is feared the mound could conflict with future schemes and funding applications.
Chairman of Elgin community council, Alistair Kennedy, fronted the campaign to install the platform on behalf of the Elgin Trust group, and last night played down concerns about its fate.
He said: “The mound would be roughly the height of a car, and could be removed in a couple of hours. It wouldn’t take a huge effort.
“The platform should help redress flooding problems in Cooper Park, and will provide a nice view of the cricket taking place there – as well as providing a buffer so the players aren’t distracted by passing vehicles.
“There has been nothing done with the park for so long, it’s nice to think of it receiving some improvements.”
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter said: “We own the ground at Cooper Park so if there is an issue with the landform being there in the future, then we can quite easily take it away.
“We’re not talking about anything mountainous, and we won’t see any final plans from the charrette in the next few months.”
Elgin City North councillor Patsy Gowans added: “The mound could be used in the future to help create an ampitheatre in the park – that’s something that has been talked about since I was elected.”