MORAY’S NEW SCIENCE and technology aviation centre looks set to be guaranteed the safety net of at least three years at their existing Kinloss base.
Morayvia has been working hard for several years, building a collection of aircraft and other exhibits – including a Sea King helicopter and former Kinloss-based Nimrod.
A major hurdle has been a home for the new centre, now Moray Councillors will be asked this week to extend a rent-free lease to the group for the next three years on the former Abbeylands Primary School.
In a report being placed before the policy and resources committee this week Councillors will be told: “In the short time that Morayvia have taken occupation of the site they have improved the facility and grounds.
“Therefore it is recommended to provide support to Morayvia by extending the rent-free lease to November 30, 2018. Allowing Morayvia to develop their proposals for a three-year period will enable a much more robust business case to be developed.”
Long term plans for Morayvia are to obtain the former school on a permanent basis and to that end will be preparing a business case to submit to the local authority.
Morayvia was originally formed to ensure that at least one of the scrapped Nimrod fleet would remain in the region. Following the successful acquisition of that aircraft – since christened the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ – the group has obtained several more exhibits, most significantly one of the Sea King SAR helicopters withdrawn from services earlier this year.
The centre at Kinloss is expected to open its doors to the general public this month.