YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING for ground in Elgin that could be used as allotments could finally be at an end with a decision taken in the Moray Council yesterday.
The policy and resources committee studied a paper that proposed a planning application be put forward for allotments to be created on a site alongside the Pinefield Playing Fields.
Councillors agreed a plan that would see the Elgin Allotment Association develop and operate the site under a lease agreement – although the committee were told that given the current financial situation, the local authority was not in a position to fund the estimated £120,000 required to develop the site.
However, the Council will undertake the work required to obtain planning permission with the report pointing out: “The Elgin Allotments Association would be expected to take a lease from the council to develop, operate and manage the allotments.
“Furthermore, in order to develop the site the association would require to seek funding from external sources.”
The decision was welcomed by Elgin councillor Graham Leadbitter, was said: “The allotment issue has been going on for quite a number of years now and there was a significant area of frustration building up because of the delay.
“This is a welcome way forward – there has been a lot of challenges looking at different sites and just finding somewhere that was central enough to attract people to use it.
“There is a huge demand for these allotments and a massive waiting list so the allotment association, once they get them, will not have any problem finding people to use them, it is just a case of finding funding to help them get off the ground.”