A MORE AMBITIOUS plan by a Moray community to redevelop disused land around their local bowling green is set to go before Moray Councillors on Tuesday.
The Tomintoul and Glenlivet Outdoor Bowling Club were given approval earlier this year for a community asset transfer of their local bowling green.
However, Councillors will now be told that a much more ambitious plan has been formed by the club, who are now seeking to develop adjacent land into a community picnic area and children’s play area, with part of the land being left unmown with native wildflowers planted.
A report to the policy and resources committee meeting says: “The whole of the site was originally disponed to the Council by the Crown Estate Commissioners for nil consideration for the purposes of developing a bowling green and the erection of a clubhouse for the benefit of the local community.
“The development of the bowling green and clubhouse were undertaken subsequently by the Club. The inclusion of the surplus land in the asset transfer is considered to be compatible with the original intent.”
Earlier the committee had learned that the bowling club did not have sufficient reserves to pay market value for the site, which is thought to be £36,000 with the adjacent land taking into account.
In his report Andrew Gray, the council’s Asset Management Coordinator, concludes: “The inclusion of the surplus land to the south-east of the bowling green in the transfer at nil consideration to the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Outdoor Bowling Club is considered to be consistent with the original purpose of the transfer at nil consideration to the Council by the Crown Estate Commissioners.
“Consequently, the revised asset transfer request is recommended for approval.”