CAMPAIGNERS EMERGED FROM a public meeting in Lhanbryde on Wednesday evening with a renewed determination to save a local landmark building from demolition.
Plans are at an advanced stage to demolish the Tennant Arms Hotel in the town with planning permission secured to create a new Co-operative Store on the site.
However, several local people were disappointed that the site owners decided to go ahead with the plan, despite their having previously indicated they would seek an alternative use for the building as they had not realised the depth of local feeling against the idea.
The meeting was attended by local MSP Douglas Ross who, until May, remains a local councillor for the ward and Sean Morton, who also represents Fochabers/Lhanbryde at Moray Council.
Mr Morton has been at the heart of the campaign and was asked by those attending the meeting if he would remain at the head of their efforts, despite his being currently embroiled in seeking re-election.
Mr Morton said: “I am so grateful to those who turned up to another meeting about the Tennant Arms.
“It feels like we have been fighting for the building for a long time and people are understandably hurt by the way the owner has deceived us. Lhanbryde would be forgiven for giving up and backing down – but that is not what people here are good at.
“Tonight, we saw passion, not anger. We saw a village that keeps showing up when it counts. Obviously, I would have preferred if the promise made to me by the developer had been kept but at least there’s no need to roll my sleeves up and get to work.
“They’re already rolled up – the fight is on. We will do everything we can to make The Co-operative cooperate with Lhanbryde. We will save The Tennant Arms.”