Advice to be sought on Forres proposals

Date Added - 05/05/09

Moray councillors today agreed to seek independent expert advice on detailed proposals for a major retail development in Forres.

Redco Assets Ltd and Stewart Milne Developments have expressed an interest in developing a site at Bogton Road, most of which is on council-owned Forres Common Good land.

Selling the Common Good land would necessitate an application to the courts and the proceeds from any sale would be credited to the Forres Common Good account.

The council has a duty to ensure that it gets the best possible deal from the disposal of any Common Good land.

A council spokesman said: “Members of the policy and resources committee have authorised the commissioning of independent legal and valuation advice on the options open to the council for disposing of its interests.

“Once that advice is available, a further report will be submitted to the committee.”

Costs involved in obtaining the expert advice will be borne by the developers.