Consultation opens on open space strategy

Consultation on the draft Moray open space strategy supplementary guidance – approved by councillors last week – is launched today.

The document has been produced to provide a strategic vision for the provision, development and management of publicly usable open space in Moray.

This includes places such as public parks, play spaces, sports areas, woodland and green corridors.

The draft strategy is available for comment and can be viewed online at www.moray.gov.uk/currentconsultations and paper copies are available at council access points and libraries.

The strategy supports Local Development Plan policy E5 Open Spaces and will be used when making planning decisions related to open space. Where a proposal is made on an open space designated within the Local Development Plan the strategy will be used to consider the impacts on open space provision and the site’s key features and qualities.

The strategy will be used to determine the open space requirements in new developments through the application of minimum standards and can also be used as an evidence base to seek developer obligations.

The strategy has been developed from an audit of open space in Elgin, Forres, Keith, Buckie, Lossiemouth, Aberlour and Dufftown which focused on the quality, quantity and accessibility of publicly usable open space and is summarised in the strategy.

The consultation period will continue until Friday, April 28, with a drop-in exhibitionbeing held in the Gallery at Elgin library on Tuesday, March 21 from 4pm to 7pm.

Comments on the draft strategy should be e-mailed to localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk or in writing to Planning and Development, Moray Council, High Street, PO Box 6760, Elgin IV30 9BX.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.