Elgin trees set to be felled

Councillors have agreed to revoke tree preservation orders on a group of Scots Pine trees on an Elgin housing estate.

Experts have inspected the trees and report that they are in poor condition and are likely to present a risk of falling.

Consultations with the local community will now be undertaken to establish what will replace the trees.

The preservation orders covering the 45ft tall trees apply to an area in front of residential properties in Waulkmill Grove and an area behind Barlink Road, Waulkmill Grove and Reynolds Crescent.

Councillors voted by a majority to revoke the orders by seven votes to five after agreeing to include consultation with local residents and landowners.

During the meeting it emerged that the expert’s report on the poor state of the trees had been obtained in 2010, but no action taken until now due to an overriding priority to produce the local development plan, a five-yearly planning blueprint for Moray.

Head of planning and development services, Jim Grant, said that now the local plan has been completed staff in the section will be bringing other work up to date, including a backlog of tree preservation orders.

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 92,500 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.