Moray Council agrees to secure the future of Cooper Park
Moray Council has taken an important step to secure the future of Cooper Park and Grant Lodge by approving plans to petition the Court of Session to seek to vary the terms of the Trust Deed to maintain viability of the park in the current day.
Cooper Park has been at the heart of Elgin for over a century, gifted to the people of the town in 1903 by Sir George Alexander Cooper. The gift included Grant Lodge and the surrounding park and came with conditions that limit what the council can do with the land. This included a restriction on granting long leases or passing responsibilities to any part of the park to other groups.
Over the years, parts of the park, like sports grounds, clubs, and community spaces, have been managed by local organisations. But these arrangements have often had to be informal, unable to provide the long-term security of operations to either the group, council or the public.
New investment from the UK and Scottish Governments, including funding through the Moray Growth Deal, Levelling Up Fund and Elgin Neighbourhood Board is now helping to improve the park and bring Grant Lodge back into public use. To make the most of the funding so the park can continue to thrive, the council has agreed to formally ask Scotland’s highest civil court to vary the trust conditions, incorporating these new projects as well as the existing activities/attractions within the park. This will allow the council to enter into long-term agreements, like leases with local groups and organisations.
These arrangements will help maintain the park and its facilities for the public to enjoy and secure operations despite pressure on public sector funding. The goal is to allow more flexibility while staying true to the original purpose of the gift, to benefit the people of Elgin.
The proposed legal process is expected to take between six and eight months and will be funded through existing project budgets.
Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: "This decision will help us work hand-in-hand with the local community and partners to keep Cooper Park a welcoming, accessible, and well-maintained space for generations to come. This change will support the continued development of Cooper Park, including improvements to Grant Lodge, and will ensure local clubs and groups can plan for the future with confidence. Regardless of the legal outcome, the council’s commitment to investing in and supporting the park remains unchanged.”