Moray SNP News

SNP COUNCILLOR’S MOTION GETS 150K BOOST FOR FOCHABERS INSTITUTE

SNP Councillor for Fochabers Lhanbryde Ward, Margo Howe, has welcomed the passing of her motion at today’s meeting of The Moray Council that Fochabers Village Association Ltd should be given ownership of the Fochabers Institute and that they should also receive a 150 thousand pound grant for critical repairs to the roof, walls and heating system.

The motion backed by all 11 opposition SNP councillors gained a further 2 votes, defeating the Council Administration’s position that the the transfer of ownership be agreed  but without the grant.

Welcoming the decision Cllr Howe said:

“This is a great decision for Fochabers and I am absolutely delighted that we were able to defeat the short-sighted position that was being taken by the Council’s Independent and Tory Administration.

“A phenomenal amount of work has been done by volunteers in Fochabers to get to this position and they are fully committed to seeing this through and generating funding from various sources.

“This was a council owned building and after this one off grant to make it wind and watertight it will now be in the communities hands to grow the usage and make it viable and sustainable for the long-term.

“Had this not been supported it is highly unlikely that the community could have taken it on and the Council would have ended up spending that money and much more if the Institute were still to be used.

“As it is we have a great result for the community.”