Elgin Heritage Centre is to be relocated – despite some reservations over its new home.
Members of the children and young people’s services committee yesterday agreed to shift the town’s historical collection from East End Primary School to free up more teaching space.
However, some concerns have been raised about re-homing the heritage centre on the first floor of Elgin Library.
Elgin City North councillor Mike Shand said: “I’m delighted the heritage service will be retained, but I’m not convinced about shoehorning it into the library.
“The first floor of the building is already full of computers and desks so it could become very cramped.”
He also said that storing some resources may restrict the space available to library employees.
Keith and Cullen member Gary Coull added: “Moving the centre from the school has to happen, but I also have concerns about adding it to the library.
“If we are serious about promoting our history to tourists then it should have its own building.”
Moray Council’s principal librarian Sheila Campbell advised that a review of the new arrangement will be carried out next March, “to give it a chance to work”.
It was revealed in February that primary schools in Elgin faced a capacity crisis in the coming years unless preventative action was taken.
East End is capable of housing 233 pupils, but the roll is expected to rise to 409 by 2021.
Following the move of the heritage collection, the school will be able to teach approximately 130 more pupils.