A campaign to open a new artificial sports pitch in a Moray town has been highlighted as a possible boost for the area’s recovery from coronavirus.
The Elgin Sports Community Trust wants to open a facility at Lesser Borough Briggs for local teams and residents to use to keep active.
Moray Council has backed a 99-year lease to be offered to the group, which is subject to sheriff court approval due to the land being owned by the town’s common good fund.
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter has praised efforts being made by the campaigners despite the lockdown restrictions.
He said: “An enormous amount of work has been undertaken by the trust and council officers to get this application ready.
“A strong level of support for these proposals has been clear from the outset and has only grown since.
“In these challenging times it is good to get support for this important project, which means that the trust has passed a major milestone towards getting this important community sports facility up and running.”
The trust hopes a contractor currently working at RAF Lossiemouth will be able to build the sports pitch before their work at the base finishes early next year.
Teams including Elgin City FC, Lossiemouth FC and Moray Rugby Club have already expressed an interest in using the facility with spaces also due to be set aside for local schools.
