A potential commercial development has raised fresh fears businesses are being drawn away from the centre of a Moray town.
A complex including a drive through-restaurant, hotel and leisure firms has been proposed for an industrial estate off the A96 in Elgin.
Elgin City North councillor John Divers was pleased no shops had been proposed for the Linkwood Place East site, but remained concerned the development could be the latest to tempt firms away from the historic heart of the town.
He said: “There is some concern from town centre businesses about the future use of the site. I do take some comfort from the fact that some retail activities are not allowed there but those concerns are there especially when we can see what’s happened with the Edgar Road sites previously.
“There have been some departures that have been agreed there which have undoubtedly had a negative impact on the town centre.”
The major development was discussed at Moray Council’s meeting of the planning and regulatory services committee yesterday ahead of a planning application being submitted.
Parking spaces are also included in the proposals submitted by Jack Brown on land next to KFC.
Councillors were told the Linkwood Place East development was now more viable now flood defences were in place to protect the buildings.
Chairman Chris Tuke said: “It makes it more acceptable in terms of the risk of flooding from the Lossie but there’s still work to be done for surface water.”
Mr Divers told the committee he attended a public exhibition about transforming the former mart on New Elgin Road into a housing, pub and care home complex and encouraged more entrances to the site for emergency access.
During discussions about the proposed transformation of Coleburn Distillery into a hotel Speyside Glenlivet councillor Mike McConnachie raised road safety concerns.
He said: “It’s a wooded area and a bad bend at the entrance. It should have suitable signage to say it is an opening to a hotel.”
A public exhibition has about the Linkwood Place East development has been scheduled for Saturday, September 17 from 11am to 5pm at New Elgin and Ashgrove Hall.
