Letter to the Editor   

What is this leaflet doing the rounds, asking for a yes or no decision on the viability of retaining the fifty-year lease of the old Water tower, a category C listed building leased at £1 per annum?  Why is the information so one sided.  How is this £1000 a year broken down?  Where is the breakdown of £14,000 spent since 1991 and what maintenance has been carried out since then?

   As far as I'm aware the only work carried out on the tower since '91 has been  painting approx twice, perhaps three times - 1^st time carried out by GRC and free of charge prior to hand over and 2^nd time by Morris Mann at a very reasonable price.  The manufacture of the Panoramic indicator and local interpretation boards, benches, and removal of the beautiful victorian wrought iron stairway for safety reasons was paid for by fundraising and donations.  The planting of indigenous flowers, grass and hedge-cutting was carried out free of charge by the team of Scottish Wildlife trainees overseen by Tom Finnamore and a grant given by the Countryside commission for tree planting.

     Now, if there are hidden costs other than a coat of paint every five years or so and the public liability insurance of approx. £400 - 500 per annum, I would be happy to be enlightened.  Perhaps after due consideration of the relevant information I might alter my outlook.  But, I will not do so without a public meeting to discuss the matter in full.  Prior to the acquisition of the tower in 1991, a public meeting was called to judge the opinion of the residents of both villages.  With the facts and possible future costs presented, they voted to fight to keep the tower.  The same route should be followed again - troublesome bother or not.

     The Amenities Association is no more than a voice of the people and every resident over the age of 18 in both villages is a member of that association and therefore a voice to be heard.  Should the ultimate decision be to hand the fifty year lease over to Moray council and therefore leave the way open, as before, for the development of holiday homes to mar the skyline above the park, then so be it.  At least democracy will have been carried out.

     However, I hope, should this occur, that the Amenities Committee concerned fights as hard as their predecessors to have the sewage system fully upgraded before a single house is erected.   The upgrading that has been promised for over a decade.  Take the statement quoted in the Moray Council Town and Country Plan, at least five years ago, that with the exclusion the planned housing at the sidings, the Orchard on Spey St. and Jockie's Loan, no other buildings would be erected until sewage upgrading was carried out!  I haven't seen that happen, have you?

     A great deal of hard work by a few residents saved the tower in '91 and the risk of development overlooking the village.  Sufficient funds to continue upkeep were raised at that time.  I suggest another sub-committee be raised to do the same

 IF THAT IS THE DECISION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.  Please don't put flyers through my door with insufficient details.  Similar to certain leaflets we received prior to the recent local by-election concerning a certain lady who omitted to name the political party she represented.  Lack of true information is every bit as bad as incorrect information. 

     Be assured it is not my intention to offend anyone.  I speak only for myself, but as a past member of the Amenities executive for many years, and a past member of the 1990 Water Tower sub-committee, I am angry at being asked to tick a box on a piece of paper without being given the opportunity, or my right, to voice an opinion at a public meeting.             

 P Bingham.