The Big Vote - and your views on the latest hot topic
OPINION » The Big Vote
Should Forres housing development be halted until flood defences are improved?
Published: 31 January, 2008
Yes - With new housing comes larger storm water pipes, until the older pipes are upgraded to handle extra water. The new scheme should be halted as it would be unfair to the people in the older low lying houses when heavy rain fall arrives, they will be flooded every time. The local authorities know what is going on yet they do nothing. Ally Ritchie
Yes - Better to wait until the defences have been tested before exposing others to the miseries that accompany a house flood. Jim Brodie
Maybe - Just restrict building to areas where flooding is most unlikely and not allow building within the flooding footprint. Or is that too simple for Moray Council? Don Murray
Should the flag fly again over the Tolbooth?
Published: 15 October, 2007
Yes - I'm just a Yank that lived for two years in both Forres and Findhorn (at the Findhorn Foundation) and truly enjoyed the wonderful people of Forres and the surrounding area. I believe that a royal borough surely could find the pride to fly the national symbol of Scotland. Here in the USA, I fly an American flag in my own yard. I am proud to do so. As an adopted Scot, I would be very proud to see the saltire fly over the Tolbooth and the royal borough. James Martin, Noblesville, Indiana, USA
Save it - The first impression of Forres for visitors is one of lovely open spaces and plenty of greenery. Erode this asset by building houses in this location and Forres will be a long-term loser. Every city dweller knows what losing "natural" spaces is all about, only too well. Jim Brodie, Edinburgh
Not Tesco - The access roads are terrible, it has a history of flooding and takes people away from the High Street. Why not earmark the old Tesco sight for a skate park for the youth of Forres? Although I no longer live in Forres I come home regularly and am disappointed that things in Forres are still not on the move. Come on guys - Forres has so much potential, for once let it happen. Anon
Every week - Last festive season my bin was not emptied during the Christmas and New Year holidays because of staff holidays. Therefore my bin was not emptied for 3 weeks and, despite recycling and composting, I struggled to cope. In future, if the bins are emptied fortnightly and my collection day falls on a staff holiday, my bin will not be emptied for 4 weeks - this is completely unacceptable. Les Morgan, Kinloss
Grant Park - Having just moved from an area with a wonderful skate park I know that it will be used. The skate park in Dereham, Norfolk was never empty on school holidays or after school. Bikes and skaters use the facilities, and when the council built the park they invited local children along to discuss their needs and what sort of "jumps" they would like. Although I have selected Grant Park, I think any central area in the town would be suitable. As long as one is forthcoming I think the children of Forres will benefit. Mrs Vanessa Knight
No - Lidl will be unlikely to sell local produce and is unlikely to be any friendlier than Tesco. A supermarket price war would just harm the smaller local shops, who do not have a long chain of other stores' profits to fall back on, and we would see the slow death of our High Street, and consequently the death of the tourist trade, both of which would damage our local economy. Colette Bathurst
