Forres Community Council announce new chairman
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A LOCAL group charged with channelling public opinion to Moray Council has a new chairman.
Following the resignation of local businessman Graham Hilditch, Forres Community Council (FCC) member Shaun Moat has taken up the position and is eager to promote the representative body's role in the town.
Mr Moat said: "I am very keen to listen to the community on projects they would like us to look into. Community councils play a vital role to ensure that individual and collective voices of Forres are heard."
Mr Hilditch held the position of chairman for three years and served as a community councillor for seven.
Mr Moat, who is also self-employed and previously held the role of FCC secretary, said: "I would like to thank Graham for his service to the community and in particular to the large part he played, alongside FCC treasurer Graham Murdoch, in the Leanchoil Hospital project."
Following an announcement in 2018 from NHS Grampian that the town's 126-year-old hospital was to close for good, Mr Hilditch oversaw FCC's proposals to find alternative uses for the site and its buildings.
In February this year, Renfrewshire-based veteran's care charity Erskine formally declared an interest in setting up a veterans’ activity centre in the main building, however, this is no longer a certainty due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After thanking Mr Hilditch for his voluntary service to Forres, Mr Moat introduced a new community councillor.
He said: "Our newest co-option Mr Frank Byrne will bring a lot to the table. However, we are still keen to attract new people to bring us to our full quota of 12."
Mr Byrne was in the military for eight years - three of which were at Fort George - and is now a security installer and wildlife manager.
He said: "I want to see Forres flourish. I'm willing to take on issues that concern local people and bring them to Moray Councillors' attention to achieve results."
FCC meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7pm in the Tolbooth - due to the current coronavirus lockdown, they will be holding the meetings via Zoom starting from July.
To get involved, visit www.forrescc.co.uk, the Forres Community Councill Facebook page. Alternatively, email info@forrescc.co.uk.
