Move to improve paths at Cluny Hill

A COMMUNITY interest company wants to invest in woodland paths at the centre of Forres.

Forres Features, formed in 2016 by the organisers of light and music events Colours of Cluny in 2016 and 2017, are hoping to make a substantial investment in upgraded walkways near Nelson's Tower, Hell's Hole, the cemetery and the avenue of trees leading up from Anderson's Primary School playing fields.

Forres Features director Graham Murdoch confirmed the project awaits permission from Moray Council.

He said: "Forres Features want to enhance the area for the public but Cluny Hill is a conservation area so approval is needed of any investment. Nothing has been done up there for 40 years."

The deteriorated paths require upgrading to make them suitable for wheelchair and mobility access. During heavy rainfall, much of the surface water flowing down the existing pathways can end up on the low level roads at the base of the hill, occasionally causing flooding.

At the moment, a tarmac road leads from St. Leonards Road up to and across the end of the cemetery. From either end of the road there are paths originally constructed from sub-base and quarry dust leading up to Nelson Tower. A further path of similar construction also passes along and through Grant Park, merging with the tarmac road shortly before it crosses the cemetery.

All the paths have suffered over time by heavy rainwaters flowing down the hill.

"At the far end of the road adjacent to the cemetery, tree roots are pushing up the tarmac," added Mr Murdoch. "It needs to be lifted, the roots sorted out then re-tarred.

"Also, at the top of the avenue of trees, heavy rain on the path has been cutting gouges so we need to put swails in to divert it."

With the permission of the local authority and Historic Scotland, Forres Features will: construct two swales suitable for wheelchair and mobility access at the high level on the Grant Park path, covering the area between the swales and the tarmac road in tar planing’s; expose and remove roots under the road across the end of the cemetery then repair it with Sub-base and resurface with tarmac; rebuild the path leading to Nelson Tower with soakaways and run-offs; and resurface the path leading down into Hell’s Hole with Sub-base topped with quarry dust.

A Moray Council spokesman said: "We have only very recently received details of the proposals. This finish is not compatible with a woodland setting and the group have been contacted by our planning officer to discuss alternatives, none of which appear to be acceptable to the group. Other local interest groups have also expressed concern over the use of tar for the paths."