Moray Council approves sale of common good land at Clovenside Cemetery to Forres Baptist Church

Moray Council has approved the sale of common good land in Forres.

Land at Clovenside Cemetery, including the car park currently leased by William Purves Funeral Directors Ltd, has been transferred to Forres Baptist Church following an extensive public consultation.

The land has been leased since 2002 and sub-let to Forres Baptist Church since 2021.

The church expressed an interest in buying the land outright to secure its long-term plans for community services.

The funds from the sale will be credited to the Forres Common Good Fund to support local projects.

A public consultation ran for 10 weeks from April to June.

A total of 106 responses were received, with 83.96 per cent in favour of the proposal.

Supportive comments highlighted the Baptist Church’s role in providing vital community services such as food banks, drop-in sessions, and events.

While some concerns were raised on continuing access to the cemetery and parking availability, Moray Council says access to Clovenside Cemetery and use of the car park for interments will remain unchanged.

The sale agreement includes retained rights for the council to maintain the cemetery and ensure continued parking provision for visitors.

Councillor Marc Macrae, chair of Moray Council’s corporate committee, said: “This decision reflects strong community support and safeguards both the interests of cemetery visitors and the long-term benefits for Forres through the Common Good Fund.

“I wish the Forres Baptist Church well in continuing its role in supporting local people.”

A spokesperson from Forres Baptist Church added: “We are delighted to secure the future of our premises and continue serving the Forres community.

“Owning the site gives us the stability to expand our outreach programmes and maintain the property for the benefit of everyone.

“We appreciate the overwhelming support shown from the community during the consultation.”