Cabrach, Culbin and Moray: survival, visitor centre and councillors ICT spend

As a sparsely populated area in Moray lying between Dufftown and Rhynie, the Cabrach has recently seen the threat to the school in the village, which currently has two pupils. The Cabrach Community Association has since been formed with a view to making the area more appealing to visitors and residents. The study details how the Cabrach lost more than 75% of its population between 1861 and 1961 and now there are only 64 people living in the area.

The Cabrach is around 10 miles long and eight miles wide with almost the entire parish under the ownership of privately-owned Glenfiddich and Cabrach Estate. The community group is currently exploring opportunities for regenerating the area including the development of leisure activities, training initiatives and improvement of derelict buildings. The report identifies specific opportunities in renewable energy, tourism, and alternatives for land not in use.

Franziska Smith from HIE's area team in Forres said: "HIE, along with our key stakeholders, the Cabrach community and other interested parties will seek to identify realistic projects which could make a positive difference to the issues facing the area."

Richard Lochhead MSP said: "We now have a clearly defined base from which to work and the report will enable the agencies and residents to plan for the future effectively and to implement changes to positively benefit the Cabrach and to enable its long term sustainability."

Culbin Sands visitor experience
Lochhead also opened a new visitor experience at Culbin Sands Forest between Nairn and Forres. The project included development such as themed trails and comprehensive visitor management to safeguard Culbin's unique features. A viewing tower also allows visitors to appreciate the physical scale and coastal processes at work, detailing teaching resources including a website. HIE has funded £20,000 towards he £180,000 project.

Moray's 26 councillors use £13,246 in ICT/phone
Councillors across Scotland now receive an annual salary rather than the previous system of allowances, with the new paid post being instigated by the Scottish Government prior to last May's local government election in an effort to encourage more people to put themselves forward as candidates.

Moray paid out a basic salary of £14,097 which rises to over £17,000 for senior councillors who chair committees. Leader of the council, convener George McIntyre, has a salary of £23,496, with the total wages bill being over £406,789.

Councillors are also able to claim for attending out-of-area conferences, travel and subsistence expenses as well as phone calls and computer use. Councillors, who serve a four-year term, will see their salary increase this year – as they are in post for a full financial year – to a basic figure of around £15,000.

The accounts for the period from May 3 to March 31 cover Speyside Glenlivet, Keith and Cullen, Buckie, Fochabers and Lhanbryde, Heldon and Laich, Elgin City north and south, and Forres. The least expensive councillor was Buckie's Joe MacKay: Salary – £14,097; conference fees – nil; travel and subsistence expenses – nil; phone/ICT – £413; at a total of £14,511.

Web: Culbin site: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-76pr9z
Source:http://www.northern-scot.co.uk
Web: http://www.thisismoray.com/
Website: http://www.hie.co.uk