Buckie pupils celebrate national planning award win

BUCKIE High pupils have won a national planning award for their involvement in Moray’s Local Development Plan.

The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning celebrate achievements and this year, for the first time, included a category for ‘Children and Young People’, which highlights innovation where children and young people have made a positive impact on the planning of a place.

A video, created by the students, was shown during roadshows as part of the wide-reaching public consultation on the main planning issues facing Moray in the next 10 years, including affordable housing provision.

S6 pupils Kadie and Jack Smith attended the ceremony in Edinburgh on Wednesday night, accompanied by Chair of Moray Council’s Planning and Regulatory Services Committee, Cllr David Bremner.

Jack spoke of the inspiration behind the video.

“We didn’t want to make a video that just highlighted the problems in Moray, we challenged ourselves to try come up with solutions that we thought could resolve the issues and better the place we live in.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know that our project can influence the council’s decisions for the future of Moray. We are all thrilled to have won this award and would like to thank everyone involved for providing us with this exciting opportunity!”

Kadie echoed Jack’s words, and told of her shock at landing the prestigious award.

“We are absolutely blown away to have received this award. It just shows that young people can make a difference and that our hard work is paying off.”

Head teacher Neil Johnson said he was delighted that the team’s efforts were being recognized at such a high level.

“It is really important that we listen to the views of young people when making decisions about the future – and this group of senior pupils have worked really well with our planning department to represent this.”

Cllr David Bremner said the pupils’ success in the Quality in Planning awards was outstanding.

“I was thrilled to join Kadie and Jack at the ceremony and celebrate their inspiring project to address the planning issues they and their peers are likely to face. We’re working hard to ensure we retain young people in Moray so their insight is invaluable in helping us design and create a Moray where they can live, train, work and enjoy living in.”