Council backs vision for Forres of the future

A small committee of local volunteers are bringing an innovative and inclusive community planning project to Forres.

Supported by Moray Council, Forres 2020 Vision will create a platform for residents to put forward their opinions and feelings about the future of Forres.

Suggestions made by local people will directly contribute to local planning developments of green spaces and publicly owned land and buildings over the next five to ten years.

Using a nationally recognised planning process called Planning for Real®, a large 3D scale model of Forres will be constructed and used as a visual aid to steer discussion about how Forres could look by the year 2020 and beyond.

Residents will be able to register their views on a range of topics and areas using small flags and the flagged suggestions received will inform the development of an action plan for the future.The action plan will in turn be used to help shape the Moray Local Development Plan and the Open Space Strategy for Moray for 2020 and onwards.

Throughout late October and November, townspeople of all ages are invited to Forres Town Hall to get hands-on with the process to help make the 3D scale model.With refreshments provided, children and adults alike are encouraged along to paint, stick and create paper buildings of local landmarks to form the virtual planning map.

Sessions will be held on Tuesday mornings from 10am to 12 noon and on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm.

Once complete, the model will become mobile, visiting schools and community groups and be available at open sessions throughout the town making it as accessible as possible for everyone to contribute their ideas.

If you would like to help with the construction of the model, to find out more or to have the Forres 2020 Vision model visit your group, please email forres2020vision@gmail.com or call 07843 842890.

You can also keep up to date with the progress of the model making and other news about Forres 2020 Vision via social media: facebook.com/forres2020vision and Twitter @Forres2020 #Forres2020Vision