Writ issued by council wanting to charge for public use of Grantown’s Square

Highland Council and the community of Grantown are in a tug-of-war over proposals to charge townsfolk over the use of the historic square.

The local authority has raised a writ against community leaders trying to block the move.

A pre-proof hearing was held at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald

The initial proceedings were over in just 10 minutes after the decision was taken to extend the proceedings with another prelim hearing set for a fortnight’s time.

The man leading the fight against the council’s bid to bring in charges for events in The Square is community council chairman Ewan MacGregor.

He told the Strathy: “It was very disappointing to hear that it’s all getting heavy with the community now having to pay for legal representation for the acquisition of formal affidavits and witnesses which will take all this well into the new year.

“We were all hoping this could be avoided since our argument against the council is quite straightforward. This is Common Good ground and we simply want to keep it that way.

“There is a growing tide of support for us now, not least from the new Cairngomrs farmers and crofters group who foresee all sorts of problems in charging the public to use the green.”

The Square is the jewel in the crown of the town and was gifted by Nina Caroline Ogilvie Grant, Countess of Seafield, on July 15, 1966 to the Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Burgh of Grantown and is assessed as Common Good for the benefits of the town’s residents.

Highlands regional MSP Edward Mountain (Scottish Conservative) has thrown his weight behind the watchdog.

He attended a demonstration in the Strathspey capital on Friday where many local representatives gathered to show their solidarity.

After speaking with local townsfolk Mr Mountain told the Strathy: “I stand firmly against the Highland Council’s attempts to remove The Square from Grantown’s Common Good.

“Local people are more in touch with local needs than the Highland Council who are just looking for more money.”

With the council aiming to change the Common Good property to allow for the introduction of mandatory charging for market pitches, events and stalls, the community council has already raised 1093 signatures in opposition.

Mr MacGregor said: “The mandatory charging for events, pitches and stalls in our opinion will have a negative effect on regular and annual events currently held in The Square.

“There is also no clarity how much will be charged, where the funds will be held nor how the raised money will be used for the benefit of Grantown.

Events held in The Square have historically been free of charge.

But as a result of the council’s reactivation of the Common Good Fund for Grantown in recent years, the authority wanted to look at it as a source of generating extra income and launched a public consultation.

A total of 23 representations were received with 74 per cent of the responses opposing mandatory charging and the remaining 26 per cent being split between approval and mixed responses.

Local coucillors agreed in June to continue down the path after considering the representations, saying it was in the interests of Grantown on Spey Common Good

They agreed that in time, the accumulated funds that could be used to benefit the area.

A pre-evidential hearing has been set for January 30.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.