Neighbours raise concerns plans to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin will block their driveways
Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals across Moray.
Sit back and enjoy all of the most interesting planning news.
In this week's edition, plans to transform a toilet block into a cafe at Cooper Park in Elgin have been approved.
Neighbours have objected to proposals to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin which has lain empty for almost six years.
And a battery storage facility could be built just outside of Elgin.
But first, we look at the arrival of a dog grooming salon at Threaplands Garden Centre.
Plans have been approved for a dog grooming unit on the site of the Threaplands Garden Centre on the outskirts of Lhanbryde.
The Portakabin-style unit will be behind an existing two-metre fence next to the car park.
Owners of the garden centre have agreed to lease the land solely for this purpose.
Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion is behind the proposals.
Meanwhile, there will be a gate in the fence to access the unit and two dedicated parking spaces for people to arrive to drop off or pick up their pets.
Opening hours will be 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.
The unit will have a small toilet inside for the owner and a wash sink for dog grooming.
The dog owners will not be permitted access to stay in the unit while their dogs are being groomed.
It is hoped clients will also pop into the garden centre to have a browse or a coffee before picking up their pets again.
Now a building warrant has been submitted for £3,000 worth of drainage work to serve the portacabin.
In December 2020, Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion opened up her business in her garden shed after being made redundant at Evri.
Since then her business has been a hit.
In 2022, she moved into Moycroft House in Elgin after outgrowing a unit at Pinefield Parade.
She previously told the Press and Journal: 'It never crossed my mind to set up this business as I was so used to my job at the delivery firm.
'However, I love it and I wouldn't change it for the world.'
The British Legion wants to make alterations to improve the Buckie branch's kitchen.
According to a building warrant, the work could cost around £15,000 at the building at 65 High Street.
S Reid Design is representing the British Legion in the process.
Opdenergy UK wants to build a battery storage facility just outside Elgin.
The building is proposed on land near the town's Quarrywood.
It comprises of battery storage units, ancillary buildings and equipment and other works.
Developers estimate the facility could hold 49.9MW, which is enough to power about 9,000 homes for a year.
Planning permission is sought for 30 years.
A rundown toilet block in Elgin's Cooper Park will be given a major makeover.
Moray Council has been given the go-ahead to transform the loos beside the bowling green in the popular park into a cafe.
The proposals are part of the wider regeneration project funded by £18.3m from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.
This transformation will include an extension to the building and alterations to turn it into a cafe.
Meanwhile, the facility will also have changing places toilet to support park users.
The cafe will have indoor and outdoor seating with improvements to enhance the toilets and the visitor experience at Cooper Park.
Now detailed design work and broader procurement is expected to be completed by autumn 2025 with construction in early 2026.
In April, we revealed how Springfield Properties wanted to build eight new flats on the former Pinegrove Hotel site in Elgin.
The land has been empty for almost six years.
Each apartment will have an open plan kitchen and living area, two large bedrooms and plenty of storage.
Now four neighbours have objected to the plans.
They say the proposals show the development would block access to their driveways.
One added: 'The plans also close off access to Balado and Avalon by placing a footpath, bin store and car parking spaces across their driveways.
'How will Springfield guarantee access to the four properties mentioned above during the construction phase?'
Another described it as 'not acceptable' with proposals reducing them to what looked to be just a footpath and loss of vehicular access.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised the communal bins could encourage vermin and gulls leading to environmental issues if not properly maintained.
The Pinegrove Hotel on Pinefield Crescent was a well-known watering hole for locals before it closed down in 1999.
The building played host to countless wedding celebrations and parties over its long history.
The former bar was most recently used as a place of worship by the Elgin Community Church.
Then in 2019 demolition crews moved in and bulldozed the building.
Since then, the land near two takeaways and housing has fallen into disuse.
Today it is overgrown with weeds and is used by some as a dumping ground for rubbish.
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Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Press and Journal
Neighbours raise concerns plans to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin will block their driveways
Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals across Moray. Sit back and enjoy all of the most interesting planning news. In this week's edition, plans to transform a toilet block into a cafe at Cooper Park in Elgin have been approved. Neighbours have objected to proposals to breathe new life into a derelict pub site in Elgin which has lain empty for almost six years. And a battery storage facility could be built just outside of Elgin. But first, we look at the arrival of a dog grooming salon at Threaplands Garden Centre. Plans have been approved for a dog grooming unit on the site of the Threaplands Garden Centre on the outskirts of Lhanbryde. The Portakabin-style unit will be behind an existing two-metre fence next to the car park. Owners of the garden centre have agreed to lease the land solely for this purpose. Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion is behind the proposals. Meanwhile, there will be a gate in the fence to access the unit and two dedicated parking spaces for people to arrive to drop off or pick up their pets. Opening hours will be 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. The unit will have a small toilet inside for the owner and a wash sink for dog grooming. The dog owners will not be permitted access to stay in the unit while their dogs are being groomed. It is hoped clients will also pop into the garden centre to have a browse or a coffee before picking up their pets again. Now a building warrant has been submitted for £3,000 worth of drainage work to serve the portacabin. In December 2020, Pooch Pod owner Alison Tewnion opened up her business in her garden shed after being made redundant at Evri. Since then her business has been a hit. In 2022, she moved into Moycroft House in Elgin after outgrowing a unit at Pinefield Parade. She previously told the Press and Journal: 'It never crossed my mind to set up this business as I was so used to my job at the delivery firm. 'However, I love it and I wouldn't change it for the world.' The British Legion wants to make alterations to improve the Buckie branch's kitchen. According to a building warrant, the work could cost around £15,000 at the building at 65 High Street. S Reid Design is representing the British Legion in the process. Opdenergy UK wants to build a battery storage facility just outside Elgin. The building is proposed on land near the town's Quarrywood. It comprises of battery storage units, ancillary buildings and equipment and other works. Developers estimate the facility could hold 49.9MW, which is enough to power about 9,000 homes for a year. Planning permission is sought for 30 years. A rundown toilet block in Elgin's Cooper Park will be given a major makeover. Moray Council has been given the go-ahead to transform the loos beside the bowling green in the popular park into a cafe. The proposals are part of the wider regeneration project funded by £18.3m from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund. This transformation will include an extension to the building and alterations to turn it into a cafe. Meanwhile, the facility will also have changing places toilet to support park users. The cafe will have indoor and outdoor seating with improvements to enhance the toilets and the visitor experience at Cooper Park. Now detailed design work and broader procurement is expected to be completed by autumn 2025 with construction in early 2026. In April, we revealed how Springfield Properties wanted to build eight new flats on the former Pinegrove Hotel site in Elgin. The land has been empty for almost six years. Each apartment will have an open plan kitchen and living area, two large bedrooms and plenty of storage. Now four neighbours have objected to the plans. They say the proposals show the development would block access to their driveways. One added: 'The plans also close off access to Balado and Avalon by placing a footpath, bin store and car parking spaces across their driveways. 'How will Springfield guarantee access to the four properties mentioned above during the construction phase?' Another described it as 'not acceptable' with proposals reducing them to what looked to be just a footpath and loss of vehicular access. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised the communal bins could encourage vermin and gulls leading to environmental issues if not properly maintained. The Pinegrove Hotel on Pinefield Crescent was a well-known watering hole for locals before it closed down in 1999. The building played host to countless wedding celebrations and parties over its long history. The former bar was most recently used as a place of worship by the Elgin Community Church. Then in 2019 demolition crews moved in and bulldozed the building. Since then, the land near two takeaways and housing has fallen into disuse. Today it is overgrown with weeds and is used by some as a dumping ground for rubbish.
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
'My parcel was stolen after Evri dumped it,' says Lincoln woman
Parcel couriers need to take more accountability for their deliveries, says a woman whose birthday present for her daughter was stolen after being left on the Selmi, from Lincoln, said her parcel was delivered by Evri but was taken soon after it had been "dumped" in full view of the rest of the street."It's just carelessness. They don't care. It's not theirs, is it?" she Evri spokesperson said: "We've apologised to Krystal that her daughter's birthday present didn't arrive and offered a goodwill gesture as her experience fell short of the high standards we expect." Doorbell camera footage shared with the BBC shows a man taking the parcel from the doorstep on 8 Selmi, 36, said she believed that if more care had been taken when it was delivered, it would not have been stolen."They had just dumped it on the doorstep," she said. "A few hours later, it was gone. It was stolen."The parcel contained a pair of shoes for her daughter."I was really angry, really upset. I'd saved my money over a couple of months to pay for these shoes she desperately wanted," she said."Now we haven't got them, and I can't replace them." Ms Selmi said the courier told her she should contact Vinted, where she had bought the shoes, for a refund."It's like Evri are trying to pass the buck on to the senders," she weeks after the incident, Ms Selmi said it nearly happened said an Evri courier failed to ring her doorbell while she was in and left another package in plain sight on her doorstep."What if I had not have been here? Would it have been gone again?" she said. A spokesperson for Evri apologised for Ms Selmi's experience, and said her first port of call should be with the retailer."In line with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the retailer or sender is responsible for the parcel being safely received," Evri said."Any issue should be raised directly with the retailer or sender. If there is an issue with a delivery – as there was in this case – we work closely with the retailer to ensure the matter is resolved, whether that is a refund or a replacement."A spokesperson for Vinted said: "Members can contact Vinted for any issues with their parcels and we can contact the shipping provider on their behalf to investigate."We're sorry to hear that the parcel was not delivered to a safe place. As the parcel was ultimately not safely received by the member, we have processed a refund."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Evri confirms big change to parcel returns and customers will be divided
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVRI has confirmed it's making a big change that will impact shoppers sending off or returning parcels. The delivery company will be switching from paper receipts to email receipts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Evri will be changing to only digital receipts - meaning paper ones are gone for good Credit: Alamy That means that when you go to drop off a package at your local ParcelShop, you'll no longer receive a blue slip. Instead your receipt will be sent to your email address and it will have a date and time stamp on it for when you sent the parcel. The email will also include a direct link to track your package. The move initially had a trial run but it's now being brought in at ParcelShops across the country. Evri has said it's "excited" to be rolling out the change soon and that it's listened to customer feedback saying shoppers would prefer a move to digital receipts. "This will improve the customer experience with quick access to tracking, reduce the millions of paper receipt cards printed each year, and drive us towards our net-zero target," it said. But concerns have been raised previously that companies moving entirely to digital processes could shut out some customers. For example, numerous banking giants have closed down branches in recent years as more people move to online banking. There have been fears this could leave older or vulnerable people unable to access services properly. Consumer rights expert Martyn James also raised concerns about Evri's move to digital receipts. I'm an Evri delivery driver - people always ask me the same questions... no we don't get our petrol paid for, and yes, I do think it's worth it "Of all the business sectors in the UK, package delivery is the most complained about and reviled by the public," he said. "There's little doubt that the sector is already far too overly reliant on digitisation - to the point where it's impossible to speak to a person at many businesses. "So given the lack of faith from the public about the service provided by package delivery companies, digital receipts will go down very badly indeed." Meanwhile some convenience shop owners warned it could take much longer for their workers to process parcel returns. Premier retailer Suril Patel told The Grocer: "It's a long process already compared to Yodel, and now they're putting that extra step in which is going to take more of my staff's time and cause longer queues." Nisa retailer Sukh Gill added: "I can foresee instances where details get misheard or the staff member cannot understand the email address correctly or inadvertently makes an error, which will then cause customers to come back into stores because they have not received their email receipt." Neither of these retailers were involved in the trial but believe they will be affected by the change. Evri says the switch won't impact how long it takes for convenience shop workers to scan through parcels as email addresses will be auto-filled where possible. The move could also make things easier for some customers as they will no longer have to keep a paper receipt to hand and they won't be able to lose it. Plus, they will have a quick way to track their parcel online. Some retailers already give shoppers the option of receiving email receipts instead of paper ones. Zara, H&M and New Look are among the shops that offer email receipts. Evri made another change to its delivery services earlier this year. Vinted sellers were left frustrated after realising they could no longer drop their Evri parcels into selected InPost lockers. The change meant sellers had fewer options to drop off deliveries as they can now only go to Evri ParcelShops or specific Evri lockers. Evri rated 'worst parcel company' Last year, the watchdog found Evri is the worst parcel company for helping its customers. It received just a 32% satisfaction rating in 2024, according to Ofcom's Post Monitoring Report. This was marginally better than in 2023 and the regulator said there were "early signs of improvement". Rival Yodel was rated second-worst at 38%.
