Not against green burial sites but development

I am writing further to the coverage about the development of the Forres community woodland and in response to the letter from Barbara Fleming which seemed to misunderstand my views.

Barbara evidently believes that I am against green burials in the community woodland. Well, no actually: I quite fancy one for myself when the time comes! And when someone knocked on my door several months ago to ask my opinion I stated that I was quite happy about them so long as there was no visible development. I was assured that this was the case by my friend on the doorstep. So that was fine – green means green.

Some months later, I happened, by chance, to be in town and noticed that there was an event being hosted by the Forres Community Woodland Trust. I discovered that, yes, indeed green burials were on the agenda – fine - but so was the creation of access tracks, car parking, and a number of buildings – not fine. I made my views known as, I believe, did a few other residents who had heard about it – most however had not.

After that I heard nothing, until one day, on my round of the woodlands I discovered that an ugly track had been bulldozed across the coffin field, plus a whole load of other stuff. The place had been transformed. My surprise and horror at this development is evidently shared by many other residents – I believe the great majority, judging by the numbers who have signed a petition that is circulating around the town. What is happening? What’s next?

Now, Barbara states that she had been aware of this for a long time. Well, I wasn’t and nor was anyone else I have met locally.

Barbara mentions the “not in my backyard mentality”. Well, if wishing to protect those parts of my local environment that I hold dear makes me a nimby, then that is a badge I wear with pride. And if the working assumption is that those of us who are opposed to the development of the woodland are selfishly working against a greater good, perhaps someone could tell us what that greater good is.

At the end of the day, for me, there is one question: Is the community woodland to be managed as a woodland or is it there to be developed?

And if there are over-riding reasons why the woodland has to be developed, can someone please spell out what they are.

Claire Feaver

31 Woodside Drive, Forres

PS – Please be assured: this is not intended as a “brickbat”. I have enormous respect for folk who give of their own time to community projects. I simply am unhappy about what seems to be happening.