Scotmid row over former church's war memorials

The former Burghead Parish Church is due to be turned into a Scotmid
- Published
A former church housing war memorials which is set to be turned into a supermarket is at the centre of a row in a Moray village.
Residents in Burghead have accused the Church of Scotland and West Moray Presbytery of "obstructing" efforts to relocate plaques from the village's former parish church to a new site.
However, the kirk said a £30,000 quote for the removal, relocation and storage of the marble memorials was "too high," and it was seeking an alternative estimate.
The church, which was closed as a cost-cutting measure in December last year, is due to be turned into a Scotmid branch after plans were approved last year.
In an open letter, Albert Main, chairman of Burghead and Cummingston Community Council, said one church official had suggested locals would "still be able to see the memorials once Scotmid opens again".
He wrote: "The suggestion that our community should honour its fallen from inside a shop on Remembrance Sunday is not only absurd - it is deeply offensive."
Mr Main pointed to the kirk's own rules, which state items such as memorials should be removed "particularly if the building is likely to be used for secular purposes or demolished".
He said the community had asked for the £30,000 figure to cover the insured storage and relocation of the memorials, describing it as a "modest and reasonable request".
But the kirk rejected that quote for the works.
They said that an alternative site, close to an existing memorial, at the corner of Grant Street and Granary Street had been identified, but, as both are made from marble, further protection was required to halt any "deterioration".

Plans to turn the former church into a Scotmid supermarket were approved by Moray Council in August
A spokesman for the kirk said it was "committed to helping ensure the respectful removal and preservation of the war memorials and siting them in a mutually acceptable space".
They added: "The memorials can be installed as soon as an affordable cost has been agreed and arrangements can be made.
"A quote of £30,000 for the relocation of the memorials was deemed too high and the kirk session is seeking an alternative estimate.
"Sourcing a further quote from a different firm is good governance on behalf of the kirk session."
Moray Council granted approval for the Scotmid store in August, seven months after the plans were first lodged.
Scotmid has been contacted for comment.