Friends of the Abbey will be disappointed to read that, on July 13th, Moray Council published an official grant of Planning Permission for the proposed housing development at Barnhill. The site for the 9 new houses is almost immediately opposite the monastery, just on the other side of the Black Burn.

The monastic community is grateful to the many who contacted Moray Council, adding their voice to that of all our neighbours, in objection to this scheme.

Perhaps not all will be wholly reassured by the official response of the Planning Officer. In a notification to objectors, this Official wrote that "your representations were taken into consideration in determining this application."

No information is currently available about a likely starting date for this project. Now we can only hope that the feared negative impact on the peace and tranquillity of our valley will be as contained and limited as possible.