Amey have now confirmed their plans to carry out structural reconstruction of a section of the Forres Bypass over the weekend of 02.02.24.

These works will restrict access from the A96 to Waterford industrial estate. There are a number of agreed diversions in place and the attached is applicable for access to the recycling centre. This alternative route is not suitable for large goods vehicles. Therefore, in the interests of Health & Safety and the inability to access the facility to service skips, we will have to close Waterford HWRC for the weekend (Saturday 03.02 & Sunday 04.02).

Moray Council have liaised with Moray Waste Busters and they will be opening their reuse shop on site on both dates as they have no requirement for large vehicular access / egress. That being said the volume of traffic along the single track road could be reasonably high. They are aware that we are unable to operate under this restriction.

The snow gates at the Lecht are currently closed on both Moray and Aberdeenshire sides.

PTU have cancelled all Speyside and Keith Mconnect services today. We will update this post as the team let us know about other services as they assess the conditions.

The B9007 within Moray (from the A940 to the Highland boundary) is open, however Highland Council have advised that they have closed the snow gates on their section of the B9007 (gates are located between Ferness and Carrbridge) due to drifting snow.

The A941 Dufftown to Rhynie Road is closed over Cabrach due to the prevailing winter conditions.

The A939 Road was closed last night between the snow gates from Tomintoul to Cock Bridge due to adverse winter conditions and drifting snow. The road will be assessed this morning and this message will be updated on the website accordingly.

Unfortunately due to Lyn Main, Welfare Benefits Adviser being off sick at the moment and we do not know when she will return to work and therefore have not the capacity to deal with new cases/referrals. The Welfare Benefits script will be amended to the below:

Referrals for help with challenging Devolved Scottish Benefits (e.g. Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Scottish Child Payment). Contact should be made to Voiceability, freephone number 0300 303 1660 or emailing helpline@voiceability.org

Referrals for help with seeking an increase in current Adult Disability Payment, Personal Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance. Contact should be made to Social Security Scotland on freephone 0800 182 2222 and ask for local delivery appointment.

Referrals for help in challenging DWP or HMRC decisions (e.g. Income Support, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit) can be directed to email address of welfarebenefits@moray.gov.uk but it will be on an advice basis only.

Please be advised that it could take up until Monday for the script to be updated.

Councillors have agreed the price for Garden Waste permits for the 24/25 year will be £50. Councillors have also agreed that for the first time Garden Waste permits can be paid for in two instalments. Instalment payments however can only be completed via telephone – this option is not available online.

If a customer wishes to pay for their permit in instalments then they will not receive the permit until all instalments are completed. For example if an instalment is made in January 24 and then a further instalment in May 24 the permit will not be received until May 24.

In order for customers to receive their permit by 1st April 24 all instalment and full payments must have been received before 5th March 24. If an application is made or final instalments are made after this date the permit will be received after 1st April 24.

The e-form to purchase a garden waste permit will be available on line from Weds 10th Jan 24. For customers who purchased their permits on line last year – an email will be sent to them on Thurs 11th Jan 24 (add link to click on email) For customers who paid by telephone last year the letters are currently being prepared for dispatching on Tues 16th Jan 24 (add link to click on letter)

F.A.Qs will be available on the waste web pages within the next few days and the scripts (live from 09/01/24) have been amended to include a route for any customer who wishes to pay by instalments alongside the usual full payment option.

If you have any questions or queries please speak to the Seniors in the first instance. Please see the below templates:

We are aware that the website is still showing 2023 bin collection calendars rather than 2024.

This has been raised with the service to amend. This post will be updated when we have confirmation.

Update 04/01/2024: Please note Waste have requested ICT remove the 2023 calendars and all 2024 calendars should be showing on the bin day finder. If customers are using a mobile device they may need to scroll down to view them as some of them are underneath the 2023 ones.

Please be advised the following customer will have their discount extension valid until 9 January as per working days guidelines - Mr Raymont, £60 provided he pays by 5pm on Tuesday 9 January his ECN number is V68689 incurred on 18 December.

It should also be noted that when we are discussing fines with customers that 14 days is used as the guideline on the back of the ECN but 10 of those will be accounted for as working days. If fines happen to fall over holiday periods where the Council is closed the discount extension period does not include office closure dates where customers would be unable to process payment.

If you have any questions on this please contact your Senior in the first instance.

Please be advised the following road closures were notified over the festive break.

28/12/2023 - The C7E Brodie - Dyke - Kintessack Road is currently closed between the C9E (level crossing) and the U76E due to a wind blown tree. Please use an alternative route.
30/12/2023 - The snow gates are currently closed at The Lecht Ski Centre and Cock Bridge due to poor weather conditions.