They're in the money

Aug 7 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THREE Perthshire towns are to receive a massive £1 million-plus cash injection to revitalise their central areas and sustain jobs, it was announced yesterday.

Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie and Rattray and Coupar Angus will benefit from almost £40 million of Scottish Government money.

But there was disappointment after it was revealed that Perth, which has come under fire for its empty shops and run-down appearance, had failed in its bid to get a near £3 million slice of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

But it plans to resubmit its application and is hopeful it will be successful when the £20 million second tranche of funding is shared out in late October.

Aberfeldy is to receive £320,075. That will enable the Friends of the Birks Cinema to purchase the disused picture house. It will be renovated as a cinema/concert facility with a café-social enterprise focus.

The largest chunk of cash – £1,500,000 – goes to the Blairgowrie and Rattray Regeneration Company Ltd.

It will be used on the Ericht Project, which aims to create a garden, heritage centre, theatre, craft workshops, salmon viewing chamber, restaurant/café and shop through the purchase and renovation of the former Oakbank Mill.

They also propose to install a Hydro Electric scheme to export green energy to the National Grid, earning up to £100,000 a year to fund other community projects.

Coupar Angus will spend its £200,000 on various town centre improvements, including the removal of parking and the enhancement of public transport facilities.

The streetscape at The Cross will also be refurbished, using natural materials, in conjunction with the Coupar Angus Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The cash awards were welcomed yesterday by Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller.

He said: “This is excellent news for all the communities involved. The council made the bid for Coupar Angus and also supported bids by our community partners in Blairgowrie and Aberfeldy.

“This money will be spent on important projects, with major, lasting benefits for the local economy, culture and environment in our town centres.

“Any investment of this type in our town centres is to be warmly welcomed and I congratulate those communities who have been successful with their bids.”

The Town Centre Regeneration Fund was set up by North Tayside MSPJohn Swinney in his role as Scotland's Finance Secretary, as part of the SNP Government’s Budget for this year.

He said: “This money will ensure vital projects can now go ahead to significantly enhance the role and the potential of vital local towns.”

Perth and Kinross Council had submitted bids totalling £2,979,637 covering Perth and Coupar Angus.

The Perth cash would have been used to help upgrade St John’s Kirk and the Fair Maid’s House as cultural, educational and tourist venues.

Part of the sum would also have been used to re-instate the boundary railings in Atholl Crescent.

A total of 48 Scottish towns will benefit from the first £40 million. It is estimated that the various projects will help support 640 jobs.

The closing date for applications for the second round of cash has been extended to August 28.