Residents help to put Blairgowrie and Rattray on the map

Date: Monday 9 September

Blairgowrie and Rattray residents took the first steps towards compiling a ‘Local Place Plan’ for the east Perthshire town at a recent meeting introducing the concept.

More than 30 people attended the meeting, which was hosted by Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT).

Six themed maps showing what amenities and facilities already exist in Perthshire’s largest town were on display at the session and those in attendance were invited to highlight what they feel is needed in Blairgowrie and Rattray and which spaces they believe could be used differently or more effectively.

The idea is that local communities can work together to contribute ideas and proposals for the development of land in their area, potentially helping to define its future use and create places that support inclusive and sustainable economic growth, address climate change and enhance the quality of life for residents.

Once a local place plan has been completed and registered with the local planning authority, it may be taken into consideration, alongside other elements, in the preparation of the relevant local development plan, the third iteration of which is set to be worked on in Perth and Kinross.

Chair of BRDT Linda Tait was pleased with the turnout at the meeting. She said: “We were delighted that so many people came along to the first session of the Local Place Plan process. “This project should belong to the community, which is why it is so important that we gather the views of as many people as possible".

“Along with the aspirations of the community action plan, which BRDT uses every day in our activities, the completed Local Place Plan is something that we will be able to use to guide and inform our work, and bringing people together is key to achieving that in a meaningful way.”

Following the success of the initial meeting, follow-up sessions are taking place at different events and venues across the town in the coming weeks. The maps were on display at Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games and will also be at the Farmers’ Market in the Wellmeadow later this month and the BOOKMARK Festival in October. They will also be visiting the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development and schools in the town, and will be available for people to comment on at a number of sessions at the BaRI Building and at Blairgowrie Library.

In addition, surveys were handed out at Braemar Day, and are available online at https://discoverblairgowrie.co.uk/lpp for people to fill in if they are unable to attend any of the sessions in person.

Linda said: “The initial event was just the start of the process".

“There is still time to get involved in this project, which provides us all with an opportunity to really look at Blairgowrie and Rattray as a place - its buildings, the land around us – as well as what we want to do with that and what is possible.

“It also allows us to let Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Government know that we have these places in our town and that we have ideas on how best to use them, and that we are keen to work with them on attracting inward investment to the town to support its development in a sustainable way.”

Dates

Tuesday, September 10 – Blairgowrie Library, 9.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 7pm

Wednesday, September 11 – Blairgowrie Library, 9.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Thursday, September 12 – Blairgowrie Library, 9.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Friday, September 13 – Blairgowrie Library, 8.30am to 2pm

Saturday, September 14 – Blairgowrie Library, 9.30am to 1pm

Tuesday, September 17 – Blairgowrie Library, 9.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 7pm

Wednesday, September 18 – BaRI Building, 55 High Street, 4pm to 5pm

Thursday, September 19 – BaRI Building, 55 High Street, 9.30am to 10.30am

Saturday, September 21 – BaRI Building, 55 High Street, 10.30am to noon

Saturday, September 28 – Farmers’ Market, Wellmeadow, from 9.30am

For further information, email admin@brdt.org.uk