Two million more visits to Perth High Street from April to December 2024
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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Capability Scotland is a step closer to building new facilities in Perth
Perth and Kinross Council's in principle decision to allocate part of the Perth Leisure Pool site to the charity represents a "meaningful milestone" Capability Scotland is "really pleased" with Perth and Kinross Council's decision - in principle - to allocate part of the Perth Leisure Pool site to the charity. On Wednesday, June 18 councillors voted - in principle - to allow the charity to relocate from its Upper Springland site to Glover Street. The move has been welcomed by Capability Scotland's chief executive who said it will protect 200 jobs in Perth and care for 100 adults. In September 2024, councillors had voted for affordable housing to be developed on the Glover Street site following the completion of PH2O. In a late twist, the papers - put before councillors on June 18 - included a proposal and recommendation for PKC to provide Capability Scotland the opportunity to remain in the Fair City by relocating its services and accommodation to part of the current Perth Leisure Pool site. Capability Scotland would be allocated the outdoor play area, grass and car park to build its new facilities. Affordable housing is proposed to be built on the site of the Perth Leisure Pool building. Capability Scotland currently provides supported accommodation for 60 residents as well as day care services for clients, with a range of disabilities and complex support needs, at Upper Springland. The Perth City Integrated Investment and Leisure Assets Review Update - put before councillors - explained how the charity's current Upper Springland site is no longer suitable. The council report stated: "The long-established Capability Scotland site at Upper Springland in Perth is no longer suitable for the charity due to the increasing complexity and support needs of the residents who live at this location and the ageing facilities and concerns about the unacceptable flood risk from its location on the banks of the River Tay." Councillors were told previous plans for the charity to relocate to a site at Bertha Park were no longer viable. The report stated that "the financial model and need for significant fundraising which is anticipated to take a number of years now sees this site as being undeliverable". Councillors were recommended to agree in principle to allocating part of the Glover Street site to Capability Scotland, as part of PKC's commitment to its strategic priority of protecting and caring for its most vulnerable people. Moving the proposal - as part of a wider motion on a £97 million investment in Perth and Kinross leisure facilities - council leader Grant Laing said: "Their current site at Upper Springland is no longer fit for purpose. The risks are real, and the options are limited. By supporting their move to Glover Street, we're not just offering a new location — we're helping people stay connected to the community they know and trust. We're protecting continuity of care, retaining over 200 jobs, and bringing new external capital investment and footfall into the city centre." The motion was voted through by 24 votes to 15. Capability Scotland's chief executive Brian Logan said the decision represented a "meaningful milestone" for the charity. Mr Logan said: "We're really pleased with the council's decision in principle to allocate land at Glover Street to Capability Scotland. It's a meaningful milestone that brings us one step closer to delivering the kind of modern, inclusive community that the people we support truly deserve, while protecting 200 local jobs and care for 100 adults. "Following changes to the costs associated with us developing at Bertha Park, we made the difficult but necessary decision to explore alternative locations for the Our Inclusive Community Project, to ensure maximum value for our customers, families, staff and funders. "The Glover Street site was identified after a wide-ranging assessment, that included four other sites including Bertha Park. Glover Street offers us a financially sustainable and integrated location and presents the opportunity to use public land and apply competitive tendering processes that help ensure affordability throughout development. 'Our priority throughout has been to secure a location that ensures long-term safety, accessibility and quality of life for everyone we support, their families, our staff and the wider community." As well as the Capability Scotland development, some affordable housing is still being proposed. Indicative plans show two four-storey blocks of affordable housing accommodation on the Perth Leisure Pool site. A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: "Affordable housing provision will be retained on the site of the current Perth Leisure Pool building, but the details of this will be developed through the masterplan to progress the feasibility and design of the site as set out in the report agreed by council on Wednesday. The attached indicative sketch of the site shows a possibility of four storey-residential blocks on the site of the current Perth Leisure Pool, although this remains subject to further design and development and would not start work until after PH2O at Thimblerow is open as until then Perth Leisure Pool will remain open to ensure swimming pool provision remains available in Perth." How the land will be allocated to Capability Scotland will be subject to further discussion. It is not yet clear whether the Glover St land will be sold to Capability Scotland for a nominal sum. The council spokesperson said: "Discussions regarding land transfer to Capability Scotland is one of the future stages of progressing this, now that council has agreed in principle to the allocation of part of the Glover Street project for this purpose."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Perth fire victims offered financial support from Perth and Kinross Council
The local authority has pledged £250,000 to help those most affected Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) will immediately allocate £250,000 to help Perth residents and businesses impacted by the devastating fire on Scott Street which tragically claimed the life of one man. The Finance and Resources Committee today unanimously agreed to allocate the funding from the council's earmarked reserve for Communities. At the Wednesday, June 18 meeting, councillors were asked to approve the financial move to support the local authority's response to and recovery from the fire. It comes after a fire broke out at 41 Scott Street in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, destroying the entire sandstone building resulting in the loss of several homes and a popular pub, The Royal Bar. Around 50 households have been displaced and several businesses have had to close, including the neighbouring That Bar and Loft Nightclub. Tabling the motion to make the funding available, Perth and Kinross Council leader Grant Laing said it was important the local authority helped those most affected. The SNP leader said: "It is still early days, and it is likely that there will be a call for other funding, but it is important that the council stands with our citizens and communities in their hour of need. "So today I am proposing the immediate allocation of £250,000 from the Communities earmarked reserve to support those very communities. This initial package will provide enhanced support for people and for businesses as well as recognise that the council is incurring additional costs too. "Specifically, as well as augmenting the Scottish Welfare Fund and Financial Insecurity Fund, this investment will assist residents affected by rent shortfalls, who are not eligible for other support. "For businesses directly impacted by the demolition and closures, funding to support their immediate recovery costs as well as future expenses linked to reopening or relocation. "Looking ahead, we may also look at how we encourage footfall back into the areas affected. "And finally, resources for the immediate council response including, but not restricted to, traffic management, additional staff costs, building safety and homelessness. "Clearly the council's response is still evolving. Therefore I further move that responsibility for the allocation of this funding will be delegated to the chief finance officer who will provide the committee with updates on its use at future meetings." The move comes following last week's announcement the Scottish Government had activated the Bellwin Scheme. He said discussions between council officers and civil servants around wider financial support were ongoing. Cllr Laing added: "However, that will take time. "This motion is about getting financial support out to people and business now." The motion was seconded by Finance and Resources Committee convener Stewart Donaldson and received the unanimous support of councillors. Perth City Centre ward councillor Peter Barrett "wholeheartedly" supported the motion and praised the council response, which included a drop-in session on Tuesday for those impacted by the fire and subsequent road and building closures. The Liberal Democrat councillor said: "I attended the drop-in event yesterday and was again really heartened by the council's ability to have all key agencies and essential support services gathered under one roof to assist the victims, the traumatised displaced residents and the businesses forced into closure." "We need to be there for them. So the measures proposed in this motion are vital if we are to reduce the stress, the anguish and loss that people have suffered and are suffering. We cannot eliminate that but we can do our best to support people through the coming months." Conservative group leader John Duff thanked Cllr Laing for bringing the motion to council. Cllr Duff added: "The consequences of the fatal and catastrophic fire in Scott St are going to be with us for a long time to come. "As a council, we have a duty to respond with assistance and I'm glad we've moved quickly to progress this initial funding." Deputy council leader Eric Drysdale, who represents the Perth City Centre ward, added: "Many have lost everything they had. "Others in neighbouring properties have also had to face significant challenges which will continue until they are able to get home safely, but the consequences of this tragedy will doubtless continue to affect them for months and years to come. "Then there are the businesses who have had to close and who may not have had business interruption insurance, and also their employees will potentially be adversely impacted. "Of course the financial effects are one thing, but we must also remember that one family has lost something even more precious, the life of a loved one, and I know they are grieving deeply as we all strive to take forward this recovery phase."
The National
20-06-2025
- The National
Community pub developed from old school in Perth and Kinross opens
The CornerStone Rannoch will officially open on Sunday, June 22. Formerly known as The Hub, the community-owned bar and restaurant will welcome the Kinloch Rannoch community in for a sneak peak on Saturday afternoon before officially opening to the wider public from 10am on Sunday. Back in September 2022, Rannoch Community Trust was granted planning permission to develop an £830,000 community hub in a former outdoors centre and school. READ MORE: SNP MSP Fergus Ewing to stand as independent at next Scottish Parliament election The consent was branded a 'major milestone' as the trust then sought to secure the remainder of the funding needed to complete the project at the Victorian building on Allt Mor Place. Originally built as the village school in 1840, it closed when a new school was opened in Kinloch Rannoch in 1965. In the 1980s it was transformed into a residential outdoors centre until Perth and Kinross Council deemed it 'surplus to requirement' and closed it in 2019. In July 2020, Perth and Kinross councillors voted to sell the former outdoors centre for £75,000 to Rannoch Community Trust to transform it into a multi-purpose facility for the community. A year later – in July 2021 – ownership of the building and grounds was legally transferred from Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) to Rannoch Community Trust. (Image: The CornerStone) Planning permission for the trust to develop it into a community-owned bar/restaurant was granted in September 2022, under delegated powers. The CornerStone features a social enterprise café/bar, manager's accommodation, office space, a meeting room, an outdoor seating area, new footbridge and a playpark. It will be run by a mixture of both paid and volunteer staff. The building was designed by Perth-based Studio East Architects to be 'as energy efficient as possible'. A spokesperson for The CornerStone said: 'Initially, we will be serving drinks only, until we hook a great chef onboard, so until then you can enjoy local beers on tap and so much more, we can't wait to host you in the heart of our village.' (Image: The CornerStone) There is also a meeting room with WiFi. The spokesperson added: 'Our flexible workspaces catering to groups or individuals is also now available to book: Work — The Cornerstone 'Our new website offers lots of information you might be interested in, so please feel free to take a look around there, or pop in to say hello, we'll be proud to give you a warm welcome.' Highland Perthshire ward councillor John Duff is delighted and said it looks 'fabulous'. The Conservative councillor said: 'I am delighted that the aspirations of the community have been achieved and that it will soon have this excellent venue for locals and visitors to come together, relax and socialise. 'The conversion of the former outdoor centre looks fabulous and I applaud the continued efforts of the community to deliver this exceptional facility providing food, drink, meeting and work space. I look forward to visiting the CornerStone myself in the near future.' Rannoch Community Trust was awarded £134,660 from the Scottish Government's Scottish Land Fund Award to cover the purchase of the building, legal expenses and essential repairs. It also received £250,000 from the UK Government's Community Ownership Fund and £308,000 from the Scottish Government's Place Based Investment Programme, which is aimed at supporting community-led regeneration.
