Bamse News
Community Backs Montrose Quayside
In November Montrose Library hosted a display of plans and designs for the town’s Wharf Street river frontage, staged by Montrose Heritage Trust. The Trust is leading a consortium of partners including Angus Council, Montrose Port Authority and the RNLI in a bid from the Big Lottery Scotland , under its new Community Spaces fund. The fund is intended to fund the community use of public spaces, improving the environment and encouraging healthy outdoor activity. The Trust believes that upgrading the historic port area of the burgh will attract many more people to come, to return and to enjoy a wide range of activities and recreations.
The initial designs for the project were on show, along with a display relating to the site, and to the lottery bid. The Trust has been actively seeking fresh ideas for design features and for innovative new uses for the quayside. Community organisations have been encouraged to discuss and record their comments, suggestions and ideas.
Dr Andrew Orr, Chairman of the Trust, said “This has been an excellent day for us with several dozen people taking the trouble to discuss our plans. We have taken over 50 written submissions of support comments and suggestions. What has been really good is the emergence of some interesting new ideas – for example a feature of a large twisting leaping salmon in stainless steel, to underline the importance of the salmon trade to the town. Apart from more obvious activities like walking and cycling there have been suggestions for imaginative new uses for the area – amongst these are music, art, craft and theatre events. These are very exciting prospects for the community.”
The Lottery bid has now been submitted, with a Stage One decision in February 2012. If successful this leads on to a Stage Two process with more detailed development work.