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News
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On Thursday 2nd March at 7.30 there will be a public meeting at the Strathmore Community Hub to discuss the future of Coupar Angus Town Hall. All welcome, tea/coffee provided. 

Thomas Glen, Chief Executive of Perth and Kinross Council has rejected a petition to save Coupar Angus Town Hall. In a letter today to the editor of Coupar Angus News & Information, Mr Glen stated:

"In the case of the Town Hall, I am afraid the Council will not be in a position to re-open the building as it operated prior to closure in 2019. Before considering any option for disposal on the open market however, we are always committed to exploring any community interest in taking on ownership and management of the building."
 
The full text of Mr Glen's letter is shown below:

Dear Mr Gallagher

Coupar Angus Town Hall

I am writing further to your email of 15 December 2023 addressed to me and to the Leader of the Council and I apologise for the delay in responding.

You ask specifically about the future of the Town Hall and I appreciate this is a key priority in your view and others who signed the Town Hall petition. I should first clarify the position on repairs expenditure. The Council approved £200,000 for essential repairs in 2021/22 (principally the heating, windows and roof) to ensure the building remains in a stable condition and does not deteriorate further. The heating and roof works have been completed at a total cost of £116,000. A price was received for the window works which was considered too expensive at that time, although we have carried out repairs to make the windows wind and watertight.

Recently pressure on the Council’s buildings maintenance budgets has significantly increased. Escalating costs of building supplies and building work is a real challenge for us, in common with all local authorities, and in practical terms it means we must prioritise our spend on the key infrastructure (for example schools and local roads) which we must, by law, maintain.

As you know the Council has been carrying out some wider consultation with local people and groups in Coupar Angus about the future of the town centre and I understand you have contributed to this process. Together with the community we hope to have a final Town Centre Action Plan ready by the end of March. This will be based on the outcomes of the consultation, and discussions through the Eastern Perthshire Local Action Partnership and other groups about how the Action Plan will be delivered. Some actions will be for the Council or other public service bodies to lead. Others will be for community groups to lead, with support either from the Council or other sources such as PKAVS. 

An important issue raised by several respondents to the consultation is the number of buildings in Coupar Angus available for communities to use. As you will know some of these buildings are not in good states of repair.  Not all these buildings will be affordable in the future. Older buildings are not necessarily designed to be accessible and easy to use for today’s needs, and rising energy costs affect all of them. This will mean making choices in the future about which buildings, including the new Strathmore Hub, are best suited to deliver the activities and services which the local community wants to happen in the town. 

In the case of the Town Hall, I am afraid the Council will not be in a position to re-open the building as it operated prior to closure in 2019. Before considering any option for disposal on the open market however, we are always committed to exploring any community interest in taking on ownership and management of the building. For your awareness, the Council will consider its capital budget for the next 5 years at its budget meeting on 1 March and as part of this will be asking officers to consider all assets within the development of a Corporate Assets Management Plan to be brought back to Council later this year. This plan will set out what assets we have, need and the implications for existing and potential new assets over the coming years. Where there is a need to disinvest in assets we shall work with communities to discuss and mitigate any impact as well as the potential for any community asset transfers to be developed. Fiona Robertson and David Stokoe in the Communities team are happy to discuss this with you further. There are examples elsewhere in Perth and Kinross where this has happened successfully, and there are some grant sources available to support such a community initiative.

Yours sincerely

Thomas Glen
Chief Executive

Spring Fair, an event by Ladybird and Leaf
Sunday 5th March 2023, 11am-4pm
Red House Hotel, Station Road, Coupar Angus, Perthshire, PH13 9AL
Come along and browse a fantastic range of locally produced items and artwork. On 2 weeks before Mother's Day, it's the perfect chance to pick up a locally made gift!
Free entry · Indoors · Free parking
Food and drinks available to order from the restaurant.
Any questions please contact [email protected] 
Further details on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/562085985933739

Vendors so far...
Ladybird and Leaf
Fenwick Candles
Gingersnap Creations
Art By Marianne
Diana King Jewellery
The Aura Collection
Koha
Barefoot Bubbles
ACE Events and Crafts
Coupar Angus Primary School Parent Council
Ritch Pickings
Mabel's Bakery
Rock & Thistle
Coco & Clay Earrings
The Gael
Crafts by Lyn
Little Pinata Craft Studio
MGGems
The Lone Stag
Glitzy Goose Creations

​An Invitation to
GOSPEL SERVICES
being held in the
STRATHMORE CYCLE HUB, COUPAR ANGUS
Every Sunday
6.30-7.30pm
All interested are welcome
Conducted by R. Kerr and J. Simpson

Coupar Angus residents are invited to join us for a Cuppa, Cake and Chat at Kettins Community Hub,
2-4pm on first Thursday of each month.

​Bingo Tea & Raffle
at the Red House Hotel
Coupar Angus
Friday 24th February 2023
Eyes Down 7.30pm
Books £7
In aid of Scottish Huntingtons Tayside Branch & Tayside Kidney patients

COUPAR ANGUS ACTION PLAN Have your say DROP-IN SESSIONS WHEN 1- 5 Friday 20th January 10 -1 Saturday 21st January WHERE Strathmore Community Hub Trades Lane, Coupar Angus
See results from the community consultation and survey. Share your views on actions that could be taken to enhance Coupar Angus in the future. Speak to the team developing the Action Plan from Iconic Consulting. Officers from Perth & Kinross Council will also be in attendance.
​If you have any questions, please contact Ian Clark at Iconic Consulting: 0131 627 0070 or [email protected]