Rock and roll museum project awarded funding

PL A NS for a r o c k a n d r ol l memorabilia museum in Tayside have moved a step closer after the project won more than £77,000 in new funding.

The tourist attraction in Kirriemuir, the hometown of late AC/DC singer Bon Scott, was one of the projects to win support as councillors allocated more than £1 million aimed at rejuvenating local high streets.

The museum plan builds on the huge success of BonFest, the hard-rock themed festival that brings thousands of music fans to the Angus town each year.

Graham Galloway, one of the team behind the project, said it was “incredible news.”

Mr Galloway said the group already had access to a large collection of AC/DC memorabilia, some of which had been loaned to the local museum during previous BonFests.

The £77,215 is the entire pot allocated to Kirriemuir from the town centre fund.

The £148,709 allocated to Carnoustie will go towards a heritage trail, including high street seating and tourism information.

Forfar’s £184,142 share will be divided between a town centre facelift, night lighting for some buildings, improving parks and upgrading the path between the town centre and Forfar Loch.

In Arbroath, councillors backed renovation works at the courthouse and an app for tourists to share its £312,294 portion.

Officials will spend £156,180 on cleaning gutters and painting buildings on Montrose High Street.

The same work will take place in Brechin as well as the creation of more tourist information points in a £94,050 programme.

The decision on Monifieth’s £107,411 was deferred for further discussions.