Angus is alive as services start to reopen

ANGUS libraries and sports centres will lead the area’s culture and leisure trust emergence from lockdown on April 26.

Angus Alive closed its operations on Christmas Eve and since then has only been able to run limited Easter holiday activities such as biking, canoeing and football.

The arms-length local authority culture and leisure body has now confirmed all of the district’s sports centres will welcome fitness fans back from April 26.

Libraries are to reopen their doors on the same day for limited browsing and the council’s Access services.

It is to be followed by a phased reopening of local museums, beginning with Arbroath’s seafront Signal Tower.

“All of the sports centres will reopen from Monday April 26 allowing access to the fitness suite, gym, lane swimming and family swim sessions and racquet sports such as squash, badminton and short tennis,” said a spokesperson.

“There will be a number of outdoor adult fitness classes on offer from April 26 until indoor adult fitness classes can resume mid-May.”

The learn to swim programme will begin again from May 10.

Sports centres will also be able to provide contact sports, junior club activities and coached sessions both indoor and outdoor for those up to the age of 17.

“For adults aged 18+ years, non-contact sport will be allowed outdoors, with only individual exercise is permitted indoors,” the spokesperson said.

Mobile library vans Isla and Glen will be back on the road from the same date, with the home delivery service set for a May 10 restart.

The spokesperson added: “Similar to reopening last year, the safety of customers and colleagues is paramount.”

Angus Alive chief executive Kirsty Hunter added: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to start reopening our doors once again and welcome residents back to our venues.”

A Dundee pet owner has warned others to be on the lookout after her cat was sprayed with bleach.

Jennifer Mcartney, 29, from Fintry, believes her two-year-old cat, Pebbles – who is mum to four three-week-old kittens – was deliberately targeted by someone in the local area.

Her suspicions are heightened by the fact her other pet cat, Zeus, was also sprayed with bleach last year before having to go on a course of antibiotics and steroids.

She said: “This is the second time this has happened to one of my cats and I think someone