Time to look at Bankfoot church

As I read of, perhaps now, the hopeful conclusion of St Paul’s Church, Perth, with plans revealed, highlighted on the front page of Tuesday’s PA (July 17, 2018), my immediate thoughts were to my home and to our former parish church in Bankfoot.

One word sticks out in the narrative of St Paul’s: “iconic”.

Well that to is addressed to the kirk on the hill, which for 200 years has both commanded and looked over the “Guid Folk o’ Ochtergaen” as the poet Robert Nichol wrote before his death in 1837.

There was, to my knowledge, a plan to restore the tower of the former kirk and establish an observation platform that would have been marvellous, especially with recent news that the nearby Taste Perthshire, formerly The Perthshire Visitor Centre, is to revamp alterations to meet the rising influx of visitors. What an attraction it could be for folk to climb the tower and gaze upon that wonderful panorama.

Entering into our church community centre at Tulliebelton Road, Bankfoot, a lovely building, very popular are those words taken from The Bible from Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you to give hope and a future.”

Indeed those words could aptly describe our old kirk, we look to the future but embrace the past. But the former church is our only visible landmark, it defines Bankfoot and if such plans for its future bare fruit then I will lift my eyes to the hills viewed from the tower.

Thomas Brown Garry Place Bankfoot

Council changes willhaveimpact

Some of your readers may be affected by Perth and Kinross Council’s proposals to change the way in which charges for nonresidential social care are calculated.

From October 1 PKC will be changing the threshold for contribution charges towards care. This will affect people who are under 65, receive care at home and have income of more than £134 per week.

Our members are very stressed and worried about how this will affect their already very limited budgets and their quality of life. Effectively they will have benefits taken away from them which they depend on. Gillian Charleson Secretary, Strathearn Building Bridges

Parking frustration

Can someone please remind drivers to deal with their ticket before leaving the Canal Street multi-story car park.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I have been left waiting while someone abandons their car at the exit to go and pay fopr their stay.

It really isn’t that difficult. Angry driver Name and address supplied