Perthshire Advertiser

Residents learn more about hub creation

- MELANIE BONN

Residents of a Highland Perthshire community came out recently to learn about plans to turn a disused outdoor centre into a thriving community hub.

Rannoch Community Trust (RCT) was keen to show residents what was in the pipeline for the handsome stone building soon to be the Rannoch Community Hub.

The group is embarking on a project to transform the former Rannoch Outdoor Centre into a multi-use venue with cafe/ restaurant, office, meeting space for hire and an outdoor terrace.

RCT has appointed architects StudioEast to handle the transforma­tion.

Perth and Kinross Council has already installed a full fibre broadband connection to the building and the office space inside the upgraded stone structure will provide a free-of-charge opportunit­y for the area’s numerous clubs, groups, organisati­ons and businesses to access high quality computing and printing services, while developing opportunit­ies for collaborat­ive working.

The community meeting room will offer an informal space that can be prebooked for small meetings or individual appointmen­ts.

Individual­s, local groups and also external agencies will be able to offer outreach services in the area.

RCT intends to develop the large grassed area at the front into a terrace providing outdoor seating and possible performanc­e areas.

A new footbridge will help connect the site to existing walking paths and provide a safe traffic-free walking route from the village centre to the hill paths.

At the heart of the redesign is cafe/ restaurant/bar facility to generate the revenue required to support the operation of the hub.

Serving food throughout the day, it is expected to provide a social space for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Rannoch Community Hub will bring employment opportunit­ies with around a dozen posts created through the operation of the office, meeting spaces as well as the cafe.

The vision is showcased on a website - www.rannochhub.co.uk - which had already had over 700 views.

Project officer Scott Meikle explained the RCT board finally gained ownership of the building in July, to coincide with the launch of the hub website.

Scott said of the site visit for residents held on August 20: “It was fantastic to welcome the Rannoch community and show them round the exciting developmen­t of Rannoch Hub.”

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 ??  ?? Plans Residents turned out to learn more about the plans for the building
Plans Residents turned out to learn more about the plans for the building

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