So many questions for PKC candidates The beauty of the birds at my feeder

I am writing an open letter, as chairman of Crieff Succeeds BID Ltd, to all the Ward 6 candidates in the upcoming PKC election.

I am sure you are aware that the BID operates in close partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, and that two elected members are appointed by the council to the BID board. We would like to alert you to the crucial importance of this role.

There is a general perception within the business community in Crieff that Perth and Kinross Council is primarily concerned with the development and promotion of Perth city, as evidenced by the present drive for ‘City of Culture’ and the huge amount of money which has already been set aside for that project.

We are told that there will be a “trickle-down” effect to benefit the whole of Perth and Kinross, but no evidence of this has been offered, and it remains a distant prospect, dependant on Perth’s ultimate success.

Meanwhile, in Crieff, there is a lack of infrastructure spending, roads and pavements are in poor repair, the council depends on future development contribution to provide solutions for present issues of road safety, businesses are closing, and many of the major buildings in the town – the Drummond Arms, the former George Hotel, the Crieff Hotel, the post office, the former South Church, the former primary school – are vacant and, in some cases, dangerously dilapidated.

The BID Board is working hard to support business enterprise in the town, to increase footfall, and to revive the town’s sense of identity and purpose.

What would you bring to our table should you be elected to Perth and Kinross Council and appointed to our board?

Do you have business experience to offer?

How would you help to develop and support our relationship with council officers?

Would you be prepared to act as our advocate, even when this might mean taking a stand against your party’s declared policy?

What is your vision for our town? What would you do to improve the town and particularly the business sector?

We would be very interested to have your replies to these questions, and any other information which you believe would be relevant. With your permission, we would also like to share your responses with the levy payers, to whom we are accountable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Graham Donaldson Chairman Crieff Succeeds BID Ltd

I would like to comment on the birds at my feeder.

In order of prevalence – the chaffinch, the greenfinch, the goldfinch, a pair of woodpigeons – that I’ve known for three years plus and, most recently, a collared dove.

Earlier this month as I sat near the window, there was a crash near the window pane.

It was a panicking feral pigeon with a sparrow hawk attached to its back.

It tried in vain to fly over the hedge at the foot of my garden and disappeared into the field out of sight.

Meanwhile, most people will know the lay-bys at the top of McAra’s Brae. These were not built as such. The old A85 once had those features as part of an S-bend.

In the years prior to the motorcar, stagecoaches plied between the towns and villages.

It has to be appreciated that without this impediment the horses would canter, even gallop, had the road been straight, to their inevitable doom.

After which they resumed their journey to Monzievaird, where the horses would be rested or changed.

Billy. Tay Place.Comrie.