Carnoustie & District

The death of long-serving and well respected councillor Helen Oswald in October led to Independent David Cheape taking the former provost’s seat.

With the SNP losing a councillor, it meant all three councillors in Carnoustie were Independents, with Mr Cheape joining Bill Bowles and Brian Boyd.

The three Independents are standing again and the SNP has chosen to just field one candidate in the ward – Mark McDonald who came second to Mr Cheape in December’s by-election – to maximise their chances of regaining a councillor.

They are joined on the ballot paper by Joanne McFadden, Labour, Beth Morrison, Liberal Democrats, and Terry O’Halloran, Conservative.

The extension of the golf centre at the Carnoustie Links, which will house a new restaurant and bar, is an issue that has split opinion in the town.

Some see it as an investment in one of the biggest tourist attractions in Angus, others as a threat to the town’s pubs and restaurants which will discourage golfers from spreading the tourism benefits.

There are also divisions in the business community over plans for the town to become a Business Improvement District, with a vital vote on the proposal due this summer.

Backers say a successful BID would see a number of town improvements take place but there is anger over the level of business levies and the boundary area.

A recent boost to the High Street has been the installation of electric charging points at the former Fairway Garage thanks to a grant from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.