Work under way on new community hub
Work on the transformation of a central Coupar Angus building from a medical centre to a community hub is finally under way, several years after the project was first mooted.
The news was welcomed by members of the Strathmore Community Hub board at its AGM, held online recently.
The refurbishment and extension of the Trades Lane building is being funded from a variety of sources – including the Robertson Trust, The Gannochy Trust, the Scottish Land Fund, NHS Tayside Community Innovation Fund, Scotmid and £487,000 from Perth and Kinross Council – and is being led by a board of trustees.
David Downie is chair of the board. In his report for the AGM, which had been delayed for several months in what he described as “a period of turmoil and glitches”, Mr Downie said: “This report covers the period between August 21, 2019 – the date of our last AGM – and June 3, 2021.
“At the last AGM we reported that the Strathmore Community Hub charity had been awarded a generous grant from the Town Centres Fund by Perth and Kinross Council which allowed us to take forward to design and specification stage, the design produced by our architect, Stuart Carr of Inglis and Carr.
“We received full planning consent from Perth and Kinross Council and later the building warrant and went out to tender in late autumn of 2019 inviting bids from seven main contractors.
“Before we were able to finalise details and commit to the selected main contractor the pandemic struck and effectively the project stopped.
“Subsequently, this proved to be something of a mixed blessing.
“During the first lockdown we were unaware of the impact it was having on other Town Centre Fund projects through the rest of the county and with some projects in jeopardy of not being able to complete work by the deadline for expenditure, the council was looking at possible re-allocation of funds.
“Councillor Fiona Sarwar made a case for an uplift in funding for the project as we were advanced in our planning and tender stages and the council decided to award the project £487,000.
“Once restrictions were eased we reengaged with the selected contractor whose understandable response was to insist upon a price revision since some materials costs had risen due to the pandemic and social distancing rules meant increased labour costs.
“We were unaware at the time that the firm was apparently experiencing financial difficulties.
“After several delays the company withdrew their bid and we have since heard that the company went into liquidation.
“Very fortunately we had not committed to them contractually and so did not lose money.
“At this point we were back into lockdown but we were able to begin negotiations with the second firm in the tender process, who were willing to take on the refurbishment project following a revision of their tender bid as costs had risen by then in other areas.
“We have had to re-specify and adjust the design somewhat to get the budget to better match the overall price.
“Shepherds Construction of Forfar has been appointed and after five long years started onsite with the work due to be completed by mid-September.”
Mr Downie concluded his report by commenting: “This project has been running for nearly six years and has certainly been stressful at times.
“But when the building is completed it will be fantastic and will be used by a wide variety of people, more than we initially thought it would be.”
Since the last AGM, Jill Davies, Rae Lamond and Keith Langelaan have resigned as trustees and Susie Black and Dr Bob Pawson have joined the board.
Mr Downie went on to thank Cllr Sarwar and John Swinney MSP for their support of the project, the trustees for all their work and the members of the trust.
This project has been running for nearly six years and has certainly been stressful at times David Downie