PKC action pledge after town ‘neglect’
Representatives from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council, the town’s Biodiversity Group and members of the local community met with Perth and Kinross Council officers recently to discuss grounds maintenance in the town.
They were joined by local councillors Tom McEwan and Bob Brawn.
The visit came after Rattray residents hit out at the local authority over the “neglect” of several areas.
Concerns were raised at the July meeting of the community council about a number of issues, including long grass being left to grow on the Common, weeds growing through paving slabs and paths in and around people’s homes.
Residents also said that broken steps and slabs are an accident waiting to happen and that, although they had reported issues to the council, nothing has been done to resolve them.
A number of sites in the town, including Rattray Common and Ferguson Park, Davie Park and Carsie, were visited by the group which looked at PKC-nominated areas that have been left to grow as part of a Managed for Wildlife trial as well as other issues that were highlighted to the council’s community greenspace and operations staff.
Reporting on the session to those at the most recent Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council meeting, chair Scott Macgregor went through a summary of what was discussed.
He added: “There were some heated discussions with residents but PKC seem to have taken on board the comments that were made.
“In terms of the Managed for Wildlife trial, we would encourage people to fill in the survey online.”
At Rattray Common, it emerged that some of the areas that have been left uncut “are not all matching the [Managed for Wildlife] plan” and the council agreed to arrange for those areas to be cut.
PKC will also cut pathways in areas where access gates lead on to the Common after residents complained that
they were unable to open their gates due to the long grass
Ragwort at the sites visited will be removed where it is identified.
And the local authority also agreed to review signage
and information provided in the future as it did not adequately communicate what the council is trying to achieve with the trial.
Damage and wear and tear at the play areas at Ferguson Park by the school,
Glenalmond Road and Davie Park was reported to council officers with the rubber ground surface at all three needing to be repaired. Grass growing between the steps at the slide at Davie Park is to be treated and a replacement basket swing is “to be looked at”. Officers confirmed that the grass on the embankment of the slide does not get cut.
At the Riverside park in Blairgowrie, the council will remove the buddleia from the wall along riverside walk and look at possible alternatives for replacing the wall at the play area, and the area by the riverbank that has eroded is to be re-instated.
In Carsie, a pathway is to be cut leading to the bus stop and within the uncut areas.
The council’s communities and greenspace teams will liaise with the Biodiversity Group around food growing and plug planting and fruit tress on various sites.
Speaking at the community council meeting, Councillor Bob Brawn said: “I understand there are two parts to it at Rattray Common, one part which will be cut and some will be left untouched.
“Officers admitted that the whole of greenspace and grounds maintenance is about three to four weeks behind schedule.
“The Managed for Wildlife trial is due to end in September.”