Low carbon centre for town

Forward Coupar Angus has announced a new centre which aims to provide a national example of how to achieve low carbon living in a rural community.

The centre, which is based in the town’s former bowling club, sees development trust Forward Coupar Angus (FCA) link all its major projects under one banner.

Known as the Coupar Angus Low Carbon Centre, the project will build on the last seven years of work during which activities in the town have attracted local, regional and national interest.

Projects include the cycling hub, the market and community gardens, the ReUse Shop, the High Street Store, the community woodland, the Make A Difference squad, the Yarnstormers and FCA’s climate training programme.

The news came to light at the FCA AGM, which was held online last week and attended by 15 people.

In a report presented at the meeting, FCA chair John Palfreyman explained: “The centre will use the expertise developed in Coupar Angus over the last seven years to help Scotland achieve its ambitious CO2 reduction targets over the next decade, providing an example of how to achieve low carbon living in a rural community.

“It will have strong links to the Coupar Angus community by encouraging volunteers to engage with low carbon living and take part in the carbon literacy programme and promote local industries related to low carbon activities or that could benefit from such initiatives.

“The centre will also restart the FCA initiative, as soon as it can, to offer low energy advice to residents.

“The idea is that the centre will be something unique for Coupar Angus and help draw people into the town, which will be good for local businesses.

“I don’t think there are many towns in Scotland that have low carbon living as high on the agenda as Coupar Angus does.”