Uni prof’s bold plan for town observatories
Viewpoints will tell story of Callander
Ambitious plans have been outlined to construct around Callander several ‘observatories – including one under the River Teith.
The man behind the scheme, Stirling University professor of psychology Roger Watt believes the scheme will give visitors to the town a chance to better explore the area and engage with the landscape.
He unveiled the proposal, called ‘The Callander Climate and Community Experience’, at a meeting of Callander Community Council, of which he is a member.
In a lengthy presentation to community councillors, Mr Watt said the observatories would be different in size and structure and placed at various elevations.
One, accessible by chairlift or similar, would allow visitors to experience what Mr Watt describes as “the broad picture”.
This would include landscape created by past climates, vegetation determined by the current climate and communities and routes between settlements determined by weather and the nature of the land itself.
A second observatory alongside the River Teith would give visitors an insight into waterflow how it shapes communities and landscapes.
It would include a ‘river-life centre’ that allows people access beneath the Teith so they can see for themselves what lies in a river or on its bed. Mr Watt acknowledged this would be a “considerable infrastructure project”. At its centre would be a glass tunnel giving visitors a close-up view of the river bed.
A third observatory would be positioned where people can climb through the tree canopy of a mature forest on a shoulder of land that faces the full force of the weather from the west.
This could be a robust wooden structure, and would have all-ability access.
Observatory four would focus on life and climate and would be placed at a location with an ancient human history, from which visitors can see how all life – animal, plant and human – shapes itself to the landscape and the climate.
Mr Watt has set up a website detailing his proposals, which he admits is “very much a work in progress”. On the website he said: “The proposal is very much in the spirit of the mission of the National Park with its unusual, bold emphasis on the natural landscape and the communities it supports.
“The choice of Callander, gateway to the National Park, is ideal for this. It is placed uniquely at a boundary between highlands and lowlands, very close to the central belt but with highly varied landscape in the immediate vicinity: fertile farmland, broad low-lying straths, high moorland and narrow rocky glens, and hills above 800 metres.
“There is of course an immediate benefit to the economy of Callander and that is a strong part of the motivation. The proposal would give Callander a new reason for existing: visitors would come because Callander has a vital story to tell them. If the visitor experience is of the 21st century, then that rejuvenates the concept of tourism.”
A spokesperson for Callander Community Council said: “The Callander Climate and Community experience is still at the concept stage but has the backing of both the community council and the development trust.
“In addition a number of organisations are working with us to develop the ideas further so that it can be fully costed and evaluated. We believe that this could be a major tourism opportunity for the area that would help regenerate the town and especially the Main Street.”
Benefit to the economy of Callander is a strong part of the motivation