HIGHLAND HUB BOOST £1m for heritage centre in Market Park
Crieff’s Market Park is set to be the home of a new centre promoting Highland sports, dance and music.
The Strath has received a large chunk of nearly £ 3million- worth of funding given to Perth and Kinross as part of the
Tay Cities Deal, with a third of the money going towards setting up the purpose-built Crieff International Highland Centre in the town’s Market Park.
The £1m investment will go towards creating a facility that will be the first of its kind in Scotland.
A feasibility study involving local community groups will take place in due course to determine the precise future use of the International Highland Centre.
Anna McLean, chair of Crieff Highland Gathering, said: “The £ 1m funding from the Tay Cities Deal will aid the
Excitement is building following the announcement that Santa’s official post office will be in Crieff this year.
In the lead-up to Christmas, the Strath capital will be the home of the only post office in Scotland with a direct line to the North Pole.
Crieff Succeeds has organised the special delivery service so that children can easily get their letters to Santa in time for Christmas.
As well as locals being able to take advantage of the free facility, it is also hoped the picturesque post office will bring a financial boost to town centre businesses by attracting families from outwith the area to visit.
Crieff Succeeds manager David McCann, explained: “Designers will be transforming a currently empty office space in James Square into a Victorian-themed post office.
“Children will be able to post their letters directly to Santa with the help of some of his friendly elves.
“The post office will include writing paper, stickers and a magic post box which shows the letters on their way to Lapland.”
The post office will be officially launched on Saturday, November 30, to coincide with the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.
Entry will be free but there will be a donations box to raise money for a local charity.
Mr McCann continued: “And if this wasn’t exciting enough already, on Saturday, December 7, Santa himself will be in Crieff with his sledge and a few of his reindeer to meet children and check on his post office.
“Santa’s post offices have proved extremely popular in England and Wales, so I’m delighted to have the first- ever one in Scotland here in Crieff.”
It is also hoped the initiative will bring more visitors to the Strath capital over the festive period, and Crieff Succeeds will be promoting the post office further afield, specifically targeting families within one hour’s drive of Crieff.
Mr McCann added: “I am confident that this will prove to be an attractive draw for families to Crieff in this key trading period.”