Unanswered questions are a disappointment

Why not send us your snaps and have your image appear as our Reader’s Picture?

You can email photographs to news@

Dear Editor

This requested their individual views on a) the awful condition of the Crieff Town Hall – pictured – interior, and b) the optimum longterm location for the display of Strathearn’s three superb monuments which continue to languish in an uninviting, now rarely open, and highly problematic building in terms of accessibility for the infirm and disabled. strathearnherald.co.uk.

Make sure you include your name, address and some information about your image.

I asked Baillie Brock, and councillors Donaldson and Khogali, to visit the old Town Hall to view its disgraceful state which I have previously described as a ‘cultural slum’ – but none has yet done so. Why?

Only Cllr Donaldson had the courtesy to reply to reaffirm his view that moving the monuments to the campus library would be the ideal location, as proposed back in 2009.

But neither Baillie Brock nor Cllr Khogali appear prepared to

Pictured is a part of Drummond Castle Gardens, taken on Monday this week by Stephen Woollard. comment. Why?

So, we have only one answer to six questions asked of three individuals. Not a ringing endorsement of our elected members’ commitment to Strathearn’s heritage.

To add insult to injury I telephoned the council recently to enquire when the monuments would be on open display.

I was told access was seasonal – what season?! – with the premises shut at the moment; no reason being given.

This just proves that, with precious few exceptions, neither the council, Culture Perth and Kinross, or our ward councillors really care about the future display of this town’s unique collection of monuments.

For some 14 years I have striven to strengthen Crieff’s archaeological offering; fighting for the relocation of the Crieff Monuments to the campus, and steering the development of the Community Campus Archaeology Trail.

The former has been damned by the highly-political and negative actions of a minority cabal with their grandiose and deluded plans for the reuse of Crieff’s old Town Hall.

On the other hand, the Community Campus Archaeology Trail appears to be an outstanding success, especially among the town’s increasing younger population/families.

This project has been volunteer-led – with no demands on the public purse.

I hope the new community council might take a more intelligent view of this issue, and lobby for common sense to prevail.

Ian Hamilton, Crieff