Arbroath could be a tourist favourite again

Sir, – I am saddened and dismayed that the local authority is offering no help to keep alive Kerr’s Miniature Railway in Arbroath.

Although they have wisely invested tens of thousands of pounds in upgrading the West Links, thus making it extremely attractive for families, they are ignoring the present difficulties of the 85-yearold miniature railway.

It seems obvious to even the most casual observer that the coronavirus will inflict huge changes on the social lives of Scots, and that foreign holidays are going to become a thing of the past for ordinary folk.

In my boyhood, Arbroath was one of Scotland’s most popular holiday resorts.

The potential is clearly there for the resuscitation of the town’s tourist industry.

Yet, with scarcely a thought about that possibility, the council will soon be removing the rails from the family Kerr’s great contribution to Arbroath’s past prosperity and dumping them with a local scrap merchant.

Should there not be a five year plan to give financial support to this invaluable and unique attraction, to see at least if it will contribute significantly to Arbroath’s renewed role as one of Scotland’s best alternatives to

Florida, Spain, Portugal and other expensive and exotic places?

Should not the population of Arbroath, Dundee, Montrose and indeed all of Tayside be rising up in protest at the local authorities’ shortsighted and irresponsible failure to support such an invaluable asset in the revitalising of this attractive seaside venue?

David Searle. Stonefall Lodge, Grange, Errol .