Council cash boost to help clear up rubbish-strewn stream

An ambitious bid to spruce up an overgrown burn at Coupar Angus has been boosted by a £12,000 council award.

The local Pride of Place committee is campaigning to clear the watercourse as part of a wider programme of planned improvements.

The voluntary group, which was instrumental in securing the town a Britain in Bloom gold award last year, successfully applied for cash from Perth and Kinross Council’s community environment challenge fund.

The total cost of the project will be just under £30,000 and it is hoped that work will begin in the autumn.

Chairwoman Anne Easson said: “The burn is sadly an area where folk walking along the bypass tend to toss their litter. Rubbish also gets thrown from passing cars and lorries.

“We collected six bin bags along the Perth Road last week.”

She said that undergrowth is hampering efforts to reach the stream and remove all the debris.

“We still have additional funds to raise, but this £12,000 from Perth and Kinross is a great start,” said Anne.

“We do hope people will start to realise that this stretch of waterside can be a real positive asset to Coupar Angus, a wildlife haven on our doorstep to care for and not just somewhere to dump rubbish.”

The work will involve removing dead and dying trees and allowing more natural light into the area.

A variety of species including otters, beavers, bats, kingfishers and trout have been spotted in the burn.

Local schoolchildren are being asked to make a record of all wildlife and plants.