The first in a series of meetings aimed at shaping a future vision for Forfar has received an encouraging response.
At the St John’s Church hall event the theme of community development, and in particular the use of public buildings and local space, came under the spotlight.
The event drew a turnout of around 20 community organisations, as well as Angus Council elected members and a number of officers. It was chaired by Councillor Lynne Devine, who welcomed the high level of interest.
Neil Mackenzie of the council’s property services department outlined what the authority is doing in Forfar in terms of moving staff, in order to allow the council to reduce the number of buildings it occupies.
The meeting also received a brief update on the town’s planned community campus which will include a replacement for Forfar Academy on the existing school campus, along with planned leisure facilities.
There has already been a significant amount of engagement with the community about this project and the meeting heard this will continue over the coming weeks and months.
Jordann Cunningham from the council’s leisure services section addressed the meeting on a community sports hub plan.
Although the concept is at a very early stage, the aim is to encourage and support local sports clubs to work more closely in order to share ideas and resources.
Colin Smith, a private consultant working on behalf of St Margaret’s Church, also explained the church’s proposal for redeveloping the site to include a new place of worship and additional space for social and community activity.
The project is also the subject of consultation, with a series of focus groups planned.
Community group representatives fed a number of ideas into the discussion and agreed that a positive early step would be to provide information on the premises they use and what may be required in the future.
Those in attendance felt that the information gathered would help inform all of the proposals that are being looked at in Forfar.
A small working group has agreed to undertake further work with local community-based groups to gather information on their needs and aspirations, including opportunities for groups to work together for their mutual benefit.
The discussion was the first of a series of three meetings which will take place in Forfar over the next few weeks to plan the town’s future.
The next meeting will focus on marketing Forfar as a visitor attraction and is scheduled for April 16.
It is to be chaired by Councillor Ian McLaren and there will also be representation from the council’s economic development and cultural services teams, as well as VisitScotland, the national tourism agency.
The third discussion will take place on Wednesday April 24 and will focus on Forfar town centre.
It will be chaired by Councillor Glennis Middleton and will involve staff from the council’s planning and parks departments, as well as representatives from Scotland’s Towns Partnership, a national body specialising in supporting communities to revitalise town centres.
Both of the meetings are scheduled to take place at 6.30pm in St John’s Church Hall.