It was the end of an era for the residents of a much-maligned Perth housing estate as they said a final goodbye to their homes.
The last of the tenants living in Muirton Park were moved out this week, paving the way for the demolition of the remaining properties, which have stood on that site for around 70 years.
The tenants will be moved to accommodation managed by Perthshire Housing Association and Fairfield Housing Co-operative while the £40 million regeneration project is completed.
Muirton Park caretaker Tom Ford said, “In some respects, this is a bit sad as these houses were built after the second world war and soon they’ll all be gone.
“However, when you see the new houses and the facilities in the area, it soon cheers you up.”
Approved in 2004 by Perth and Kinross Council, the scheme aims to transform the reputation of the estate for residents, as the formerly deprived area had been blighted by anti-social behaviour.
As part of efforts to wipe out the “unfair stigma” attached to the estate, many streets have been renamed.
Familiar street names such as Ainslie Gardens have made way for new ones, such as Lark Avenue and Kestrel Way.
The area itself is now known as Muirton Park, in recognition of St Johnstone Football Club’s old ground which used to be sited there.
There are also plans to create a central playpark area as part of a fourth phase in the hope of giving the estate a “sense of place and identity.”
With the project preparing to draw to a close, there were mixed emotions among those involved since the beginning.For the bestMuirton Regeneration officer Janette Lamond said, “It’s sad to think that my work in this area is finished, but I’m glad it has all worked out for the best.
“I’ve heard lots of positive stories from lots of happy tenants.”
The work done so far has already been praised for reigniting community spirit, even sparking the launch of Muirton Park Development Community Trust.
By working in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies, the organisation hopes to bring jobs, training and educational opportunities to the area, as well as ensuring the provision of better community facilities.
The trust has also been responsible for hosting a range of activities, including a gala day and litter-picking events in an effort to highlight the improvements being made.
Speaking for Perthshire Housing Association, development director Alison Crook said, “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone.
“We have played a major role in achieving a high quality development helped by all the other partners and in particular the local community.
“With all the council tenants rehoused, work is now focusing on the remaining phases of Muirton Park with building work already under way on the next 20 houses.
“It is, however, a concern that government cutbacks risk slowing down the pace of development.”
A total of 400 new homes are due to be completed in the next two years, with councillors recently giving the green light for the construction of 40 properties.
Due to funding reductions, however, plans by Fairfield Housing Co-operative to create an additional 25 houses within the next two years may face significant delays.
Fortunately, for a long list of eager tenants, the organisation has already managed to oversee the completion of 27 properties at the end of June, with keys set to be handed over soon.