Murdo Fraser MSP meets with Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust

Pictured from left are Rattray Community Garden volunteer Jean Smith, Blairgowrie and Glens Councillor Bob Brawn, Murdo Fraser MSP, Rattray Community Garden volunteer Robert Peek, Steve Johnson, Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust, Blairgowrie and Glens Councillor Caroline Shiers, Lesley McDonald, Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust.

Image courtesy of Clare McMicking / CraicN Communications

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Mid-Scotland and Fife, Murdo Fraser, met with representatives from Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT) this summer to hear about the organisation’s work in the east Perthshire town.

As part of his visit, Mr Fraser was shown around the popular Rattray Community Garden, one of BRDT’s core projects, by volunteers.

Blairgowrie and Rattray make up Perthshire’s largest town and the local development trust has been working hard for a number of years to facilitate delivery of the aspirations highlighted by local residents in the town’s Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan.

As part of these efforts, the Trust is working closely with Perth and Kinross Council, and is keen to build on relationships with the Scottish Government to help support and deliver some of its key strategic objectives.

The team also highlighted the importance of funding for development trusts to ensure that they are in a position to continue to work collaboratively with others to build strong community-led places and to deliver essential projects that support Scottish Government policies.

BRDT operations officer Lesley McDonald commented: “We were pleased to be able to meet with Mr Fraser and would like to thank him for his time.

“It was a pleasure to show him around Rattray Community Garden and highlight the progress our team of volunteers have made in what is now a wonderful and welcoming space thanks to their efforts.

“We also updated him on progress at BRDT, particularly around the implementation of aspirations highlighted in the Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Action Plan and Local Place Plan through our Town Projects initiative, and how we are working with Perth and Kinross Council’s Economic Development and Planning team on that.

“BRDT already delivers a huge amount of support to local residents and is therefore well-placed to work with the Scottish Government on efforts to develop a framework that would support other communities to deliver a whole town approach.

“However, although bringing communities into the decision-making process about the services that affect them is a positive step, it is also vitally important that those communities have the resources to enable them to make informed decisions and deliver services where appropriate, and we are grateful to Mr Fraser for taking the time to listen to us.”

Mr Fraser said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Rattray Community Garden which is a wonderful resource for the local community, and is well supported by Blairgowrie and Rattray in Bloom and other groups. There are exciting plans for expansion which will enhance the garden yet further.

“It was also good to catch up with BRDT to hear about their plans for the town. I know from my engagement elsewhere that BRDT is regarded as a model for development trusts in terms of the progress that has been made.

“Blairgowrie and Rattray are popular places to live with a strong community spirit. We are blessed with many volunteer-led groups such as Blairgowrie and Rattray in Bloom and BRDT whose work is invaluable, and we should be thankful to those who willingly give up their time for the benefit of others.”

For further information on BRDT and its work, see www.brdt.org.uk

For further information or media enquiries, please contact Clare McMicking on telephone 07514 343 042 or email [email protected]