MURDO & CAROLINE CALL FOR MORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY FOR BLAIRGOWRIE YOUNGSTERS

23/04/2007

Scottish Conservative Candidate for North Tayside Murdo Fraser and Council Candidate for Blairgowrie and the Glens Caroline Shiers have called on Perth & Kinross Council to encourage youngsters in Blairgowrie and the surrounding area to undertake more outdoor activities and to make full use of the Compass Christian Centre, which is based at Glenshee.

Murdo and Caroline visited the Compass Christian Centre on Friday.  The Centre is an outdoor activity centre that is based in the Blairgowrie and the Glens Ward, and the candidates want to see as many young people and community groups have access to it as possible.

Commenting, Murdo said:

“I believe that Perth & Kinross Council can be doing more to encourage youngsters to undertake more outdoor activities.  Here in Perthshire we have an abundance of open space and outdoor centres that can cater for all levels and skills of individuals wanting to try something new and challenging to them, such as kayaking, climbing, skiing, canoeing and so forth.  We must get our young people interested in getting out and being active and I want to see them use centres such as the Compass Christian Centre, which has excellent facilities and is based at Glenshee.

Caroline added:

“It is important that youngsters in Blairgowrie and the surrounding area have the opportunity to get out and do a number of outdoor activities.  We are lucky to have the Compass Christian Centre with its wide range of activities for youngsters and community groups in our local area and I believe that all youngsters in Blairgowrie and the surrounding districts should have the opportunity to experience the activities that are available nearby.

“Blairgowrie use to be a centre for skiing but sadly in recent years the industry has declined due to adverse weather conditions.  I believe that local businesses involved in the tourism market have to be looking to develop into activities other than skiing in the winter months.

“It is important to the local economy that we have an all year round visitor base and in order to attract this we have to find activities that will draw tourists at all times.  The Compass Christian Centre is one visitor related business which is developing a wide range of activities to try and replace skiing.  I believe that Perth & Kinross should be doing all that it can to encourage other tourism businesses to go down the same route.”