By Eric Nicolson

AUCHTERARDER’S HIGH Street retailers have been put in the picture about some of the policing arrangements and business opportunities surrounding next summer’s G8 Summit at Gleneagles Hotel.

Tayside Police and Perth and Kinross Council hosted a special meeting on Thursday evening following a request by Auchterarder Business Association.

Around 50 representatives from shop front businesses in Auchterarder and Blackford attended the briefing at Auchterarder Community School.

Perth and Kinross Council are hoping to capitalise on the publicity surrounding the summit to promote the local area and businesses. Up to 3000 journalists are expected to attend the event and television reports will be beamed world-wide.

Councillor Alan Livingstone, convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee, commented, “There will obviously be retail and business opportunities.

“Media personnel, advisers and visitors will all add spending power to the economy in central Scotland, particularly in Auchterarder and surrounding areas.

“I fully expect the enterprising businesses in the locality to take advantage of this upturn in the economy in July 2005 and thereafter.”

Maggie Robin, co-ordinator of Auchterarder Business Association, said, “I hope the legacy of the G8 Summit will be a higher profile for Auchterarder and long-term benefits for the area.

“It’s a great town with a lot to offer but some improvements are needed. In particular I’d like to see us getting our much sought-after car park.”

Meanwhile, Tayside Police Chief Superintendent Brian Powrie, who is in charge of the G8 security planning operation, said, “We recognise that there are some concerns about the impact of the G8 Summit on the local area.

“It’s very important to Tayside Police that we keep the community informed about the plans we’re making.

“The security operation is not just about protecting the world leaders gathering at Gleneagles Hotel, it’s also about safeguarding people and property in the local area and allowing daily life and business to go on as normally as possible.”

Chief Supt Powrie explained that there would be a significant police presence in Auchterarder and the surrounding area during the summit, which takes place from July 6-8.

He said the police were looking at all aspects of security and how this could be managed with the minimum of inconvenience to the local community.

He added, “We want to hear what local people have to say on issues like traffic management so we can consider their views when the plans are drawn up.”

The meeting was part of an ongoing commitment by Tayside Police, the council and their partner agencies to keep the community informed about arrangements for the G8 Summit.

Regular liaison meetings are held in Auchterarder with community representatives and the first Perthshire G8 up-date newsletter was delivered to more than 4000 households in October.