By Paul Reoch

A PERTH councillor has hit back at recent criticism concerning his forthcoming visit to New York.

Alan Livingstone, who represents the Ruthven Park ward, yesterday responded to comments regarding his trip to the “Big Apple” at the end of this month, when he will be promoting Perth and Kinross as part of Tartan Week.

Blairgowrie businessman Roy Sim had earlier voiced his opposition to the event, citing that he felt Councillor Livingstone should be on hand “to deal with council matters.” Councillor Joan McEwen also queried the point of the trip.

However, Councillor Livingstone has said that he feels the criticism is unmerited.

“It is important to stress unassailable facts in response to contrary opinions,” he said yesterday.

“Firstly, my presence at Tartan Week was placed before the enterprise and infrastructure committee of the council some time ago.

“That I should attend was discussed and unanimously approved. The costings to the council were openly debated and unanimously approved by the committee—it appears that some members have forgotten this.

“The anticipated gain to the whole area of Perth and Kinross should be colossal. Last year, it was realistically estimated that 250,000 people visited VisitScotland’s ‘village’ and 60% of them volunteered that they would visit Scotland in the near future.

“A television station beamed images of Scotland to many states and estimated they reached approximately 54 million American residents.”

Councillor Livingstone said Perth and Kinross was not represented last year but that the area will benefit from the exposure in the vast North American market this time.

He added, “Paying our share of £38,000 to gain such wonderful publicity for Perth and Kinross is a very small price worth paying. Such a minor investment will maximise return for us in long lasting tourism opportunities.

“One eastern Perthshire resident has complained that Blairgowrie and eastern Perthshire have been neglected. This is unambiguously not true and I, as convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee representing the council, have approved very considerable financial help for eastern Perthshire and Blairgowrie.”

Councillor Livingstone listed these as including a three-year enterprise budget of £225,000 from the Sirolli Foundation for Enterprise; an area-based initiative budget for eastern Perthshire of £61,000 from the council for 2005 to 2007; improvements to the A93 and Craighall Gorge at a total cost of just less than £4 million; a study to investigate the provision of coach parking in Blairgowrie; a study to promote Glenshee as the gateway to Royal Deeside and the Cairngorm National Park; a contribution of £25,000 to the Glenshee Centre; continuing discussions with Tesco as to the redeployment of their premises in central Blairgowrie; the enterprise and infrastructure committee approving £15,000 for an improved electricity supply in Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie; a further £12,000 awarded to Strathmore and the Glens for Farmers Market stalls and environmental improvements in Meigle.

Councillor Livingstone said, “Clearly, Blairgowrie and eastern Perthshire are being supported substantially by both elected and appointed members of Perth and Kinross Council. To suggest otherwise is both malicious mischief making and self-serving make believe.”