THE BATTLE to create a national Roman centre in Tayside could be lost at the Antonine Wall, it has been revealed.
Historic Scotland is investigating creating of a major tourism attraction, capable of attracting millions of visitors each year to the World Heritage Site.
A soon-to-be-published, five-year management plan will investigate the viability of creating a visitor centre on the wall, which runs for 37 miles from the north side of the River Clyde to Bo’ness on the Firth of Forth.
It would tap into the country’s Roman heritage and its plethora of historic sites and increase understanding of the role the invaders played in the shaping of the nation.
The creation of such a centre could, however, also signal an end to the fight for a national centre to be situated in Perthshire.
The region boasts Rome’s first land frontier in the Gask ridge system, together with some of Scotland’s best-preserved forts and watch towers.
For years there has been a small but vocal campaign, led by Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, to see that developed to bring visitors to the area and educate the nation’s youth.
Speaking to The Courier, however, Historic Scotland’s Patricia Weeks said the Antonine Wall would be the focus of the organisation’s efforts for the foreseeable future.
The creation of a visitor centre together with alternative proposals for investment in smaller museums already operated along the wall will be the subject of extensive consultation over the next five years.
“We will be looking at ways in which we can develop the World Heritage Site and better contextualise the wall in terms of the Gask Ridge and the marching camps across the country,” Ms Weeks said.
“Within a difficult economic climate, there will be a lot of work carried out to improve signage and interpretation boards and are also committing to an options appraisal that will look at the creation of a centralised visitor centre, among other proposals.
“We are consulting with the five councils that border the wall West and East Dunbartonshire, North Lanark, Falkirk and Glasgow City and with other interested parties.
“There has been significant support for the idea of a visitor centre, while some of the existing historical societies would like to see their own centres upgraded.”
A draft consultation document could be published by the spring, when the public will be given the opportunity to comment on the various proposals.
Mr Fraser said he would continue to make his case to the Scottish Government as he believes the potential financial and educational benefits to Perthshire of a National Roman Centre are “immense”.
Nonetheless, he admitted he was “not surprised” to see others pushing for the creation of a visitor centre on the Antonine Wall.
“As one of the last frontiers of the Roman Empire, the Antonine Wall has tremendous international appeal and as such has been granted World Heritage Status,” he said.
“Perthshire does however boast some of the best Roman sites in Britain, including forts at Ardoch and Inchtuthill.
“Scotland has a rich Roman history and I believe that a national centre has the potential to re-engage pupils and adults in one of the most fascinating periods of our history.
“My preference would still be for such a Roman centre to be situated in Perthshire.”
Angus already draws significant benefit from the presence of the Pictavia Centre, which tells the story of Scotland’s inhabitants during the first millenium AD.