An ambitious plan to transform a former PoW camp in Perthshire that once housed infamous Nazi Rudolf Hess is progressing with the first phase of the development now in sight.
Comrie Development Trust (CDT) are now recruiting for two key roles as part of their £800,000 proposal to repair and renovate 11 B-listed Nissan huts at Cultybraggan in order to provide self-catering accommodation.
One of the jobs will involve investigating the location of three escape tunnels at Cultybraggan.
CDT has also announced that tendering is about to begin to identify a contractor for the project. The trust has received a grant of £43,396 from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
And the community group has also been giving funding from Perth-based Gannochy Trust, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government’s strengthening communities programme.
The Cultybraggan project aims to deliver a self-catering development and heritage activity site. The development funding has allowed CDT to recruit a project manager along with a heritage and event’s organiser.
The project manager will produce plans for improving the supply of water, electricity and broadband across the site, while the heritage and event’s organiser will develop a programme of events at Cultybraggan, focusing on trying to increase knowledge of the former PoW camp via signage, storyboards and phone apps.
The Nissen huts at Cultybraggan, built of corrugated iron, were used to house some Nazis, including SS officers.
Jackie Brierton, chair of the Rural Perth and Kinross LEADER programme, said the funding package was part of an overall £3.8 million pot available for the development of rural communities in Perthshire until 2020.
“Cultybraggan is a creative and innovative project which will protect, preserve and promote an important historic site and we are pleased we have been able to support it,” she said.
And Helen Buchan, chair of the Comrie Development Trust board, added: “We are looking for staff and volunteers from the local area or elsewhere, who will help the trust realise the projects, for which funding is now available, and to help us lay the foundations for developments over the next 10 years.”
