Forfar residents have seen a collective vision for the town’s future.
A report from Future Forfar, a design charrette in November that attracted a great deal of interest and sparked conversations, creative ideas, activities and events, was unveiled on Thursday.
The charrette, held in the Canmore Rooms at The Cross, focused on how people can work together to generate a “buzz” for the town centre, creating a distinctive character for the area that captures “a Forfar for all generations”.
Organisers said that respondents to the charrette, and those dropping in to see their report yesterday, were motivated to see the heart put back into the town centre.
The process was undertaken by Pidgin Perfect, a Glasgow creative studio, at Angus Council’s behest.
Director Dele Adeyemo said: “The real big opportunities are in whether the community can come together to take over key, important spaces.
“The building we’re in right now, the ACCESS office and Canmore Rooms, will be surplus to the council’s requirements very soon.
“There’s no reason why a constituted community group like a development group or community council couldn’t take over this building.
“That’s something people really stressed they wanted to see a central hub that brings everyone together.
“That would bring the heart back to the town centre. Another thing is improving the quality of the streets. It’s about highlighting what’s already there.”
Other ideas for the town included ways to encourage young people to spend time in the centre, such as free wi-fi, music, and thinking “beyond retail”.
A calendar of events has also been discussed, including a cycling festival, bridie events celebrating Forfar’s contribution to crusty cuisine, and commemorative events based on the story of the Forfar witches.
The conversation can be joined on Twitter @FutureForfar and on its Facebook and Instagram pages.Comment: Much to love, but much to improveAs a proud Forfar lad, I’ve always got behind the town, writes Richard Watt.
I will extol its virtues in Edinburgh’s pends, Glasgow’s vennels, and further afield.
It has friendly locals, a large number of pubs and restaurants for its size, and easy access to most goods and services.
But since the economic downturn began in 2008, we’ve encountered the same problems as everyone else.
The wee shops that always ticked over, even larger ventures such as David Irons, quickly began to look very frail against the tide of shop jackets which are now a fixture on every High Street.
Big chains like Costa and Greggs are making a play for our empty buildings, which everyone grumbles about, but are unsure whether the alternative is worse.
The council is pulling out of itsproperties in the middle of town, and its dealings with JD Wetherspoon over 5-7 The Cross have been well documented in The Courier.
And with the centralised police force and shrinking council budgets, anumber of problems that lay beneath the surface are now hard to ignore.
Judging by the horrendous parking on East High Street, a visitor could be convinced that Forfar is a hive ofactivity.
But the truth is that people are lazy and there is no one to keep poor parking in check yet.
A fresh look at how the community can put the heart back into the towncentre was long overdue.