Gordon Banks reflects on Aytoun Hall future debate

28 April 2008

Gordon Banks, MP for the Auchterarder area who was heavily involved in securing the £500,000 in the first place said it would have been absolutely unthinkable for the money and the Hall's future to have been lost.

Mr. Banks said -

"The money was pledged to the people for the people by then First Minister Jack McConnell and the Labour-led Scottish Executive as a living legacy of the G8 Gleneagles Summit.”

“The last months have been an anxious and very busy time working and waiting for this Scottish Government to confirm it would honour that pledge and allow Perth and Kinross Council and the community to move ahead.  There seems no logical barrier now to securing the long term future of the Aytoun Hall and I hope the Council will ensure that its actions meet the aspirations of the local community.”

“And as well as the Auchterarder Master Plan proposals for an 800 home expansion in the town, the MP was keen to remember the needs of outlying communities around the Lang Toon as well.”

"No-one should forget the expansion many small settlements in Kinross-shire, Strathearn and Perth and Kinross in general now face.  Residents fear that these expansions are coming with a worrying trend of little or none of the community planning gain necessary for sustainable growth.  This makes existing social facilities like Aytoun Hall in towns like Auchterarder even more precious and vital to a local area."

“And he added that if the Scottish Government put money towards the roads investment identified in the Auchterarder Master Plan, the Developer Consortium could increase its financial contribution to Auchterarder's community facilities.”

"The expansion of Auchterarder will continue to be watched very closely."