Town Improvement Group: Help Sought

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Town Improvement Group: Help Sought

Having introduced flowers to Aberfeldy in 2007, Move2Improve is already making plans for 2008 with many more businesses in Aberfeldy joining its flower campaign by putting money into the group’s standing order scheme.

All flowers for the 2008 season will have to be ordered through Move2Improve, although P&K Council sent out letters by mistake for next year.

The group is also faced with a challenging prospect for 2008 as chairman Willie Leszke explained: “Our dilemma for the coming year is how we are going to water these plants. Our secretary approached a local business for a quote for next year, but unfortunately, it has declined and our local P&K gardening squad do not have the resources to help out.

“We have already posted a help notice on Comment on line and we would like to appeal to anyone who feels they could help. This would suit a retired or semi-retired person. Obviously, we will also need equipment to do this and the group is frantically looking at all possibilities.”

Move 2 Improve promised to report back the judges comments (see next column) during the Take a Pride in Perthshire awards in which Aberfeldy jumped up to 3rd place in the large village section.

Challenges

A number of challenges are now faced:

• To capitalise on enthusiasm and make it spread

• Build up a pool of practical help

• Threshold sites (including painting metal signs)

• Intensify links with the school to promote message

• Spread colour with window boxes and additional floral features

The chairman commented: “Introducing these floral displays is not just about gaining prizes in Take a Pride in Perthshire (TAPP). It is more about making our town look stunning for locals and visitors. Through this we will improve our position in the TAPP competitions.

“We also have to turn around the apathy within the community and try and involve youngsters to try and take a pride in Aberfeldy. We did write to the school some time ago with little success.”

He concluded: “With the success of 2007 we would hope that the 2008 season will see more involvement from all the community.

“We need people to help and the only way this can be achieved is through commitment.”

Judges’ Comments

“Move2improve aims to revitalise Aberfeldy but suffers a similar level of apathy amongst it’s community to Errol and Milnathort.

“Again, the efforts of the few have to be commended for the results they have achieved. The local garden competitions appears to be well supported this year.

“Aberfeldy has a magnificent natural backdrop and the challenge for the committee is to 'do a Pitlochry/Comrie'”

Strengths:

• Committee enthusiasm

• Natural backdrop

• Evident slow-but-sure progress

• Relatively compact nature of town and large number of businesses to lend support