A collaboration between Kinross-shire community organisations, a developer and Perth and Kinross Council has ensured that the war memorial in Blairingone remains accessible to the public wishing to pay their respects and remember local people who served in the armed forces.
The memorial was previously located on the wall of the village's former church. With this building being sold for redevelopment, the structure was moved to a new area in the extension to Blairingone Cemetery. Through joint working by the Council's Bereavement Services, Fossoway Community Development Trust, Fossoway and District Community Council, developers Profile Projects and landowner Johnny Stewart, arrangements were made to engage an experienced contractor to remove and relocate the memorial. Funding from the Council and Profile Projects enabled these works to be carried out in March 2023, with a new grassed area, path and fencing around the memorial completed in May 2023. On Wednesday 9 August, representatives from all the project's partners marked its completion. Councillor Andrew Parrott, the Council's Convener of Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development said: "I am delighted that a partnership approach has enabled this locally significant memorial to be relocated to an appropriate location. It is important that the community can continue to pay their respects and remember those who were lost in wartime." Kinross-shire Councillor Dave Cuthbert added: "I am delighted that the war memorial has been moved and would like to give special thanks to Mike Barnacle, who put a huge effort into getting the memorial moved, both as an elected member of Perth and Kinross Council and as a private individual." Chair of Fossoway Community Development Trust, Mike Barnacle commented: "The relocation of the war memorial has been a long-sought project for the local community since the mid-2000's, and one I have pursued both whilst a local Councillor and subsequently after stepping down from that role in May 2022. Through continued discussions and joint working by all concerned, we have achieved a highly successful outcome which I am delighted to bear witness to today." Councillor Neil Freshwater added: "The preservation of the memorial is extremely important and so it is great to see it relocated to a new location and preserved for the future. Congratulations to everyone for their efforts in achieving this and in particular to former councillor Mike Barnacle for his unwavering perseverance over many years." |
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