There is much being said and written about the death of the high street. However, our high street seems to be going from strength to strength with a great range shops - many very established and other new additions. On
that note a very warm welcome to the Whisky Box – we wish Will and Helen Stockham all the very best with their
new venture.
While the summer months bring visitors to help the sales along, the winter is more reliant on the local trade – and at no time is this more important than in the run up to Christmas. So why not wander into one of our great cafes, order yourself your favourite drink, and leaf through the pages of The Bridge noting all the interesting opportunities to purchase locally both in our great shops as well as at the various markets.
There are Advent and Christmas markets in Amulree and Corbenic as well as at the Royal School of Dunkeld.
There’s late night opening at ‘Potters Junction’ at Birnam Arts as well as an on-going Christmas market opening in the mezzanine area from 6th November. And then of course there is the market on Santa Day on the 14th December to look forward to.
Or what about buying books written by local authors as a unique gift? Or you could go for an alternative ‘previously loved’ Christmas and buy second hand books from Birnam Books, a treasure from the Vintage Shop, recycled gifts at the 3 Churches Charity Shop or ‘Big Sale’ as well as toys from the second hand toy stall in the Duchess Anne on Santa Day. That reminds me to remind you ... please look out any toys that need a new home and consider donating them to the Toy Stall which raises money for Rachel House Children’s Hospice and Christian Aid.
Of course, a flourishing high street can bring some challenges with it ... particularly when cars and log lorries are competing with pedestrians and cyclists. Anyone interested in possible ways forward for ‘shared streets should join the meeting being hosted by the Community Council on the 26th November, 7:30pm in the PA. 
So, if you are buying gifts this Christmas, consider ‘buying local’ and supporting all our wonderful businesses from the very large to the very tiny and from the oldest to the newest. They are all deserving of our full support.

Sally Robertson

The Community Investment Fund applications for Strathtay Ward have been considered and the decisions on how this tranche of £25,000 will be allocated have been taken. The applicants will soon be notified as to whether or not they have been successful this time. The Strathtay action partnership which administers this funding and meets regularly to discuss issues of inequality in our area is unfortunately short of members.
Anyone wishing to know more or to get involved should contact MSpeedie@pkc.gov.uk for more information.
Good news from the last full Council meeting at PKC was the successful rejection of the plans to move production of Primary school meals to a frozen meal type which would be made in Dundee and then transported across Perth and Kinross for our children to consume. After a petition signed by over 3000 concerned Residents the SNP and other Opposition Groups  managed to defeat the Conservative Administrations proposals and meals will continue to be made locally.
Recently pop up policemen and policewoman have started to appear across Strathtay Ward. These cut out figures are surprisingly life like and do seem to have an effect in reducing speeding and improving driver behaviour in areas where they have been situated.
The Political make up of Councillors at PKC seems to be constantly changing. At the moment there are 15 Tory Councillors who are the Administration, 15 SNP Councillors, 4 Lib-Dems, 3 Independents, 1 Labour and 2 Tory Councillors who have left the main Tory Group all these Groups form the Opposition. Hopefully this will lead to a more constructive cross party approach to matters and better results for Perth and Kinross as a whole.
In my last Column I warned that some Community Council’s were in danger because of lack of volunteers. Unfortunately Spittalfield and District C.C. has gone into abeyance but DBCC, Auchtergaven C.C. ,Luncarty and Stanley all thankfully managed to get the requisite numbers to continue.
For once I am welcoming a partial road closure on a major road in Strathtay Ward.
This will be for a 6 week period beginning on the 4th of November and it will be at Meikleour. This partial closure will be to facilitate the overdue trimming of the famous Beech Hedge. After being involved in frustrating discussions about this issue for several years I was delighted to hear that with a multi agency approach these necessary works are now going to be undertaken.
Fly tipping seems to be on the increase across PKC if you see anything suspicious please note the Registration number of the vehicle and call it into the police on 101. If you see some illegally dumped waste report it to PKC on 01738 475000 and once you are connected to a Customer Service assistant give details of the dumping site and ask for an incident No. This No. is useful for any follow up enquiries that may be required.
If you have any issues or enquiries that you think I may able to help with please do not hesitate to call me on 07881 500501 or by email glaing@pkc.gov.uk

Grant Laing
Councillor Grant Laing
Local SNP Councillor, Strathtay Ward 5
glaing@pkc.gov.uk or Tel: 07881 500501 or 01738 475023

Samhuinn. Is that a new word for other people as well as me? I am intrigued to read Loch of the Lowes article about their celebration of this festival marking the beginning of winter. Looking up the festival on Wikipedia it tells me that Samhuinn is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Click here for more information. So, we are plunging into the darkness folks .. get ready… and more prosaically don’t forget your flu jab if you need one..
Traditionally of course we brighten the darkness with all kinds of festivals. Perthshire Amber will be a brilliant bright spot at the start of November. Music will fill the village from dawn to dusk – see all the info here.  Looking ahead we will be preparing for the thirtieth anniversary of Santa Day in the village. Well done to all the volunteer team who organise that. I realise it is a super busy time for everyone but please offer to lend a hand if you possibly can on the 14th December.
As you will see here we have been awarded the accolade of being Scotland’s first water efficient village. Well done everyone who has tried hard to save water .. and thus energy. I admit to being sceptical initially and the phrase ‘Save water in Scotland – really?’ was one I could have been charged with. That was before it was explained to me that all our water has to be pumped up from Perth using up huge amounts of electricity in the process. So, saving water really does help save the planet.
So back to good old Wikipedia and I find out that Samhuinn is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasadh. Imbolc signals the beginning of Spring and the stirrings of new life. It is Feile Brighde, the 'quickening of the year' 1-2nd Feb. Anyone fancy organising an event for the light coming back? But for now, as the days shorten, let me wish you a Happy Samhuinn.

Sally Robertson