The Callander Charrette has drawn to a close after days of discussions and activities aiming to create plans to further the prosperity and wellbeing of the town – with over 900 people attending over the five days.

With the aid of around 6000 post-it notes, 350 cups of tea and 103 hours of enthusiasm, worked hard through discussion, review and workshops to help in the construction of these plans.

The Callander community was supported by a number of partners including the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority and Stirling Council, to consider Callander as a place to live and visit, and share thoughts and ideas that could further the living experiences of current residents, future residents and visitors.
 
Community leaders and senior members of the Park and Council were thrilled by the enthusiasm and energy which the community embraced the Charrette.
 
The process started with the Callander Partnership who successfully bid to the Scottish Government’s charrette initiative to bring the local community and key agencies together to decide how to make the right plan for the town’s future and, just as importantly, how the plan is to be implemented.
 
Now the Charrette is over, the hard work will now begin through delivering the agreed priorities. It was proposed that the immediate priorities to be explored are:
 
1. A new river crossing at the east side of Callander
2. Improvements to the look and infrastructure of the Main Street
3. Improved connections and development of local foot and cycle paths
4. St Kessog’s - agreeing how to bring this iconic building back into full use as a major attraction in the heart of the town.
 
The next stage of the process will be taking the hundreds of ideas and proposals identified and produce a draft report which will be available in December for review by the Callander community. Also, the Community Development Trust will be using the information gathered in developing the next Callander Community Action Plan, setting out the projects the community wish to take forward. 
 
The public can still view the exhibition from the Design Team’s recommendations in the Callander Youth Project in Bridgend. A section of the exhibition will then be moved to the National Park Office in Callander.
 
Bruce Crawford , Cabinet Secretary for Government Strategy and Parliamentary Business commented; "I was very impressed by the commitment of the community in Callander to the Charrette project which was demonstrated to me by the excellent level of attendance at the closing event.  I was particularly pleased by the important contributions to the project made by the town's younger people clearly evident that evening. I look forward to seeing the community, Stirling Council and the National Park Authority working together to explore how they can take forward the recommendations of the Charrette."

What did you think of the Charette – and what can it do for the future of Callander? Post your comments and have your say here on s1callander