Issued: 3 October 2012
Angus Honours Its Heroes
l-r Lt. Colonel Richard Callander, Houses for Heroes; Lord James Douglas Hamilton;
Major Ronnie Proctor, Angus Veterans’ champion; Provost Helen Oswald;
Keith Brown MSP minister for veterans; Alex Johnstone MSP
Angus Council last night paid tribute to the county’s military heroes with a pledge of bricks and mortar support, in the form of five new custom built homes in Carnoustie.
At an event in the Scottish Parliament, sponsored by North East MSP Alex Johnstone, the Provost of Angus Helen Oswald announced the formation of a new house building partnership between the council and the veterans’ charity, Houses for Heroes Scotland.
Speaking following the event the Provost said: "Angus Council and Houses for Heroes Scotland have created a unique partnership through which we plan to develop five new family homes in Carnoustie; designed to meet the specific needs of our veterans. The council plans to support the charity with land and a financial contribution, to make the building of these much needed homes a reality.”
A portion of the existing Camus House site has been identified as being a suitable location for the proposed Houses for Heroes development, subject to the usual approvals. Social housing is already proposed for the site, which will become vacant later this year, following the opening of the council’s new Kinloch Care Centre and supported housing for older residents.
Lt Col Richard Callander, chairman of Houses for Heroes praised the council’s work saying: "Angus Council and Houses for Heroes Scotland are developing a marvellous partnership that will see both organisations invest in building these new homes. In working together we are able to achieve these new homes and the partnership we are developing with Angus Council is an example to other areas in Scotland and in fact a catalyst for discussions in other areas of the country".
Angus Council's veteran's champion, Major Ronnie Proctor welcomed the announcement of the new development saying: "By working together for the benefit of the veterans of Angus, the council and Houses for Heroes Scotland are setting a positive example to the rest of Scotland and I am excited by the prospect of these new homes in Carnoustie".
The Holyrood event was also attended by Scottish Veterans Minister Keith Brown MSP, a veteran of the Falklands Conflict who was formerly based at RM Condor, Arbroath.
Councillor Oswald said she was delighted that the Minister had been able to attend. “The Minister’s support for this project and our work with veterans in Angus is much appreciated. We took the opportunity to discuss ways in which the Scottish Government can help our work in Angus and we look forward to working with him in the future."
Speaking after the Holyrood event, North East MSP Alex Johnstone said: “I was delighted to sponsor this event, and it is a tribute to the cross party consensus that exists on helping our veterans that so many MSP’s attended the reception. Providing the support our veterans need, will be increasingly important over the coming years, and I applaud the work done by Angus Council and I would encourage other local authorities to follow this example.”