THE Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) has been commissioned by Clackmannanshire Council to prepare a Conservation Area Character Appraisal for Dollar Conservation Area.

Conservation areas are areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.

Conservation Area status requires the character of the area to be maintained, but recognises the need for change, requiring a sensitive approach that respects the area and its important features. As part of this initiative, the Scottish Civic Trust recently organised two public workshops earlier this week in order to gather the concerns and experiences of local people related to the Dollar Conservation Area, in order to feed into the preparation of a Conservation Area Character Appraisal for the area.

A spokesperson from the Scottish Civic Trust said, “We are engaging particularly with Dollar Community Council, especially in light of their Community Masterplan for Dollar.

“We are also inviting representatives from the Academy, traders, business owners and any other interested people to join us at the events to give their views on which features contribute to the special character of Dollar, which issues threaten the conservation area and where improvements and enhancements might be made.” The Conservation Area Appraisal will seek to define the special interest of the conservation area and identify the issues which threaten its special qualities, as well as provide guidelines to prevent harm and achieve enhancement.

It aims to provide Clackmannanshire Council with a valuable tool with which to inform its planning practice and policies for the area.

SCT has already carried out an appraisal of Muckhart Conservation Area, which was out for public consultation until 24 January 2014, it can be viewed at: www.clacksweb.org.uk/environment/muckhartconservationarea/