I am backing the Arbroath Abbey World Heritage Campaign. I have signed the petition online in order to demonstrate his support to secure World Heritage Status for Arbroath Abbey from the UN.

Given the Abbey’s connection to the Declaration of Arbroath, it is fitting that the Abbey be granted World Heritage Status. I believe that this will encourage even more visitors to come to visit Arbroath Abbey and share in the exceptional site and its history. As well as recognising the Abbey’s importance to Scotland, it would also provide a boost to our tourism industry both in Arbroath and Angus as a whole.

I would also ask Angus residents to sign the petition if they have not already done so, as the backing of local people plays a big role in securing the status. Furthermore, having World Heritage Status will help to preserve Arbroath Abbey for future generations.”

I understand that the Campaign’s website was attacked by hackers, and details of those that signed up to the petition online were deleted, which is a huge disappointment. If you originally pledged your support on the website, I would encourage you to return to the online petition and put your name down again, as I have done.

I visited Arbroath’s Signal Tower Museum on a cold, frosty morning. I was delighted to hear from Cllr David May, Convener of Infrastructure Services, that the museum secured £450,000 of investment in the recently passed Angus budget.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the museum, the displays are fresh, informative and give a real feel for what life was like for ordinary folk living in Arbroath over the years. Staff there indicated that there were a huge number of items the museum would dearly like to share with the people of Arbroath. Therefore, it is wonderful news that the historic Signal Tower Museum has secured £450,000 for significant renovation from Angus Council.

David mentioned that the model of The Bell Rock Lighthouse, acquired by Angus Council, is included in the BBC’s History of the World in 100 Objects. It is no wonder then, that Angus Council want to support Arbroath and put the town at centre stage for the Bell Rock Lighthouse Bicentenary celebrations.

This significant investment in the Signal Tower is long overdue and I congratulate Angus Council in their vision in investing in Arbroath to help the community celebrate its rich engineering history. It will benefit the whole of Angus, not only in the Year of the Light, but well into the future.

David had said “ This allocation of funding on Arbroath’s Signal Tower is not just for the 2011 international celebrations of ‘the Year of the Light’, but in my view is very much part of our Council’s commitment to heritage tourism. This is a fundamental part of our wish to boost Arbroath. As tourism is one of Angus’s key economic drivers, this considerable investment in the Signal Tower is hugely welcome. I am just disappointed that the SNP did not support us in celebrating Arbroath’s heritage.”