Rural Community Gateway

Welcome to Getting to know you, the regular feature profiling Rural Gateway members.

Name: Patrick Vickery
Occupation: Gardener and Writer
Location: Tain, Ross-shire

Why do you choose to live where you do?

Within an hour’s travel time of Inverness, that was the criteria. Nice part of the Highlands. Friendly community.

What is the biggest issue facing your area?

With a growing population, new build houses and emerging new businesses there is a need to find a balance between growth and retaining the best features of the area. A tricky concept really as such things are perceived differently by different people. The biggest issue for the area has to be a clear vision for the future which requires local input from local folk. Easier said than done.

If you could change one thing to make your area better, what would it be?

Cheaper public transport, not just for this area but the whole country. It’s still cheaper to use your car than the bus or train, and more convenient. Subsidise public transport, that’s what I say, and the benefits will come rolling in.

Apart from where you live, what is your favourite place in rural Scotland?

There’s more than a few, of course, but here’s three: Inverness Caley Thistle Football Stadium on a Saturday afternoon (the most rural of football stadiums in the country), Scoraig and Ullapool.

What three words best describe your part of rural Scotland?

Scenic, affable, challenging!

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