Bid to save Aberfeldy hall still on track

Aug 20 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

EFFORTS to save Aberfeldy Town Hall from closure have received a huge boost after it was announced a project designed to safeguard its future will be given more time to be finalised.

A meeting of the property sub-committee attached to Perth and Kinross Council’s wider strategic policy and resources wing this week agreed to extend the deadline for community-based plans to take over ownership of the Crieff Road venue.

Education bosses have deemed it “surplus to requirements” as the new state-of-the-art Breadalbane community campus is set to open its doors nearby in December.

Norman McCandlish, chair of an eight-strong committee hoping to take over the running of the focal point, said locals are working towards a revised October 1 date to get their business plan in shape.

It was to be submitted to Wednesday’s PKC meeting.

Mr McCandlish said he was confident the crucial document would be complied in time, and subsequently rubber-stamped by the local authority and bodies like the Big Lottery Fund.

He told the PA: “We have just carried out a four-month survey on the building to see where we stand in terms of the structure of the building.

“There are lots of housekeeping issues on the organisation side of things to resolve too, such as the appointment of a management committee to run the hall, if and when we take it over.

“This could create jobs for the area, which is another reason why we feel it’s important the venue is retained.

“But everything is conditional on our business plan being classed as robust by both the council, and grant-giving bodies like the lottery.”

Convener Ian Miller told elected members on more than one occasion that the extension is designed to allow talks with the Highland Perthshire-based group to continue.

“There’s already been a lot of hard work carried out to ensure that the hall is in good condition and retained for use by the local people,” Cllr Miller said.

He continued: “When the new Breadalbane community campus opens it will provide a wide range of new facilities for the whole region to enjoy.

“But the people in Aberfeldy have expressed a desire to keep the town hall in operation.

“Our need to deem it ‘surplus to requirements’ is a formal part of the process, which will allow negotiations to move forward.”

Cllr George Hayton stressed: “It’s important to note that, just because Aberfeldy Town Hall has been deemed surplus to the council’s requirements, that doesn’t mean the building is not of value to the community.”

The date PKC ends its association with the building, built around 1890, has been set at March 31, to allow pre-booked appointments to be fulfilled.

Councillors also agreed to sanction half of the funds needed to revamp the hall’s existing kitchen.