Council set to close Ellon's Castlepark Community Centre
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Users of a north-east community facility in Ellon were shocked this week to find out that it is set to close.
In a statement, the Castlepark Community Centre's admin team chair Jamie Campins said: "It is with deep regrets, that I must inform all our page followers that Aberdeenshire Council has taken the decision to close Castlepark Community Centre permanently.
"The closing date will be September 1.
"All booking will continue as normal up until this date.
"Thank you for your support over the many years that this hall has served our community."
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “Castlepark Community House was gifted to the community as part of the development at Castlepark with the intention that it be a community run facility.
“Over many years Aberdeenshire Council’s Live Life Aberdeenshire (LLA) service, who administer the facility until it is transferred, has worked with the group and the Formartine Area Office to progress a transfer to full community ownership.
"Unfortunately, this has not been progressed.
"LLA is not in a position to run the facility as a community centre but would welcome a group taking it on to run for the benefit of the community, as was originally intended.
“Aberdeenshire Council will continue to guide interested groups through the asset transfer process, which may include registering with the Office of the Scottish Charity Register and the production of a business case, cash flow, constitution etc.
"During this transition period, LLA is working with the current users of the building to find suitable accommodation within existing facilities.”
Residents responded to the loss with disappointment, including Gail Procter who said; "Closing this venue is another sad blow for rural areas , council should be promoting smaller function buildings for groups and classes to use not closing them ."
Others including Shannon Button noted the lack of council run alternatives: "So that leaves the community campus which has reduced the hours so much that nobody can use it of an evening!."
For many, the venue on Craigivar Circle has provided a small accessible and affordable venue which proved popular for family gatherings and kids classes
