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Fishermen's Hall in Buckie under new ownership


By Hazel Lawson Local Democracy Reporter

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A Buckie hall threatened with closure three years ago is now under new ownership.

Councillors have given the go-ahead for the Fishermen’s Hall to be taken over by a community trust.

The community asset transfer (CAT) to the Fishermen’s Hall Trust was agreed at a meeting of Moray Council's corporate services committee yesterday.

The Fishermen's Hall on North Pringle Street.
The Fishermen's Hall on North Pringle Street.

The hall came under threat in 2018 when the council decided to offload seven halls as part of cost cutting measures.

While the aim was to encourage community organisations to take on the buildings, if none came forward the halls would have closed.

The trust submitted a CAT request in March last year, but a decision was put on hold because of the pandemic.

Speaking at yesterday's meeting, councillor Tim Eagle (Buckie, Conservative) said: "These things are not easy and this group has been incredible.

"It’s really great to see.

"If we all get behind this group it will be a great success."

Cllr Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) supported the move but raised some reservations.

These included a poor response to a consultation on the CAT which only received five comments.

Cllr Warren said: "I very much want to see this getting through.

"I just want to know that we as a council are doing the best we can for the group.

"I don’t want this to go through and then for the group to struggle."

Cllr Warren added she'd liked to have seen more information put forward about the trust’s plans for maintaining the building, complying with Covid safety regulations and increasing membership.

Andrew Gray, the council's asset manager coordinator, assured the committee that the trust’s governance and financial management arrangements were considered to be strong and sustainable.

Mr Gray added that the council’s community support unit would continue to work with the group following the transfer.

In addition, he stated that while there were not many responses the consultation had been conducted properly.

Moray Council will now apply for sheriff court consent in order to transfer the property to the trust.

The move will save the council £47,000 a year.


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