Plans to expand Ellon and District Men’s Shed facilities are successful
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Ellon and District Men’s Shed has been successful in gaining planning permission to allow it to expand its facilities for members and the wider community.
The decision has enabled the group to install a portable building at its base on Hospital Road.
It is has been sited next to its main property, which was a former Aberdeenshire Council maintenance shed next door to the town’s local authority depot.
The group has also received a further positive boost as the council has decided to extend the lease for the building until 2030.
This will make it easier for members to apply for funding opportunities and enable them to plan for the future better.
Chairman Andy Leonard said: “We got the planning permission for the portable building through and that process went smoothly.
“We had the building ready to go as we were able to purchase it with funding from the Bank of Scotland Foundation. We've also received support from the Formartine area committee budget.
"It was put in place this past Thursday and we now have to get the electric connected. It has been give a good clean out and we received donated office furniture for it from Shell.
“The extra space will allow us to install a CNC woodworking machine and the other end will be for other activities including photography, picture framing and bike repair work.
"It will allow us to do things that at the moment we're struggling to do and it will make a significant difference.
“The council has also extended our lease until 2030 which will make it easier to apply for funding.
"That frees up many more options for us and we have planning permission for the portable building until 2030 as well. Things have fallen into place really well.
"Now we start to think about our strategy for taking us up to then."
The group is planning to hold a community bicycle event on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 11, which will advise people on bike repairs and will have e-bike demonstrations.
The Men's Shed is also holding an open day on Saturday, May 14, which people can attend to see the work that the members do.
Related story: Ellon and District Men's Shed seeking to expand its community facilities
