Community ownership of Millport Town Hall thanks to Scottish Land Fund

The town hall at Millport on Cumbrae, which closed in 2015, is to be bought over and refurbished by islanders in order to provide space for community activities.

The purchase is being financed by a grant of £51,271 from the Scottish Land Fund and as well as community space, the re-opened town hall will also provide a Heritage Centre, opportunities for Arts and Culture events and three high end holiday flats to provide sustainable income streams.

Angie McCallum, Chair of Trustees, Millport Town Hall, said: “Millport Town Hall Charity are delighted to have been awarded these funds. It means we are one goal further towards our quest to provide the community of the Isle of Cumbrae with a community building, which will be of huge benefit, both socially and economically.”

Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said of today’s grants: “Last week, we published statistics showing that our policy of supporting community ownership is paying off. In 2018, 37 assets came into community ownership, taking the total amount of land owned and controlled by local people to over 200,000 hectares.

Now, as we approach the end of 2019 - and just in time for Christmas – I am pleased that a further ten communities across Scotland have been given the opportunity to fulfil their ambitions. It is a reward for their hard work and commitment and I wish them the very best for the next step of their journey.”

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: "Through these grants we have been able to support groups in both inner city areas and in some of the remotest parts of Scotland, helping local people to come together to undertake a range of activities designed to create stronger communities."

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “Today’s successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities. Ownership will give these communities greater control over important assets and will help ensure its long-term future. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”

Other projects receiving Scottish Land Fund cash today are:

Garnethill Multicultural Centre

Award - £329,576

This grant will allow Garnethill Multicultural Centre to own the building in the centre of Glasgow which it has occupied since1988 and to carry out repairs that will allow it to continue providing social, welfare and educational support to the local community.

Newcastleton & District Community Trust

Award - £46,000

This group will take ownership of a wide range of leisure facilities surrounding the village, buying 100 acres of land that includes an 18-hole golf course, a bowling green and a large playing field.

Whitekirk Community Company

Award - £39,500

By using its grant to buy the local village hall, Whitekirk Community Company will be able to secure the future of a facility that they have been managing and maintaining for the last five years.

Kilmaronock Old Kirk Trust

Award- £57,110

The group will by a redundant church building and car park to make the space available for community activities, performances and events, while the adjacent church field will be developed as a space for woodland burials.

Ettrick & Yarrow Community Development Company

Award - £285,000

By developing a disused steading this group will provide five affordable home for rent to tackle a lack of housing in the local area. The plans also include office space and workshops for businesses.

Arisaig Community Trust

Awards - £234,400 & £23,750

This group has received grants for two projects. It will use £234,000 to buy land on which to build six affordable homes and provide four discounted self-build plots as well as providing an area for business units and a community woodland. And a second grant of £23,750 will allow the Trust to buy 2.38 acres of land split between the shorefront and the village playground, with plans to create seating areas, car parking and interpretation boards for visitors, as well as reinforcing the sea wall and providing space for an orchard and allotments.

Comann Eachdraidh Eirsgeidh (Eriskay Historical Society)

Award - £48,234

Buying a disused school and adjacent buildings will allow Eriskay Historical Society to create a heritage exhibition space, offices, a tearoom and to renovate the former school house as a home for rent.

Active Communities (Scotland) Ltd

Award - £199,000

This group will purchase the former police station situated in the town centre of Johnstone, Renfrewshire to help consolidate their services and activities into a central space.