Community acquisition of two halls a 'game changer' for Golspie
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The acquisition for the community of two halls in Golspie should create employment locally, it has been stated.
Development group Go Golspie is set to purchase the Church of Scotland’s Fountain Road Hall following a Scottish Land Fund award of £147,900.
And the group is also taking over the dilapidated YMCA hall, which is located on the Main Street and is in need of substantial renovation.
Golspie Community Council chairman Ian Sutherland, a board member of Go Golspie, told members at a Zoom meeting on Monday that the successful purchase of Fountain Road Hall was a “game changer” for the district.
“The paperwork should be signed and dotted by the middle of January,” he said. “We have slightly more money than we need as we raised £20,000 in pledges, so we are in a good position to go as soon as we get the keys and have the boiler serviced.”
Mr Sutherland added that progress was also being made with the YMCA hall.
“We have been successful in getting £20,000 from Gordonbush (wind farm community benefit) which, on top of previous money we received, should be sufficient for the first phase of renovation which includes repairs to the floor of the main hall, fixing the roof, windows and installing a heating system,” he said.
“Now the hard work begins. From having no halls, we have got two!”
He continued: “There is possible going to be employment opportunities in the future arising from this."
East Sutherland and Edderton ward councillor Richard Gale, a Go Golspie trustee, told the meeting: “We are looking at taking on a caretaker for Fountain Road Hall and the YMCA will generate employment for contractors locally."
Community councillor Iain Miller said the amount of work put in by Go Golspie and its Fountain Road Hall sub-committee should be recognised.
