Joy at £982k pledge for Old Clyne School transformation
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A £2.8 million project to transform the historic Old Clyne School in Brora into a community heritage centre, café and shop is set to receive a substantial award from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).
Clyne Heritage Society, which is behind the initiative, was informed this week that the RCGF Investment Panel had met in November and recommended that a grant of £982,793 be made. A formal offer of the grant is expected to be issued following ‘Scottish budget agreement’.
Heritage society chairman Nick Lindsay said: “This is the best news that we could have hoped for, in what has been a very difficult year for many.
“We believe that this significant RCGF award will unlock the final ‘brick-in-the-wall’ funds from our other funding partners, so we can deliver this major development for Brora.
“We can now fulfil our dreams of regenerating the Old Clyne School into a must-visit destination, thereby transforming this current eyesore into a welcome addition and attraction for the whole Brora community and its future generations."
He added: “It has been a really long and bumpy road to get this far, but the tenacity of the Clyne Heritage Society Board members, past and present, the Old Clyne School Project Team and the help of the technical expertise we have called on, has finally paid off.
"The project is now close to rescuing a historically significant building, from where the society will operate an accessible, sustainable, year-round community heritage facility for the benefit of the local community and visitors to our village.
"It will be a special place from where we can showcase our unique history, get more people actively involved with their heritage and expand our heritage services.
"It will also greatly improve the environment at the northern approach to Brora on the A9. It's all-round great news for Brora."
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay, a Brora resident, said: “This is very welcome news for Brora. The funding award is a truly massive step towards the delivery of the project.
“I would like to pay special tribute to the sheer tenacity of those involved at Clyne Heritage Society. This result is richly deserved and testament to the many years of hard work and knockbacks.
“As a result of Covid-19 we have seen an upsurge in domestic tourism which is going to be with us for some time to come.
“This project is so important in terms of providing a first-class facility for visitors and locals alike.
“The current building has been an eyesore for far too long and it will be great to see it transform into a really attractive facility at the north gateway to the village.
"This is the best of news for Brora and along with the (other) projects being driven forward by Brora and District Action Group (BaDAG), I really believe that the village is now on the cusp of turning the corner."
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