A new future could be in sight for Aberdeenshire’s prehistory park, with hope for a reopening of the troubled tourist attraction.
The Archaeolink centre at Oyne, between Inverurie and Insch, was shut down at the start of last month following an Aberdeenshire Council veto on any further cash for the rural site as part of its money-saving measures.
Over the previous 15 years, the local authority had ploughed £2.5million in funding into Archaeolink.
In the past five years it handed over an annual subsidy of £135,000 – equal to £13 a visitor.
Last night there was a May Day lifeline for the centre, and for the staff who lost their jobs when its doors shut in the month they would normally have been launching a new visitor season.
There was confirmation yesterday that talks ongoing to save Archaeolink had resumed and were progressing well.
“We are almost there,” said Mid Formartine councillor John Loveday, who sits on the Archaeolink Trust board.
He said talks that recently broke down – because “a breathing space was needed” – have restarted and more negotiations are planned over coming weeks.
“We are now making very good progress. I would hope we can finalise something by the end of the month. There are still some legal and technical issues to resolve but I can say that we are getting there. Agreement is close,” said Mr Loveday.
Talks have continued with the one remaining party interested in taking over the site, which features an underground visitor area and recreated Bronze and Iron Age buildings on a hillside overlooking the village. A deal would involve substantial cash investment and broadening of the scope of Archaeolink.
It could take up to £2million to make the attraction viable. The identity of the party involved in talks is not being revealed, nor details of the potential added Archaeolink attractions being proposed.
Mr Loveday said he was convinced Archaeolink could be a success by expanding its visitor appeal, while retaining the prehistory educational set-up that is written into the terms of the trust.
The trust took over the running of the attraction in 2005 and owns the facilities at Oyne while Aberdeenshire Council still owns the site.
Initially Archaeolink was hailed as a means of bringing employment and 100,000 visitors a year to rural Aberdeenshire. But annual numbers steadily declined to only 10,500.
The net assets of Archaeolink, which cost more than £4million to build, have recently been valued at around £1.7million.
Mr Loveday said Archaeolink could not survive in its present form but the revamped attraction planned would attract visitors to the heart of Aberdeenshire.
He confirmed redundant staff could be given their jobs back under new plans and added: “Their input has been tremendous over the years and that experience would be very valuable in future, assuming they were still available to return.”
Last night West Garioch councillor Allison Grant said: “I am heartened to hear there is a real possibility of Archaeolink being saved.
“It would be wonderful if the Oyne site could now realise the vision that was originally flagged up for it, by providing that spark of something new to attract visitors while retaining an educational aspect,” she added.
Fellow West Garioch councillor Sheena Lonchay welcomed news that Archaeolink could reopen and widen its scope for visitors.
Latterly little changed on the site from season to season, and it had become very much a one-visit attraction.
Archaeolink does have potential, but will need considerable investment,” she said.
“I would like to think a new future can be found for the site.
“There was a small but extremely dedicated staff at Archaeolink and I hope those local people now get the chance to work there again.
“Anything that brings visitors to Aberdeenshire has to be welcomed.”