An ambitious scheme to bring an historic Aberdeenshire court building into community use has taken a significant step forward.
Stonehaven Town Partnership officials have now received formal approval of their business plan to transfer ownership of the building in Dunnottar Avenue under a Community Asset Transfer arrangement.
The organisation plans to build a community facility in the building, involving a number of well-known volunteer-based charities such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, PAMIS and K&D Befriending.
But they have admitted they are around £150,000 short of bringing their plans to life and have called on “generous benefactors” to join the campaign.
The B-listed Stonehaven Court Building is currently owned and managed by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, but has lain empty since the Sheriff Court and the Justice of the Peace Court ceased operations in May 2014.
The Courts occupied half of the building, parts of which date back to 1779. The other half is still owned and occupied by Police Scotland, and their continuing operations will remain unaffected by STP’s plans.
STP outgoing chairman David Fleming said: “All we need now is someone in the town to put themselves forward as a new chairman of this very successful voluntary organisation at the forthcoming AGM, to be held in the Invercarron Resource Centre at 7pm on November 23.
“We are also looking for a generous benefactor or two to help with the £150,000 bill for the necessary refurbishments.”
Jane Neilson-Adams, manager of Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau, welcomed the news.
She said: “We are thrilled that STP’s proposal for the use of the old Stonehaven Sheriff Court has been accepted.
“Using this space will allow us to expand our services in Stonehaven as demand for the CAB service has meant we have already outgrown our current premises.
“This project and the organisations involved bring great benefit to the community and it is positive to see it develop”‘
Earlier this month, the president of the Aberdeen Bar Association suggested the building should be brought back to life as a court.
Giving evidence to Holyrood’s justice committee, Aberdeen Bar Association president Liam Mcallister argued reopening the court would ease pressure on the city court.
But a Scottish Court and Tribunal Service spokesman dismissed the calls.
