One of the “finest buildings in Aberdeenshire” could be given a new lease of life as a heritage museum or a wedding venue.
Kintore Town House is currently used by the local authority’s media unit and as an office, but the community hopes to open it up to the wider public.
Yesterday the idea was given a boost by members of the Garioch area committee, who agreed to award £5,000 from their top-up budget for a feasibility study into potential uses of the A-listed building.
The sum will be matched by a further £5,000 from the local authority’s planning department.
The £10,000 total should cover the cost of the whole report on the building, which was built in the town square in 1747.
Among the ideas being floated by the local community for the town house is a heritage museum celebrating local history, or a wedding venue.
Local councillor Martin Ford said: “The town house is certainly one of the finest buildings in Aberdeenshire. It sits in the heart of Kintore and does relatively nothing.
“We need to get it back in use again in the heart of the community. It is going to be hard to do because of the nature of the building.”
Inverurie councillor Martin Kitts-Hayes, who is also the council’s co-leader, said: “I have absolutely no problem about a feasibility study about the future use of this.
“One thing we have to be very clear about is part of that feasibility study has to include how that building can be used and managed by the community.”
Last night Brian Johnston, the chairman of Kintore Community Council, said he was delighted the money had been allocated for the study.
He said: “It is an iconic building not just for Kintore but for the whole area, we have already discussed things to do with it given the opportunity to do that.
“We are very, very pleased. We are really looking forward to it coming forward.
“Hopefully we can bring a bit more interest around the square.
“There is a lot we can do. There is a lot of history around Kintore – a lot of Roman and Pictish history and farming history too.”
However, the council warned it may be unable to fund any improvements to the building, and has suggested this might have to be secured through outside bodies.