A north-east heritage society said it was “absolutely thrilled” after getting the green light to buy a former council building – securing the “past for the future”.
The Turriff and District Heritage Society plans were backed by councillors yesterday, who agreed unanimously the transfer of ownership should go ahead for £1.
The group has provided museum services in and around Turriff for nearly four decades and has used the power of the Community Empowerment Scotland Act to apply for the community asset transfer of the municipal building.
The decision itself made history, because it was the first time such a move had been heard in the public domain.
Members of the Formartine area committee backed the scheme, but chairman councillor Rob Merson asked for a report to be issued by officers after concerns were raised about any such asset reverting back to the commercial sector.
He said: “We want to know how to deal with this in the future and explore pre-emptive clauses – the council should be given first refusal if it ever goes on the market again.”
Heritage society chairwoman Judith Mackie responded: “We are absolutely thrilled. The municipal building, or town house, as it is often called, was gifted to the people of Turriff by provost Hutcheon in 1909- so it is great we can secure its future.”
The society had to convert itself into a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation last year – which is a legal form unique to Scottish charities, enabling them to enter into contracts, employ staff, incur debts, own property, sue and be sued. It also provides a high degree of protection against liability.
Mrs Mackie said the last few months had been hard work, but she and her colleagues are looking forward to the imminent opening of their new home.
She added: “We have been able to bring several important local artefacts back to their place of origin – including the Council table and chairs and the picture of Provost Hutcheon.
“I swear he’s smiling as he looks down on us in the room it was originally commissioned for.”
In a report to the area committee, Aberdeenshire’s director of business services, Ritchie Johnson, urged councillors to back the deal to transfer the municipal building to the society for a nominal fee of £1.
He concluded: “Officers have evaluated that this is reasonable.”
The heritage centre opens on May 1.
