Dumfries and Galloway Council and Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust are delighted to announce that they have been selected as only one of eight National Demonstration Projects in Scotland for an exciting Scottish Government Funded initiative.

This is part of an exciting collaboration between the Scottish Government, COSLA, Development Trusts Association Scotland, and communities up and down Scotland to empower communities by promoting the transfer of assets between local authorities and communities. This builds on the significant and growing experience of communities throughout Scotland taking more control, and becoming more empowered, through the community ownership of assets. Development Trusts Association Scotland [DTAS] has published a short review which captures the experiences in Scotland to date. The paper identifies the range of issues which need to be addressed by both councils and communities if asset transfer is to become an even more important, and more frequent, element of sustainable community regeneration.

The Project provides financial support and expertise over the coming year to help the Council and the Trust to maximise the benefits of transfer of the Town Hall into Community ownership. It builds on the already good partnership arrangements which exist between the Trust and the Council, and which was a key factor in being awarded the National Demonstration Project status. It gives an opportunity for a really innovative approach to ensuring a smooth and efficient transfer of ownership, whilst recognising the significant issues to be addressed.

Councillor Ian Lindsay said, “I am very pleased that Moffat Town Hall has been selected as a demonstration project. I look forward with interest to watching progress with it. Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee continues to support the work of the Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust”

Peter Beck-Samuels, Chair of the Trust, said, “The Trust is absolutely delighted to be working with Dumfries and Galloway Council on this exciting project. To be selected as only 1 of 8 successful applicants nationally, emphasises how innovative and exciting our proposals are to own and develop the Town Hall on behalf of the Community, whilst still preserving the Council and Library Services. Involvement in the Project enables us to raise the profile for the Trust nationally and to obtain support to help with the process of transfer of ownership from the Council to ourselves which is a key piece of the jigsaw in achieving our vision”.

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