Plans progress to save Sauchie Hall after a public meeting. Key steps: community bid, charity status, & new activities.
Groups can ask for a transfer. They could own the hall themselves. This began last October. CTSI helps with the plan. Anthea Coulter spoke to the paper. CTSI played a big part. She liked that many people came.
They will form a membership group. They formed a committee to run it. They want to become a SCIO charity. This charity would only manage the hall. People gave feedback about Sauchie. They want to make improvements there.
Many replied to a survey. Two hundred sixty people responded. Roads and transport got bad reviews. People showed strong feelings for the town. Most want to keep Sauchie Hall open. Two hundred fifty-eight people want it open.
People want new activities there too. Two hundred forty-six said they want new activities. People feel a strong community spirit. No council members came to the meeting. The committee found the event helpful.
They applied to OSCR to register. OSCR regulates Scottish charities. It could take 100 days. The application went in two weeks ago. Staff are leaving at March’s end. They want to try for a transition phase.
The hall hopes to keep bookings going. The new group would get the hall keys. They will use a short-term lease, lasting until a long-term lease exists. This transition will allow them to operate.
They do not know if OSCR will reply in time. This transition gives them some room. The committee is writing a business plan. They think that it will work well. Other communities have done this well. This gives the committee some hope.
It is a leap of faith, she said. They do not know for sure it will work.