Town Hall’s future in the community’s hands

Pitlochry venue in race to be saved

It’s hosted silent movies, dances and burgh councils in its time, but people power will ultimately decide whether Pitlochry is to keep its 125-year-old Town Hall.

That is the assessment of the charity running the facility under a Management Agreement until a potential Community Asset Transfer can be secured to bring it into community ownership.

Pitlochry Town Hall, a Category B listed building in Renaissance style, was constructed in 1900 on gifted land on West Moulin Road and has played a key role in the civic life of Pitlochry ever since.

However, if it is to remain an asset into the future, it will require community backing, both in its usage and in any potential purchase.

Perth and Kinross Council has identified the building for repurposing, with property development the likely outcome unless it can be returned to a viable asset for the people of Pitlochry.

‘Needs to be viable’

The charity now running it, as per a ‘soft start’ agreement with the Council, now have a year to prove it can be viable ahead of a possible community asset transfer at a yet to be disclosed price.

Should this happen, and the community back the quest to save the Hall by making bookings, donating and joining as members and volunteers, the Town Hall could yet become a vital hub again for residents and visitors.

“If the Town Hall closes you can’t come back in 5 years’ time and say: why is there no Town Hall in Pitlochry- once it’s gone, it’s gone forever,” says Charity Acting Chairman, Duncan Tannahill, who believes the iconic building can have a future under community ownership.

“In my view, the way that it will be successful is if we run it as a business. We cannot just run it as a loosely controlled facility for the benefit of the community.

“Unless we generate sufficient income, the project will not survive so it is very much business hats on,” he says.

And since July 1st, when the Management Agreement came into effect, it has been.

The venue has hosted Wedding Fayres, MSP surgeries, tea dances and wellbeing classes. There are discussions to use the building for DVSA driving theory tests and the interior is also under a programme of redecoration.

Plans have been drawn up for a lift, to permit access to the second floor, and longer-term revenue streams could come online, post transfer, through conversion of space for 2 business rental units – something currently lacking in the town.

Securing local buy-in

In short, then, there is a vision. The key will be to keep building the community engagement, enthusiasm and involvement to get into a fair wind position where the building could be taken over successfully.

“We have to demonstrate that this project can be really successful. I am touching wood when I say this,” says Duncan, tapping the office desk, ‘it is early days but the number of inquiries and new bookings are very, very encouraging. There is a groundswell of interest in the community and I think we are building a head of steam.

“Hopefully this will encourage more volunteers, even on an ad hoc basis. Every organisation today struggles to get volunteers due to red tape.

“But volunteers want to be associated with success, so that is what we are trying to bring.”

Meeting the asking price

Final sum aside, the capital required to take over the asset is likely to come from grant funding and a fundraising mix. Grants are also likely to be necessary for the longer-term investments being considered.

Acting Charity Chairman Duncan is not new to such processes, being a former Chief of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and a freelance business development consultant.

He knows the charity is on a journey but is hopeful of reaching the destination, with the people of Pitlochry behind the project.

“Normally, in these types of projects, a community goes to the owner and says we would like to take the facility on and run it. This time, the Council came to the community and said: either the community take it on or we repurpose it.

“We have made a reasonably good start but I have no doubt this is going to be a long process. The Transfer will take us the best part of 2 years, depending on how quickly the Council move on it.

“All being well, I think we will own this building in late 2026 or early 2027 and then we can do capital grant raising after that. Securing grant funding is an art form and we are going to have to become experts at it,” he said.

Learn more about Pitlochry Town Hall, and hire the venue, here