House we can call our own...
Community launches buyout bid
A public buyout has been launched for stricken Malcolm Sargent House.
Volunteers mounting a bid for the site need a £ 150,000 deposit by the end of this month.
And they insist the ambitious move CAN succeed, with a string of top business figures set to lend their backing.
A Board of eight prominent trustees and one patron are to spearhead the attempt to buy back the House from CLIC Sargent.
The charity announced last week it was closing the doors of the holiday home as it bids to cut its huge deficit.
Valuers are now running the rule over the House, with a tag of around £ 1.5million expected to be slapped on the Prestwick base.
Now the committee who spent weeks trying to save the facility has turned its sights towards buying the property for itself.
A mix of House volunteers and fundraisers are banding together in the bid to prevent the much- loved site being lost forever.
Maxine Allan, spokesperson for the group, said: “We’ve seen the passion that exists for Malcolm Sargent House and people are not prepared to just give up. We firmly believe the House has a future under new ownership
Sand have been in discussions with the charity to that end.
“To their credit, they have been very willing partners in those discussions and we look forward to those continuing.”
Trustees unveiled so far include top solicitor Nigel Martin, business travel guru Pauline Houston, and former chair of the Scottish Police Federation, Les Gray. Ayr’s McKinstry Company are providing legal assistance to the team.
Property developer Maxine, 45, said: “We’re delighted with the high calibre of people from the business and private sector who have agreed to come on board with us.”
To help the group, donations can be made at https:// www. justgiving. com/ buy- msh.
You can also pledge support by texting BMSH99 £ 10 to 70070 .