Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Chapel’s lease may help unlock funds
THE mortuary chapel at the centre of Arbroath’s Western cemetery is to be leased to the town’s Hospitalfield Trust in a long-term deal that is hoped will unlock funding for its restoration and upkeep.
Built nearly 140 years ago as a mausoleum to the Patrick Allan Fraser family, the chapel was gifted to the then-Arbroath Town Council in 1886 and Hospitalfield Trust inherited a condition of the transfer that they would continue to be responsible for its repair and maintenance. Since 2008 the A-listed structure has been on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register.
The conditions relating to ownership and maintenance of the building have proved a stumbling block to repairs being carried out, but councillors have now set the ball rolling on a plan which will see the long-term lease put in place and allow Hospitalfield Trust to access funding.
Angus policy and resources committee councillors unanimously approved the lease proposal and officials will now work on the fine detail of an arrangement to cover a period of 99 or 125 years. Other aspects including pedestrian access through the cemetery, parking and the use of the chapel will be covered
Hospitalfield director Lucy Byatt said: “Hospitalfield would take on the responsibility of raising funds, managing the restoration project and a maintenance plan.”