Dismay for community groups over hall bid

Community group leaders have reacted with disappointment to news that their bid to purchase Rattray Hall for the community has been unsuccessful.

The historic Balmoral Road venue was put on the market last year by its owners Rattray Parish Church.

And as part of efforts to save Rattray Hall for the community, £55,000 was pledged by local residents, community groups and organisations and businesses after an appeal was launched to secure its future and ensure that it remained available for community use.

Some £40,000 of that money was to be used for the purchase of the hall with additional funds going towards paying for remedial repairs.

A survey commissioned as part of the proposed community buy-out highlighted that approximately £75,000 worth of repairs is thought to be required over the next 10 years.

However, it is understood a higher bid has been accepted by the sellers for the building, subject to various conditions.

Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT), which recently successfully purchased land at Mount

Ericht for a community garden for the town, submitted the bid for Rattray Hall on behalf of the local community. Teresa Donaldson is chair of the development trust. She said: “Sadly, we have unfortunately been outbid on Rattray Hall.

“We are disappointed by this and are actively looking at other options and venues.

“We are continuing to work with groups and organisations in the town to ensure that the activities that are currently delivered from the hall - which make a real and significant difference to the every day lives of local people - continue to be offered.”