£1m vision to convert Callander landmark
Community hub plan is drawn up
Plans to redevelop an iconic Callander landmark, the former St Kessog’s Church, as a community hub have been drawn up by a group of residents and Stirling Council.
For the last few years the B-listed Ancaster Square building, erected in 1883, has been lying vacant.
Three Callander Community Council members Elaine Watterson, Richard Johnson and Sue King however have been working on a scheme to convert St Kessog’s into a £1m community facility.
Stirling Council services including library, registrar’s office and public toilets would be based there – as well as a community centre, visitor centre, heritage centre and business centre, or ‘digital hub.’
It is hoped that a business case for the project will be part of a bid for Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal funding by the end of the year.
The proposal involves setting up an independent charitable company, or Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), called Friends of St Kessog’s, to manage the community activities.
Mr Johnson said this week: “We see this as a wonderful and exciting opportunity to restore St Kessog’s and return it to community use.
“There is a lot still a lot of detail to be worked through and agreed, but we think we have the basis of a self sufficient, sustainable business that will be great for Callander.”
The working group are also calling on
Callander residents to get in touch to express their views on the scheme.
Mr Johnson added: “It has been particularly difficult in the last weeks to carry out a full community consultation because of social distancing, so we are particularly interested in comments from local people.
“We are grateful for the collaboration with Stirling Council. They have welcomed this community initiative and have been very supportive in helping its progress.”
Stirling Council has no budget set aside for the refurbishment, but the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, includes provision for a digital hub in Callander with funding up to £1m which would cover a large proportion of the refit.
If this funding is approved by the
Scottish Government, work on the building, expected to take 12 months, would start in April next year.
Mr Johnson stressed: “It will only be successful if it has strong community support.
“We are looking for people to tell us what they think. It is so important to all of us that we show Stirling Council how much we want St Kessog’s back.”
■To give your views on the proposal go to Callander Community Council’s Facebook page or the community council section of the incallander website.
Paper copies of the proposal can also be viewed at Callander Library.
There is also a dedicated phone line for leaving messages and texts on 07591 312227 and email: Stkessogs.survey@ gmail.com
A wonderful and exciting opportunity to restore St Kessog’s and return it to community use