The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Bid to transform landmark Angus pavilion.
MONTROSE: Group seeks community asset transfer of Traill Pavilion which was put up for sale by Angus Council
Hopes are high the Traill Pavilion in Montrose will be returned to its former glory.
A “heritage generation” project has been launched to restore the old with the new through a community asset transfer of the building for public use.
Angus councillors agreed in January to sell the listed building, which is in need of a £30,000 facelift.
It is held on the Montrose Common Good after being gifted to Montrose and opened in 1913.
David Wood of the newly-formed community group said: “This iconic landmark building was gifted to the people of Montrose but has recently been declared surplus to requirement by Angus Council and put on the commercial property market for sale.
“The building itself is a listed building and was previously the public toilet and rest facility open to all visitors at the beachfront area.
“Latterly the council leased the property to a third party as a commercial cafe business but this lease was terminated in 2016.
“The building sits, or sat, on the
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We want to open the pavilion’s toilets, open it up for community groups as a general meeting place, we have about 101 uses for the building. DAVID WOOD
Montrose Common Good register of properties.
“The reason given by the council to declare the building surplus to requirement was they did not want to spend an estimated £30,000 on required repair costs (mainly painting) as well as future maintenance costs.
“We are seeking to assume ownership or leasehold for the building by community asset transfer.
“Seeking to match the commercial sale price, around £30,000 we believe, could lead to the bizarre situation of the Montrose community trying to raise funds to buy a property that was actually a gift to the people of Montrose and part of their Common Good.”
As well as working towards a community asset transfer, Mr Wood said the group was also looking to provide community support and funding to help regenerate and promote the Montrose beachfront and beach activities.
This includes fundraising for beach clean-up equipment.
They are also developing a website to provide factual, historical and current information for public access regarding the Montrose Bay coastal erosion issue.
Mr Wood said: “We have the fantastic Splash play park, a great caravan park, the golf course and the beach itself.
“We could make such good use of that building for various mini projects we want to undertake.
“We want to open the pavilion’s toilets, open it up for community groups as a general meeting place, we have about 101 uses for the building.”
He added: “We are looking for a community asset transfer at a reasonable price, or a long-term lease.”
jathomson@thecourier.co.uk