Community hall takeover plea

Crail residents have been urged to get behind a takeover bid to ensure their local hall is not lost.

Crail Community Hall is owned by Fife Council but Crail Community Partnership wants to bring it into community ownership through a community asset transfer.

The initiative is at the public consultation stage, and the partnership said people needed to show their support.

The hall is regularly used for wedding receptions, sporting activities and events during Crail Festival, East Neuk Festival and Crail Food Festival.

One aim to emerge from a year-long charrette in the village was to make better use of local facilities to ensure their retention.

Heather Aird, of the partnership, said: “It is felt that with local ownership and management we can increase utilisation, adapt the building to community needs and maintain healthy funding that guarantees a long-term future for this facility in Crail.

“If no action is taken Fife Council could choose to sell this community asset on the open market.”

The asset transfer process was launched last June, with funding support from the Scottish Land fund, and a stage two application has recently been submitted.

For online information search for Fife Council Community Asset Transfer. Residents can make representations by May 11 by emailing Zahida.ramzan@fife.gov.uk or writing to Zahida Ramzan, Community Investment Team, Fife Council, Rothesay House, Glenrothes, KY7 5PQ.