Empty church taken off the market to give community group a chance to buy

ALEX WALKER

A community group hopes to buy the church.

wants to make the church a base for a wide range of activities, including theatre, music and a community cinema.

The Save London Road Church campaign was required to show it had support of 15 per cent of the local population for its bid.

In the end, the group managed to exceed that figure by collecting 1,951 verified signatures – or

17.9 per cent of registered voters in the area.

Lawrence Marshall, former session clerk at the church, said they are hopeful of a decision in their favour.

He said: “Our first important goal has been achieved.

“We are delighted the immediate threat of a sale of the church on the open market has been averted and hope for a positive decision from the minister. We have already engaged a great deal with the local and wider community as to the aspirations and needs the former church might help meet – and are being contacted regularly by organisations looking for space.”

If the London Road bid is allowed to proceed, In:spire will get eight months to secure funding.

The sale price has to be at market value.

The group has already contacted the Scottish Land Fund, which can give up to 95 per cent funding for community bodies to purchase properties under right to buy legislation.

Even if it gains the maximum support, the community would still have to raise around £30,000 itself plus the cost of any needed conversion work on the building.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said: “In the meantime, other interested parties are aware of the situation.”