The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Work to begin on Montrose cinema.
MONTROSE: An entertainment hub will be created in the former swimming pool in The Mall
Work is to begin next month on a multimillion pound cinema and community centre in Montrose.
Volunteers first proposed transforming the Angus town’s former swimming pool in The Mall into a community-driven hub for entertainment and learning in 2013.
It is hoped the Montrose Playhouse will share the success of other boutique Scottish cinemas such as the Birks in Aberfeldy, Mareel in Lerwick and DCA in Dundee.
The National Lottery Community Fund this week confirmed £350,000 in new funding for the project, allowing contractors Bancon Construction Limited to confirm a late February start date for work to begin.
David Paton, chairman of the Montrose Playhouse Project, said: “We are over the moon that the National Lottery has supported us with this huge amount of funding.
“Without this fund we would not be in a position to start work and the project would have most definitely been further delayed.”
Angus Council approved plans to turn the pool into a three-screen cinema in 2014.
“This award will make a real difference where it is needed most.
COMMUNITY FUND DIRECTOR NEIL RITCH
The Montrose Playhouse Project bought the pool for £1 from the local authority when it became surplus to requirements.
It will have the ability to stream live events like ballet performances, comedy, sports events and concerts.
The project design also includes a café bar, community areas and retail spaces.
Neil Ritch, National Lottery Community Fund Scotland director, said: “I am delighted that Montrose Playhouse Project SCIO has secured a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
“This award will make a real difference where it is needed most and I wish the Montrose Playhouse Project every success delivering a great project for their community.”
The group has attracted substantial funding from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Screen Scotland’s Cinema Equipment Fund as well as its own crowdfunding and business sponsorships scheme.
The charity, run by nine local volunteers, still has to raise more than half a million pounds before they hit their target.
A spokeswoman for the group said: “The Montrose Playhouse is not just a cinema.
“We will work in partnership with local individuals, businesses and community groups to deliver programmes focusing on social wellbeing and education in the arts.
“These programmes target specific groups of people in the community such as those who are struggling with social isolation due to mental health, dementia and other issues to improve their lives,” she added.