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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kathryn Anderson

Voluntary group looks set to take over running of North Muirton Community Centre

A Perth community centre has been given a new lease of life thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers.

North Muirton Community Centre is nearing the end of around £30,000 of major renovations with just the exterior work left to be completed.

This week North Muirton Community Group signed an agreement with Perth and Kinross Council to take over the operation of the council-owned building from Live Active Leisure.

The renovations were funded by a number of grants and donations from various sources including the National Lottery and Perth and Kinross Council.

The works included: extending and replacing the kitchen, upgrading the bathrooms, painting, decorating and fitting new fire doors.

Craig Allardyce is secretary of the North Muirton Community Group.

He said: "We signed the agreement this week. We're really happy to have it back in the hands of the community."

The agreement has been signed and it is understood now essentially all that awaits - in the words of Stevie Wonder - is for the agreement to be sealed and delivered.

Local resident and councillor Bailie Chris Ahern - who sits on the group - has welcomed the transformation.

Bailie Ahern said bookings for the centre are now flooding in.

Bailie Chris Ahern (Conservative councillor for Perth City Centre) (Angus Forbes/Scottish Conservatives)

He said: "It is great as a resident of North Muirton to be a member of the new North Muirton Community Group that has brought the North Muirton Community Centre back into life and available for community use.

"A lot of time has been put into getting the community centre looking good and fit for purpose. Since taking on management of the hall we have already got a lot of bookings, including long term weekly bookings from a number of groups. This is a facility that was needed in the community for community use, such as birthday parties, as well as small local groups, and the committee hopes that events such as that last Christmas can be replicated for other holidays such as Easter, which allows a focal point for the community.

"Despite a number of hurdles and waiting for the exterior to be completed which will be carried out shortly, we have now got a facility that North Muirton can be proud of."

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: "Perth and Kinross Council and the North Muirton Community Group (NMCG) are currently considering an appropriate management agreement for North Muirton Community Centre, which will set out responsibilities for both NMCG and the council in relation to maintenance, utility costs and other key aspects of the building’s operation.

"Live Active Leisure has been managing the premises on behalf of the council and will end this service if NMCG take over."

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