Work starts on half a million pound improvement works to improve the heating efficiency at Forres Town Hall
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SCAFFOLDING around a historic High Street building indicates the first phase of a £5million refurbishment to ensure its future.Work has started on improving the energy efficiency of Forres Town Hall - the £568,898.81 project involves roof repairs, the purchase and installation of new guttering and drainage, and upgrading the building’s insulation.
Custodian Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) is commissioning the entire project using £250,000 from the UK Government Community Ownership Fund, a Green Grant of £150,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), £20,000 from the Scottish Landfill Community Fund, £30,000 from the Moray Local Area Fund and £50,000 from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund.
FACT board chairman, Jim Farquharson confirmed the UK Government awarded an additional £50,000 from the Community Ownership Fund to help towards the revenue costs - the remaining funds are from FACT reserves.
He said: “The first phase is about turning the building into an environmentally-friendly, modern, useful asset for the people of the area. We are indebted to our volunteers, staff, management, directors, past members, and local businesses who have helped us keep the doors open.
“We are of course thankful for the financial support and excellent assistance and advice. We would also like to thank the Development Trusts Association Scotland (Green Shoots), Berry Burn Community Fund, Architecture Heritage Fund and the Just Transition Fund administered by tsiMoray through Participatory Budgeting for their support with the preliminary surveys that enabled us to inform the tendering process for Phase 1.
“We’ve made a start, but there is still quite a way to go. With the continuing support of the community, we’ll get there. We hope to set up a Crowdfunding campaign soon to help us keep the momentum going.”
FACT is managed by local people who aim to make the Forres area a better place to live, work and visit. It was incorporated in November 2011 in response to the planned closure of RAF Kinloss and the predicted local social and economic impact.
Moray Council closed the town hall as part of cutbacks in 2017 then FACT acquired it in 2021 via a community asset transfer.
The town hall was originally built as the Masonic Lodge of Dyke in 1790 then rebuilt in 1829 and sold to the Trustees of the Forres Mechanics Library and Institute in 1855. A a new front to the building was added in 1901.
It was used as a hospital during the First World War then between the first and second world wars, became Forres Town Hall. During the Second World War it was used by the Army.
The town hall has been at the heart of community service for over 100 years. It continues to be used for coffee mornings, parties, pop up shops, public meetings and election polling, fundraising, exercise classes, film and theatre and much more.
Last year FACT organised ‘Town Hall Tales’ and ‘Hoolie’ events to reminisce and generate optimism for the future.
Comments from attendees included: “In the early sixties on Fridays and Saturdays, the town hall was the place to be for dances and visiting pop groups.”; “The company is good at the town hall. You go in and get a laugh.”
The events demonstrated the importance of the building to the community and secured the funds needed to make it welcoming and energy efficient.
Refurbishment will enable FACT to maximise its functionality and use as an enterprising community venue and source of income for its many sessions, programmes and projects.
In the first phase, FACT development manager Michelle Gillibrand confirmed leaking roof slates and dry rot have been fixed.
She said: “We got insulation last year but had to fix the roof, including the masonry repairs, first.
“At the moment we are paying around £40k-a-year for heating and costs are going up. Insulation will help retain heat so we should see a significant difference.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross and MSP Richard Lochhead were given a hard hat guided tour.
Both praised FACT for their efforts to restore the building as a community asset for the town.
Mr Ross said: “It was useful to get up close to see the work contractors have been doing. We saw how much it meant to people in Forres when the trust held an event inviting people to share their memories.
“The work will help to create new memories and is a perfect example of community spirit in action. The trust has recognised the role town halls need to play in achieving ambitious net zero targets.”
Mr Lochhead said: “It was really valuable to get a tour of the ongoing works as the town hall gears up for the next chapter in its story.
“It was an experience to literally enjoy a bird’s eye view given that we climbed the scaffolding to see the structural improvements.
“The town hall is going to be an important community asset for many generations to come and this work is a vital part of ensuring that this is the case.”
