Almost two years to the day after a crunch meeting to decide the future of Dunoon’s Burgh Hall, the community is being invited to another public discussion - but this time it’s on a much more positive note.
In contrast to the spectre of demolition that hung over the hall at the January 2008 meeting, this year’s session will focus on the hall’s exciting future - a future only possible as a result of the hard work of a committee of volunteers and the involvement of the McAslan Family Trust, which now owns the hall.
John McAslan of the trust told the Standard: “A great deal has happened since we purchased the building.
“Initial repairs were completed in May, and it’s been actively back in use since then, open every Saturday and also hosting a number of events and exhibitions.”
Speaking about the next stages, he advised: “We anticipate making a planning and listed building application in the early part of 2010 for a schedule of works to total around £500,000, funds for which we need to be raising in earnest from the early part of next year.
“We also have emerging plans for a series of annual cultural festivals commencing in 2010 and revolving around dance, film, visual arts, music and a book festival.
“There have been great successes and the building has really been embraced by the local community, who genuinely support it being brought back to use as their local community and cultural centre.
“However we need to keep the momentum going and I believe the time is right to have a further meeting, when I will also unveil the design for the project.”
MSP Jim Mather will chair the public consultation and presentation on the plans for establishing the hall as the cultural hub of Cowal and a major arts and cultural venue not just for the local community but for Scotland as a whole.
Come along to the Burgh Hall, Dunoon on Saturday January 30 between 10am and 4pm to find out just what’s in store for the Burgh Hall.

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