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Written by Aileen MacNicol
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 17:07 |
CASTLE Toward may reopen on March 1, if agreed repairs are carried out by its owners and occupiers - but its supporters are not prepared to rest on their laurels yet and say that the fight must go on.
The closure threat to the arts and outdoor activity residential education centre has attracted the support of over 4,600 people on a Facebook campaign, with almost 1,400 signatures on a petition calling for it to stay open.
Earlier this month, following the closure and amid heavy criticism of Argyll and Bute Council for its handling of the situation, local supporters requested that South Cowal Community Council facilitate a public meeting to discuss the situation, with council officers in attendance.
This will take place on Saturday in Innellan village hall - after campaigners have participated in a protest starting in Dunoon’s Argyll Street.
Support for the protest event is being drummed up on Facebook and it promises to be a spirited affair - with marchers dressed in blue and talk of involving music, given Toward’s artistic background.
Facebookers have responded with delight to the news that the castle may reopen on March 1, with many schoolchildren overjoyed that their trip to Toward is back on. “Yay Castle Toward is back open,” said one young girl, while another said simply: “Thank you very much I can’t wait.”
An initial battle may have been won, but campaigners are still gearing up to fight the rest of the war. One of the organisers of Saturday’s protest said: “We will not stand for the castle being lost to future generations.” Others are travelling from all over the UK in order to attend and show their support.
The castle was closed in December with Argyll and Bute Council citing health and safety concerns and stating that works costing almost £1 million had been identified as necessary to bring it up to an acceptable standard for residential use.
However, the council has now issued a statement saying: "Representatives of Argyll and Bute Council and Actual Reality Learning and Leadership Ltd had a very positive meeting last Friday (January 22).
“It is the intention of Actual Reality to undertake works, with the agreement of the council, with a view to having Castle Toward fully occupied and used for residential accommodation by March 1.
“Argyll and Bute Council intends to assist the company to achieve that objective. The progress of the works will be monitored by both parties.
“If the agreed works are completed to the satisfaction of both parties, Castle Toward will be able to be used by Actual Reality for the delivery of its outdoor education programme.”
However, the centre and Actual Reality are not out of the woods yet. The council spokeswoman continued: “As of yet, Castle Toward has not been put on the open market for sale. That will happen shortly and Actual Reality has confirmed to the council that it will wish to make an offer for the property."
Confirming the target of March 1, Peter Wilson of Actual Reality said that he was “focusing on the future”, adding: “We have been very busy just holding everything together in recent months but it is also now a priority task to put together a realistic bid to take over custodianship and sole responsibility for the future both of Toward as well as Ardentinny.
“Our application to this task is driven by our unshakeable belief that what we do at both our centres is vitally important for the pupils directly involved and for society at large.
“Castle Toward is a beacon, a bright light on the radar of Scottish education provision whose contribution to the skills, knowledge, attitudes and understanding of countless young people is legend.
“We are now all going to work together to carry that capacity forward for future generations thus helping to develop the confident and responsible citizens and contributors upon whom so much will depend as we face more and more complicated options for a sustainable future.
“I hope this is encouraging for your readers and would implore them to attend the public meeting so as to be part of the future at this truly fabulous place.”
The protest event, organised by campaigners, is due to meet at Argyll Gardens on Saturday January 30 at 1pm.
The public meeting, which is being hosted by South Cowal Community Council, will be held in Innellan village hall, starting at 3pm.
Considerable turnout is expected for both events.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 28 January 2010 23:18 |
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