Refurb plan for Newton Stewart Old Town Hall

A community organisation on a mission to regenerate Newton Stewart has grand plans to transform the Old Town Hall into an information centre for visitors.

- MARC MCLEAN

The proposal was given the thumbs up by Wigtown Area Committee earlier this month, but Newton Stewart Initiative (NSI) members are now hoping that councillors sitting on Dumfries and Galloway Council's economy and infrastructure committee will rubber stamp their plans next week.

NSI is seeking to take over the ground floor of the building in a 25-year lease community asset transfer deal, which would come with a discounted rent of £1 per year.

A report on the issue, which is due to be tabled at next Tuesday's committee, reads:"A review of the local market has established a comparable rent for a similar asset would be in the range of £3,800 per year.