A C-listed building in a north-east town is set to be handed over to a heritage society to protect it during the winter.
Turriff Town House faced the prospect of being closed over Christmas with the group behind it, Turriff Town House Association announcing its intention to close down operations.
The group was unsuccessful in a community asset transfer to purchase the property. But now, a late bid has been launched to offload it to a local society.
Turriff and District Heritage Society is poised to become the new leaseholders of the building, constructed in 1910, with a view to keeping it open for the foreseeable future.
Informal discussions between the groups have already taken place about how to accommodate the organisations which rent the building to run clubs and events.
And Aberdeenshire Council is calling for local councillors to back a plan to award a six-month lease to TDHS.
Formartine area committee, which meets on Tuesday, is being asked to award the society the building for just 50p.
Approval would mean that the town house is not left to elements.
In the meantime, the town house association is set to vacate the building by the end of this month.
Ritchie Johnson, council director of infrastructure services, said: “TTHA have served a formal notice to quit, intimating they will be vacating the building on expiry of their license to occupy on October 28.
“Various rooms within the property are sub-let to local organisations including Turriff and District Men’s Shed and all current lets will terminate on expiry of TTHA’s license.
“Subject to council agreement, TDHS have indicated they would be happy to manage and honour existing bookings and occupancy arrangements after TTHA vacate on October 29, if they are offered a shortterm licence to occupy on similar terms.”