Community groups have been assured that they will not be squeezed out when the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) comes to the north-east.
Earlier this year, Fraserburgh Junior Performing Arts Society criticised a deal struck between Aberdeenshire Council and the world-renowned music and drama academy to develop a programme of events running out of the town’s Dalrymple Hall.
At the time, the society claimed it would be “unfair” for the RCS to get access to facilities for free while prices for local and volunteer groups are rising.
And they were joined last week by Stephen Summers who runs 6.1.0 Dance Academy within the building, who said no local groups should lose out.
Mr Summers said the arrival of the RCS will “only add to our arts culture” but that it must not come at the expense of limited access to practice rooms.
He added: “Of real concern to users of council buildings in Fraserburgh, including the Dalrymple Hall, is the rising cost of room hire. Small business owners like myself are being priced out of using council facilities and are looking to rent privately.”
Last year the local authority changed its “cost recovery” policy and agreed to try to recoup more money spent maintaining public buildings and services.
The final details of the Conservatoire programmes have not yet been announced, but the council has offered assurances it will “complement” existing groups, not edge them out.
And last night, a council spokesman said officers were in the process of reaching out to groups who currently rent out the hall.
In a letter to local councillor Ian Tait, who contacted the authority about the concerns, he added: “We will confirm that local groups will be at the heart of planning for RCS activities.
“Any potential use of Dalrymple Hall, which is speculative at this stage, will work around existing commitments.”
Mr Tait said: “The groups using the hall must be re-assured that the RCS is not coming in to disrupt the good work they are already doing.
“I want them to get the very best possible benefit from the RCS project and the only way to get that is for the council to meet with the groups.”