Plans to breathe new life into a Peterhead landmark are progressing, with residents urged to have their final say on the future of the prominent building.
Today is the last day for Peterhead locals to complete a survey into what should happen to the Old Parish Church, known locally as the Muckle Kirk, in Broad Street, as part of a bid to spruce up the town centre.
In May 2019 councillors on the Buchan area committee agreed to spend £75,000 on consultations to bring the Muckle Kirk, town house and the empty site on the corner of Broad Street back into use, along with the Threadneedle and Broad Street car parks.
Almost 300 respondents have already had their say on the Muckle Kirk part of those plans since Glasgow consultancy firm SKS Scotland and Edinburgh-based Groves-Raines Architects were appointed to produce an outline business plan for the community facility.
Claire Whyte from SKS Scotland, said: “Thank you to all those who have completed the community survey about the future of the Muckle Kirk in Peterhead, which will help produce an outline business plan for the Kirk Session with support from Aberdeenshire Council.
“There has been a fantastic response so far, with 290 surveys filled out online.
“Please give five minutes of your time to complete the survey as the data is a vital requirement to provide current information for the business plan and obtain the up-to-date views of the community, helping to progress the project.”
Aberdeenshire Council had hoped to see the town chosen to benefit from a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (Cars) similar to one ongoing in Fraserburgh but attempts to achieve that status have been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Buchan area commitee chairman councillor, Norman Smith, said: “The Cars approach has been put on hold due to Covid-19 but it, and other funding options, are being looked at still. This is still a Church of Scotland building and it’s a prominent one in the middle of the town and it must be brought back into use in some way.
“I would ask as many people as possible to come forward and give their views on what they want to see done with it.”
The online survey closes today and there are hard copies available from Buchan House, St Peter Street, Peterhead until the same date.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mucklekirk