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Community takeover bid of Dufftown landmark wins approval

Chairman of Dufftown Community Association, Mr Fraser McGill in Dufftown.
Chairman of Dufftown Community Association, Mr Fraser McGill in Dufftown.

Dufftown and District Community Association is to be the new owner of the town’s iconic clock tower.

After months of preparing plans for a takeover, papers were finally lodged at Elgin Sheriff Court in June this year.

And that court granted approval of the sale between Moray council and the Dufftown and District Community Association as of August 30.

Now Moray Council – which looked after the building on behalf of the common good fund and was responsible for its maintenance – has agreed to pass the clock tower into the ownership of the local community association.

It is understood no fee was involved.

Chairman of Dufftown and District Community Association, Fraser McGill, said: “The process has been straightforward and the council has been very forthcoming, which has been helpful.”

The transfer of ownership is a process that usually takes a minimum of six months but the association said it is approaching the final stages.

The next steps will be to carry out a full review and survey of the building’s structure, produce designs for its restoration and liaise with the community about its future use.

Mr McGill said: “The clock tower means a lot to the community.”

“We are very excited for the future of the tower and the town, but we still have to find out what the community would like to see happen to the inside of the tower.

“We are open to ideas and suggestions which we’ll hopefully gather at the next community engagement meeting next year.”

The Clock Tower Fundraising Club is working to raise the funds for the future development and maintenance of the building.

The 60-strong group has been raising money for a year, and recently pledged to do so for another 12 months.

Mr McGill said: “We greatly appreciate every member of the fundraising club, who have now subscribed for a second year and we are thankful for their continued support.”

To show their appreciation of the community’s support and in celebration of the new ownership, the Dufftown and District Community Association is planning to organise a visit to the clock tower in the new year when they hope everything will be finalised.