Issued: 18 December 2007
Brechin THI to Progress in New Year
Work to transform the upper floors of the Town House Museum in Brechin is scheduled to start in autumn next year.
The project will take around five months to complete, and the council has decided on a start date of September/October 2008 to prevent close of the popular facility over the tourist season.
Part of the Brechin Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), the project will transform the upper floors of the building to create an exhibition and events space.
Under the THI, a budget of nearly £3 million has been allocated to regenerate Brechin's historic town centre, with funding agreed from three main partners: Angus Council (£1.1 million), Heritage Lottery Fund (£1.5 million) and Historic Scotland (£370,000).
The THI will focus on bringing several historic buildings back into use by awarding grant aid to owners.
The buildings are all in the centre of brechin and are either causing blight or are in need of repairs or re-use. Most of the budget will be targeted on these buildings, but here is also some funding for upgrading public areas such as the closes and for training in traditional skills.
Early in the new year, a specialist team, lead by a project manager will take up residence in the former Registrar's Office in Brechin to oversee the project and work with the local community.
Public participation has been a vital element of the project, and this will continue with a partnership support group being established to discuss projects. This group will then make recommendations to another body, the partnership executive which will oversee the distribution of the budget. Both bodies will include members of the Brechin community.
As well as the extension of the Town House, other projects include the restoration of the Category A listed building in the High Street known as the Merchant's House and a group of early 19th century buildings opposite the museum that are in a poor condition.