Trust's Hill of Tarvit comments cause surprise
The chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland has expressed disappointment over the response of Fife Council to the predicament faced by the Hill of Tarvit visitor attraction near Cupar.
- By Gordon Berry
- Published in the Courier : 26.03.10
- Published online : 29.03.10 @ 01.39pm
In a letter to Mid Scotland and Fife list Tory MSP Ted Brocklebank, chief executive Kate Mavor had made unfavourable comparisons with the way other councils have stepped forward.
The comments came after the NTS revealed there will be limited reopening of Hill of Tarvit this year, but also stressed there will have to be an enormous investment of time and effort to make the property viable.
However, a local councillor and top Fife Council official both expressed their surprise over the comments and made it clear that attempts had been made last year to help the trust.
"We have been been disappointed that Fife Council has not so far come forward in the way that Angus, Aberdeenshire and North Lanarkshire, for instance, have done, where their imaginative support means that other properties at risk now have better prospects, " said Ms Mavor.
She went on to say that the NTS would appreciate any influence the MSP could bring to bear as a local representative.
"The difficult financial circumstances to which we all must adapt call for increased partnership working, so that we get the best possible outcomesand value for money-for all concerned, " she said.
"Without this we cannot guarantee a secure future for vulnerable properties."
Sustainable
Mr Brocklebank said that the announcement about reopening is welcomed, and that he would be writing to Fife Council to urge it to support any initiatives to make Hill of Tarvit sustainable.
"Like many properties it has an important part to play in attracting tourism to north-east Fife, " he said.
The chairman of the council's north east Fife area committee, Andrew Arbuckle, said that is a "bit rich" of a national organisation that has got itself into financial difficulties to then moan about local authorities not bailing it out.
He said the letter does not provide information on what help other local authorities provided, and does not say that the NTS rejected offers of help from local volunteers.
The council's executive director of housing and communities, Steve Grimmond, said he was surprised by the comments, and that council representatives had met with the trust on a number of occasions last year to explore ways that both Hill of Tarvit and Kellie Castle could stay open.
A range of support had been offered, recognising the the trust's own responsibilities in relation to the properties.
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