A local action group has called on Historic Scotland to reverse its decision to ban weddings at Arbroath Abbey.
Arbroath Abbey Action Group, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of the structure, has written a strongly-worded letter to Historic Scotland’s chief operating officer Ian Walford expressing its ”concern and disappointment” at the decision.
The heritage site, where the Declaration of Arbroath proclaiming Scottish independence was signed in 1320, has hosted 15 weddings since 2007.
Historic Scotland is taking no more bookings, stating that an ”operation decision” had been taken to focus its wedding offer on other venues.
The letter, written by Arbroath Abbey Action Group chairman Harry Ritchie, stated: ”Our group is extremely concerned and very disappointed to learn that Historic Scotland appears to have ceased offering facilities for holding weddings at Arbroath Abbey.
”The abbey has been available as a unique venue for weddings both for people from the town and visitors from abroad for a number of years and this decision will rob the community of the chance to take their vows in one of the most historically important sites in Scotland that stands right at the heart of Arbroath.
”Your statement, ‘Historic Scotland has taken an operational decision’, means little to us and indeed the general public, and we would be pleased to hear the reasons for this decision.”
Mr Ritchie added he was disappointed no mention was made of the decision with the group’s meeting with Historic Scotland’s chief executive Ruth Parsons in March this year despite the decision being taken in January.
The letter said: ”Following that meeting your spokesperson stated to the press ‘We had a very productive initial meeting with the group and are keen to work with them to develop future opportunities to benefit both the abbey and the local area’.
”Your decision to cease to allow weddings in the abbey is totally at odds with the interpretation we would have put on this statement.
It added: ”Promoted properly, Arbroath Abbey could, and should, be the venue for weddings in Arbroath and district.
”What better place to marry than one of Scotland’s most iconic buildings, associated with a key aspect of Scottish history?
”In view of the above, we would respectfully request that you reverse your decision and not only allow weddings to continue to be held, but actively promote such events for the benefit of the abbey and the local area.”
Historic Scotland will allow people to have their wedding photographs taken at the abbey if informed in advance for a fee of £150. This allows free entry for 15 people and a guarantee that the party will be the only ones having wedding photographs taken that day.
In response to receiving the letter, a spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: ”Demand was a key factor in reviewing our range of wedding ceremony venues. Arbroath Abbey, since 2007, has hosted an average of two weddings a year a relatively low figure compared to our more popular wedding ceremony venues.
”Only one wedding booking had been made at Arbroath prior to the introduction of the new arrangements on January 1.
”While there are no more outstanding bookings for the abbey, we will continue to review our range of wedding ceremony venues against consumer demand.
”We are happy for couples to have their wedding photographs taken at Arbroath Abbey, as at all of our 78 staffed sites, which can be arranged by contacting our on-site teams.”