Angus Council has pulled its funding to one of Scotland’s last remaining camera obscuras.
The Kirriemuir attraction, which was gifted to the town by Peter Pan author JM Barrie in 1930, will close to the public as a result of the decision.
The local authority has blamed budgetary pressures as the reason for withdrawing its £10,000-a-year subsidy.
National Trust for Scotland, which has taken on its management on behalf of the council since 1999, described the decision as “disappointing”.
The heritage body is now seeking a meeting with council officials to discuss whether any options remain for its future.
It will not open to the public for the 2015 season although National Trust volunteers will continue to provide access for pre-arranged tours.
Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor described the optical attraction as a “great asset” to the town that deserved to be kept open.
He said: “If we don’t put the rates up then there’s only a certain amount of money in the pot. The cameras obscura is a great asset for Kirriemuir and it would be a great shame if it were to close for good.
“There are only three camera obscuras in Scotland and it’s a legacy from JM Barrie. There should be a lot of time, effort and thought put in before closure is even considered.”
Mr Proctor added: “I’m sure there would be a sufficient number of people in Kirriemuir who would volunteer to man it if it came to that.”
Historian and JM Barrie expert Sandra Affleck said she was concerned at the latest development and hoped there would be a way that the community could come together to keep the facility open to the public.
Kirriemuir Camera Obscura is housed in a purpose-designed turret room within the cricket pavilion, which was also gifted by Barrie to his home town.
On a clear day it is possible to see more than 70 miles away.
This is not the first time its future has been under threat.
In December 2012 council officials held a meeting with the National Trust to inform them their normal £10,000 contribution would end in 2012-13.
However, alternative funding for two years was found thanks to the council’s Survive and Thrive Cultural Heritage Tourism Award scheme.
In a report to councillors, interim head of Services to Communities Alastair Wilson said no other funding sources had been identified for 2015-16.
He said: “A meeting involving managers from Service to Communities and National Trust Scotland (Angus) was held in January to discuss the options available for the future operation of the service.
“It was intimated at this meeting that NTS is not in a position to support the operation of the camera obscura financially to allow continued seasonal opening.
“Given current budgetary constraints for both parties, and in the absence of any alternative sources of funding, the camera obscura will not be open to the public during the forthcoming 2015 season.”
Kirriemuir Camera Obscura is one of only three camera obscuras left in Scotland, with the others at Edinburgh Castle and Dumfries Museum.
The spokesman for the National Trust for Scotland said it had operated the attraction “as a service to the area” on the basis that Angus Council would provide funding.
He said: “Although the termination of funding effectively brings this agreement to an end, we are going to honour commitments to arrange guided tours and visits for the time being and are seeking a meeting with council officials to determine what, if any, options may remain.
“The council’s decision is a disappointing one but wholly understandable given the financial pressure they face.
“But at the end of the day it is their decision about a facility for which they have ultimate responsibility.”