A community arts charity has been given the go-ahead to take over Loreburn Hall in Dumfries for a year at no cost.
And the historic building could potentially be used as a gym once again when Dumfries Academy is refurbished further down the line.
The Big Burns Supper had initially submitted a bid to Dumfries and Galloway Council to move into the hall between April and September this year.
However, the organisation will be given the keys for longer in order to run a series of shows in 2022 and finish its live winter festival there in early 2023.
The not-for-profit group will have use of the building at nil rent. However, there are several upsides for the community as Loreburn Hall has been lying empty since 2019.
Speaking at Nithsdale Area Committee last Wednesday, council estates officer Nik Lane said: “Just to point out there are advantages of actually having someone in that hall over that winter period in terms of condition. It will also dissuade antisocial behaviour that has been happening in the town centre and involving the Loreburn Hall.
“So, it’s probably a good idea that we have someone in there over that period in terms of the condition of the hall.”
The B-listed hall, which was built in 1890, was closed by the council in 2008 when DG1 originally opened.
The decision upset many Doonhamers who feared that it would fall into disrepair. And Loreburn Community Council started a campaign to have the building, known to many as the Drill Hall, brought back into use. Ironically, the problems which beset the DG1 leisure complex resulted in the council investing £600,000 in the hall to set it up as a temporary gym for the duration of repairs at its flagship leisure site.
There is a chance that it could be used as a gym again in the future.
Council leader Elaine Murray said: “The Loreburn Hall may need to be used for decant when Dumfries Academy is refurbished, and there’s a possibility that the gym from Dumfries Academy may be relocated into the Loreburn Hall.
“But that’s certainly very unlikely to happen before February next year, so there would be no point really in the hall lying empty when it could be productively used by the Big Burns Supper which is very successful and helps to promote the local economy at a time when visitors are not so likely to be coming into the area.”
