Nigg charity seeks public views on move to reclaim ‘ownerless’ Easter Ross village hall for the community
The future of an Easter Ross village hall is to be discussed at a series of meetings as a new charity aims to put its ownership back in the hands of the community.
Nigg Community Hall Steering Group (NCHSG) says it is “making strong progress” with the support of the Nigg and Shandwick Community Council, Scottish Land Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise as it aims to reclaim the asset for its residents.
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The property was previously owned by the Nigg Community Hall Trust, which was dissolved in October 2015.
A new trust, Nigg Community Hall Ltd was incorporated in May 2016 but the property was not transferred to the new trust during this process.
Members of the community first became aware of the hall’s “ownerless” status in mid 2024, prompting an initial meeting in September 2024 to form the new steering group.
As part of this process, Nigg Community Hall became a charity (SCIO SC054021) with the specific aim of advancing the “citizenship or community development and the provision of recreational facilities with the object of improving the conditions of life for those in the local community.”
The new charity has already grown its membership, which has been made free to all with full and associate membership status on offer.
Members of the public are now being invited to attend a series of meetings to hear about the progress being made and to share their views on the future of the hall.
The first session will be held at Nigg Old Church on Wednesday, March 26 between 2.30pm and 3.30 pm and then again between 5.30pm and 6.30 pm.
Local consultant Coral Allan and members of the steering group will be on hand at both sessions to meet up with members of the Nigg and Shandwick community and surrounding areas.
It is hoped that the sessions will help the group to adapt and develop the hall to meet the aspirations of the local community.
Their key areas of investigation include determining whether improving the hall is the most effective way to serve residents, identifying sustainable uses that will provide the greatest benefit, and assessing the level of investment and commitment required to maintain and secure the building’s future.
Through this process, the group aims to ensure the hall remains a valuable and lasting asset for the community.
Ms Allan has been very active locally, joining community events and distributing a survey to encourage local people to give their views and have their say.
She said: “This project will enable us and Nigg and Shandwick Community Council (NSCC) to better understand whether this project is practical and in the public interest, financially viable and sustainable.
“Ultimately the aim of the group is to bring the Nigg Community Hall back into the ownership of the community for community use as a viable and sustainable resource.”
Those who cannot attend the sessions are invited to find about the progress of the development of Nigg Community Hall by emailing nigghallsteering@gmail.com, where membership forms for the charity can be also obtained.
