Church blasted over hall sale

THE Church of Scotland has been accused of unneighbourly behaviour after putting a Moray hall up for sale without consulting its parishioners.

Garmouth Parish Hall is on the market for offers over £65,000.

Resident Alyson Lilleyman has been corresponding with the church’s legal department over the future of the hall, but was refused a meeting. However, she was told the community could submit an offer for the building. The church department also ordered a letter, put on display by Mrs Lilleyman, be taken down.

A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said the parish hall did not belong to the community and the congregation had no obligation to consult them.

Mrs Lilleyman said: "I just wanted to see if we could have a meeting. We’ve been snubbed, in my opinion."

She added that the letter she received had only been put up in a local shop so everyone in the community would know the full facts of the situation.

Parent and toddler groups, the WRI and the art group are some of the organisations that regularly use the parish hall.

The schedule for the building, which is advertised on the church’s website, states the hall is "considered to have potential for a variety of alternative uses, including uses involving public assembly such as community use......"

A spokesman said the hall’s future had been on the Speymouth parish congregation’s agenda for a number of years because of repairs highlighted in a structural report on the building. "Those in the congregation will be aware of the problems," he said.

"There were problems with the lime harling on the external walls and perimeter wall. Several quotes for the work were obtained and as the building is listed, Moray Council and Historic Scotland were consulted to see if they could assist.

"However, at a meeting attended by the trustees, it was unanimously voted not to go forward with repairs and upgrading the building because of the cost but to proceed with the sale of the building.

"The decision was taken to the Kirk Session who also unanimously voted to sell the hall, and the Presbytery of Moray also supported the sale.

"The parish hall does not belong to the local community and as such the congregation does not have to consult directly with the community.

"The correspondence between the Church of Scotland’s solicitor and Alyson Lilleyman, is confidential, and it was felt unsuitable to be displayed in public."

Councillor for Fochabers-Lhanbryde, Douglas Ross, whose ward includes Garmouth, said he had been unaware that there had been any discussion on sale of the hall.

"The local community use and support the parish and village halls very well," he said. "The church may not have a legal obligation to consult the community but considering the level of support this should entitle them to be involved with any decision on the sale."

He claimed the church had been unneighbourly in its lack of community involvement and it would be better to have the hall in use rather than faced with an uncertain future.