Smithton community urged to consider hall purchase

A public meeting is being held at Smithton Hall, Inverness, at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 16 December when the local community will be asked to  consider taking over the ownership and management of the hall. 

Smithton is one of the few remaining halls in Highland that is still owned and run by The Highland Council, which is willing to transfer ownership of Smithton Hall to the local community as part of its Village Halls Equalisation Policy. Communities are able to access funds from charities and other funding bodies not available to the Council.

David McGrath, Vice-Chairman of Smithton & Culloden Community Council said:  “This is a great opportunity for the local community to take ownership and control of a key community asset that they can then develop in the future to their own best advantage.” 

This will need the support of the local community in Smithton and Culloden to get together to form a committee to take over the running of the hall. 

Douglas Wilby, Senior Leisure and Learning Officer said: “We cannot progress this transfer of ownership until a committee is formed that is able to take over the hall. We remain committed to supporting local people with this process but we need them to come forward to show that the community really wants to keep Smithton Hall. There is no guarantee it will remain open as a public hall if local people don’t get together to form a committee to manage the hall.” 

The four members for the Culloden and Ardersier Ward – Roddy Balfour, John Ford, Glynis Sinclair and Bob Wynd - are fully supportive of the local community taking over the hall.