Peeblesshire News | News | Courthouse: It's a race against time

Thursday, 4th December, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 19th September, 2006 15:53

Courthouse: It's a race against time

By David Knox

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PEEBLES historic court building has gone on the open market.

And the move could sentence plans by a local conservation trust to a sudden end.

The building has been deserted since dry rot was discovered in 2003.

And Peebles Sheriff Courthouse Conservation Trust hatched an ambitious scheme to turn it into a centre, which would incorporate the town’s library, college lecture rooms, offices and other community facilities.

A deal was struck with the building’s owners, Scottish Court Services, for the group to have first refusal on buying it.

Funding was sourced for detailed plans to be drawn up by the trust.

But the grand plans collapsed in the summer when Scottish Borders Council’s ruling executive said it wasn’t interested in re-housing its library in the former courtrooms.

Peebles’ three members of the local authority, Nancy Norman, Catriona Bhatia and Graham Garvie, have attempted to persuade the council rulers to change their minds – and it will be discussed again at a meeting later this month.

But Scottish Court Services have run out of patience.

A spokesman told the Peeblesshire News: “SCS has been in discussions since 2004 with the Peebles Sheriff Courthouse Conservation Trust, established to secure the long term future of the former court building, with the aim of retaining the property for community use.

“SCS had an agreement in principle to transfer ownership of the building to the trust. Regrettably, despite being given several extensions, the trust has not been able to meet the terms of the agreement.

“Accordingly the building is now on the open market.”

The decision by Scottish Borders Council’s executive to ditch the courthouse option for the library was challenged by the local authority’s scrutiny committee.

And their recommendation to think again will be considered at a full council meeting on September 28.

But Ronald Ireland from the Peebles Sheriff Courthouse Conservation Trust fears that it may be too late. He said: “Scottish Court Services are keeping us advised of the situation and if any bids do come in. I can fully understand the reasons they have for putting the building on the open market, and they have been most accommodating towards us.

“If the full council doesn’t support us it will definitely be the end. Even if they do, it will still be a race against time.

“We are trying to remain optimistic and are doing everything we can to convince councillors to support us and take a sensible view.”

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