Community groups to take on three more Falkirk area council buildings
Three more Falkirk Council buildings are to be run by local groups after councillors backed their Community Asset Transfers last week.
Carron Gymnastics Centre is to be taken on by Stenhousemuir Gymnastics Club, Carron and Carronshore Community Hall by the Carron and Carronshore Community Hall Management Committee and Dawson Park Pavilion by Grahamston Community Club.
The transfers, which were supported by members of the council’s executive at its meeting on Thursday, will keep the buildings open and in community use while saving the local authority more than £86,000 a year in running costs.
The buildings were among those which had been identified for closure as part of the council’s Strategic Property Review.
Each transfer has been agreed on nominal terms, with almost £395,000 of funding from the council’s Enablement Fund to support improvement works.
Carron Gymnastics Centre will transfer full ownership to Stenhousemuir Gymnastics Club for £1, with up to £188,712 from the Enablement Fund for a new roof, solar panels with battery storage, new heating, cooling and lighting controls, and reconfigured changing rooms.
The club became a charity as part of its plans to take on the centre and has run it under an interim licence arrangement since October last year.
Full ownership will let it continue to offer affordable gymnastics for all ages and abilities, while opening the building for other uses such as fitness classes and community bookings.
The centre is used by more than 80 girls and over 30 people with additional support needs each week.
The transfer is anticipated to save the council around £69,430 a year.
The Carron and Carronshore Community Hall Management Committee will take on the Carron and Carronshore Community Hall on a 20 year lease at £1 a year. Up to £187,646 from the Enablement Fund will be available for energy efficiency work, including a new heating system, new lighting, insulation and solar panels with battery storage.
The committee has run the hall under an interim licence arrangement since October and wants to keep it open as a hub for people of all ages, with existing groups using the facility including toddler sessions, dance, yoga and martial arts.
The transfer will save the council around £17,100 a year.
The Dawson Park Pavilion will transfer to Grahamston Community Club on a 20 year lease at £1 a year.
Up to £18,348 from the Enablement Fund will support work including connecting the building to the mains water supply, new electrics and works to the flooring, gutters and fire door.
The club has operated the pavilion under an interim licence arrangement since October 2024 and plans to continue using it as a base for amateur football while giving more local people the chance to play.
As Dawson Park is held on the council’s Common Good account, the transfer is conditional on a public consultation before it can be completed.
If it is completed, the transfer of the property will save the council around £1820 a year.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council said: “These buildings are well used by our communities, from children taking part in gymnastics to groups meeting in the community hall and players based at Dawson Park.
"These asset transfers offer a practical way to keep properties in community use while investing in the work needed to improve them and in ensuring a sustainable future.
"The groups taking on the properties know their communities, have engaged with them and have put forward clear plans for the future of these assets.
"This means local facilities can continue to be used, while reducing the cost of running and maintaining them for the council.
“The property legal processes will now be progressed with each group, and the transfer of Dawson Park Pavilion will also be subject to the outcome of the Common Good consultation.”