Talks with local community on future of historic clocktower

Councillors today agreed to enter into discussions with the local community in Dufftown over the future of the town’s historic clocktower.

A recent public meeting in Dufftown came out strongly in favour of a community asset transfer of the building, which has lain vacant for some time and the condition of which is rapidly deteriorating.

The clocktower, which stands in the centre of the town and dates from 1839, was declared surplus to operational requirements by Moray Council in 2005 but continued to serve as a tourist information centre until 2014.

The council’s policy and resources committee today agreed that officers from the community asset transfer team would engage with the Dufftown community to support a possible transfer of the clocktower to the community.

In the event of there being no substantive proposals coming forward within the next year, a report will be brought back to the committee for further consideration.

Committee chairman Councillor George Alexander said: “I would strongly encourage the community to come forward with proposals.”

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.