COUNCILLORS will next week decide whether to grant permission for the RH Youth Organisation to lease an area of common good land in Lockerbie.
The group is seeking a ten year lease of the former caravan park, located, behind the ice rink in Glasgow Road in order to develop a community complex.
They want to set up an activity centre with community recreation facilities, an outdoor stage, nature path, adventure park, young peoples garden area, memorial garden, fruit orchard and shared paddock for dogs and archery.
Their future plans include holding events, setting up a breakfast club for children and a Food for Thought initiative, as well as more activities for all ages, and they wish to have a more permanent base in order to do so.
They are already based at the site in Glasgow Road and have a three-year lease which runs until June 2026.
A business plan for their future proposal reveals that if the complex proves successful, they would wish to go for a full asset transfer of the 8657 square metre site into their ownership.
However, council officials have expressed some concerns.
Ward officer Steven Wylie flagged up that it is common good land and has been valued at £43,285 on the open market.
He also notes there were four representations from the community against the RHYO transfer proposal.
In his assessment for the elected members, Mr Wylie rates the business plan as low-moderate to weak: and said there is not evidence of active working with listed partners; a lack of contingency planning if projected funding is not secured; and he says that the evidence provided is weak and the needs and aspirations have not been well detailed and evaluated.
The application will go before the Lockerbie and Lochmaben Common Good Committee on Wednesday morning.
