St Monans Trust aims
for charitable status

A St Monans organisation has applied for charitable status as part of its aim to provide a much-needed new multi-use community building in the village.

St Monans Community Trust, whose origins stretch back to 2003, is progressing well with its proposals to demolish the present dilapidated bowling and football club pavilions at The Common and create the modern-day
facility.

Approval of charitable status would make it much easier for the trus to secure funds for the project, which is expected to cost
several million pounds, from such organisations as the Big Lottery.

The trust is made up of 10 members, whose meetings are also attended by the three local Fife councillors, with help and advice provided by Fife Rural Partnership and Fife Council locality manager Fiona Mitchell.

Tom Hughes, who chairs the trust, said that they had submitted their application to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

"If the trust can secure charitable status it will be a major step forward and hopefully we will have word back before the end of March."

The trust have also recently set up two working groups, one looking at such matters as legal, financial and architectural issues, with the other concentrating on training courses for running the new facility.

It is planned to phase the development, with the first part involving the demolition of the pavilions to provide a new building with meeting rooms and modern facilities, including access for the disabled.

Mr Hughes said: "We would also like to include facilities for senior citizens, the primary school and nursery. The nursery was badly damaged by fire some months ago and the children are now having to share an area in the actual school, a situation that's of some concern to us."

Later phases are likely to include a sports area, with a multi-purpose surface, allowing games such as football and tennis.

The facility would replace the present run-down tennis courts at the Common.
Mr Hughes spoke of the support the trust had received, which was very
encouraging.
"The three councillors are right behind us, as are the council parks department, the locality manager, Fife Rural Partnership and, most
importantly, the local community.

Trust member Bill Buchan added: "The enthusiasm of everyone has kept us going for the past four years, with the support from locals very good."