October 10, 2012
Worth the wait
One of the most successful development trusts in the country had double cause for celebration recently. For thirty five years, Community Central Halls has been at the heart of community action in Maryhill in the north side of Glasgow, but the Trust has long felt constrained in how it can develop and improve the building – a magnificent former Methodist Church – because ownership has always lain with Glasgow City Council. It’s all change in Maryhill.
10/10/12
Caroline Wilson, Evening Times
Glasgow City Council is to transfer ownership of Community Central Halls in Maryhill to the committee which has transformed it into a thriving events space.
The halls provided a refuge for relatives of victims of the Stockline factory blast, which claimed the lives of nine people in 2004.
The handover announcement will be made today as two-days of free events gets under way to mark the 35th birthday of the halls trust.
Over the past three decades the halls has provided a wide range of community services, including a kids’ nursery, after school club, youth centre, a café and homecare for older people.
It has also played host to top Scottish bands including Snow Patrol and Belle and Sebastian.
Community Central Halls was built in the early 1920s as the Maryhill Methodist Central Hall.
When the building came up for sale in the 1970s an action group was formed to reclaim it for the community.
In 1976 Strathclyde Regional Council bought the building and handed over day-to-day running to a community development trust.
Anna Dyer, chairwoman of the halls trust, said: “This is something that we have been working towards – it is fantastic news for the community.
“We can now apply for grants to improve the building.”
A range of fun events is taking place today and tomorrow to mark the handover.
Mohammed Razaq, Labour councillor for Maryhill and Kelvin, said: “The halls are a great asset for the area and the transfer of ownership is going to really secure the future of the local services it provides.”