Community groups aiming to take over two of Moray’s major tourist attractions could learn if their bids have a chance of success at a Moray Council meeting on Tuesday.
Council officials are recommending to members of the policy and resources committee that the Tomintoul Museum and the former Aberlour Station building are handed over to the community.
The tearoom run at the old Aberlour station has been run by the local community association for the last five years and they are now seeking to take permanent possession of the site to enhance tourism in the area.
A visitor centre was planned for the station but the project was scrapped by Moray Council as they sought to cut the local authority budget.
Meanwhile the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust want to take over the running of the museum as it has also been hit by the cost-cutting measures.
Moray Council agreed in February last year that the museum would be made available for community asset transfer, with the report being put before the committee saying: “The building is in need of renovation and it will need significant development to make it sustainable.
“Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust has prepared a preliminary business case and it should be complete for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund in May.”
The report has also indicated that there is “strong local support” for the Aberlour Station project with an upsurge in volunteers to help with the proposed facility.