January 11 2021

The first community-owned library in Stirlingshire has taken a significant step forward following a successful fundraising appeal.

Strathblane Community Development Trust has commissioned a formal planning application from Thomas Robinson Architects for the community hub after receiving over £50k in donations for the work.

Dominated by a full-length glass wall affording views to the Campsie Fells the gub will include community rooms, a cafe and study spaces the facility will utilise mobile furniture that can be manoeuvred to permit alternate uses of the space.

Subject to the necessary approvals from Stirling Council work to deliver the Thomas Graham Community Library Hub will be undertaken by a wholly-owned subsidiary with library services operated by the local authority as now.

SCDT chair Margaret Vass commented: “While we have now secured the basic budget that we believe we need to create this striking building that the architects have produced for us, it’s still our ambition to fit it out with the very best equipment and systems that we can afford."

Thus far the trust has secured £600k of the estimated £800k build cost with remaining capital earmarked for IT systems including video-conferencing systems for online courses.

Construction expected to get underway in the summer.

1 Comment

#1 Posted by I McEwan on 21 Feb 2021 at 18:49 PM

Is there car parking facilities?

Post your comments