Fraserburgh and the surrounding area in the North East Scotland is a predominately fishing dependent economy. In 2009, following the end of a public sector programme to regenerate the town, the residents came together to take over the responsibility for the regeneration of the area and the trust was born.

Fraserburgh and the surrounding area in the North East Scotland is a predominately fishing dependent economy. In 2009, following the end of a public sector programme to regenerate the town, the residents came together to take over the responsibility for the regeneration of the area and the trust was born.

The Fraserburgh Trust priorities are to:

  1. Ensure a viable future for the town centre.
  2. Ensure recreational facilities meet the needs of the whole community.
  3. Improve resident and visitor perceptions of Fraserburgh.
  4. Enhance public spaces and access to these.
  5. Improve the local tourist offering.

The trust now has 150 members and 10 directors and in January 2011 completed its first project which was the conversion of a redundant building in the town centre into a new community facility.

How did they do it? According to Reid Hutchison, one of the original trust directors, the development began with a small dedicated team of local people. They saw an opportunity to demonstrate a viable impact in the town by taking over a building that had lain vacant for over ten years, the fabric of which was deteriorating daily. They identified a funding source that required an application to be submitted in four weeks and completion of the project in six months! Undeterred, the trust was successful in securing funding to purchase the building and start work. When asked what advice he would give to other people thinking about setting up a development trust and undertaking a similar project, Reid said, “seek support from others, especially DTA Scotland; learn from other development trusts, and build credibility within the local community as their support for the trust is crucial.”

Source: DTAS Publications

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