Councillor says JM Barrie home fit for 'nothing but demolition'

Jun 3 2009 by Jackie Grant, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A COUNCILLOR yesterday branded Moat Brae House as fit for “nothing but demolition”.

Andrew Wood spoke out after a meeting with Loreburn Housing Chief Executive Ahsan Khan and SNP candidate for the Euro elections Ian Hudgton on the future of the house, the gardens of which the author JM Barrie credited with the inspiration for Peter Pan.

The possibility of European budgets and funding streams to assist in the restoration of Moat Brae was also discussed at the meeting, but with a price tag of £4.5 million to restore the building, Councillor Wood said it would be a “misuse of public funds” and the best solution would be to pull it down. He added: “There could be a possibility of receiving 40 per cent of the funding, but that would mean having to find another £2.5 million.

“It is very sad that the condition of the house as a whole has deteriorated to the point where partial demolition seems to be the only way forward.

“I was keen to emphasise however my opinion that what we must focus on is what can be done with the site and the gardens to provide public access and a high-quality visitor attraction as well as fulfilling Loreburn’s needs.

“Loreburn are receptive to this point of view and I do have high hopes that we will see something special arise from the site as it stands.

“Although the building is fit for nothing but demolition, it is a beautiful setting and Loreburn’s proposals would be a win-win situation.”

Loreburn Housing Association bought Moat Brae House last year.

The B-listed building is on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland because of its poor condition and Loreburn Housing committee said it had deteriorated beyond repair.

However, members of The Peter Pan House Action Group, set up to safeguard the future of the property, believe the restoration of the house is still possible and appealed to Mr Khan to think again before bulldozing the building.

The group asked Loreburn for three months’ grace to try to create a separate trust to take on the house, which Loreburn agreed to.

Mr Khan said this week: “I am very grateful that they are supportive of all attempts to have some form of memorial in the town to the birthplace of Peter Pan.

“Loreburn’s committee has also called a meeting of a wider stakeholder steering group and that is due to meet next week.

“No decisions will be made by Loreburn’s Committee until the group has completed its investigations.”