Most village halls 'need repairs'

Halls were said to be a hub for rural communities

Nearly two-thirds of Scotland's village halls need improvements or repair, according to a study.

Scottish Government-commissioned research also found that the same proportion were more than 50 years old.

Most were community-owned but management committees said they found it hard to recruit volunteers.

Up to £30m is being made available for community facilities and services, including halls, under the government's rural development programme.

The findings were published as Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead chaired a meeting of Scotland's rural development councils in Banchory.

Mr Lochhead said halls and other community facilities played a key role in supporting rural life.

He said: "Not only are they a hub for activities but they can be central to rural economic development.

"The current economic climate and its likely impact on communities is uppermost in all our minds.

"We are taking action to support the rural economy and this research will help inform our work."

Liberal Democrat rural development spokesman Liam McArthur said: "Village halls are the hub of community activity in rural areas across Scotland. They rely heavily on an army of volunteers, to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

"Ministers must understand, however, that without proper support for farming and crofting activity in our rural areas, there is a real risk that in future we may have the halls but not the folks to fill them."