Famous pub buyout secures support

The funding is to fulfil pre-purchase requirements on the pub

A community bid to buy and run a famous Borders pub has received lottery funding support.

The Tweedsmuir Community Company hopes to take over the Crook Inn and stop its conversion into a house and flats.

It has been awarded £10,000 towards surveys on the building and to complete other pre-purchase requirements.

The current owners still hope to put the property to residential use but a planning appeal hearing next month will decide if that proposal can proceed.

The 17th century pub has been the subject of a lengthy planning dispute.

Scottish Borders Council has rejected plans to convert it into a house and flats.

However, the planning appeal hearing in Peebles will have the final say.

In the meantime, the local community company has taken forward plans to buy and run the pub as a business.

The Scottish Government has accepted its community right-to-buy application, paving the way for the project.

A full application is also being prepared to try to attract almost £1m from the Big Lottery Fund.